Psalm 2 5

Psalm 2:5 kjv

Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.

Psalm 2:5 nkjv

Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure:

Psalm 2:5 niv

He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,

Psalm 2:5 esv

Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying,

Psalm 2:5 nlt

Then in anger he rebukes them,
terrifying them with his fierce fury.

Psalm 2 verses

Psalm 2 5 Meaning

Psalm 2:5 reveals God's authoritative and unyielding response to the rebellion of nations and their rulers against Him and His Anointed One. After observing their futile plots, God will break His silence to pronounce His judgment, speaking with a terrifying display of divine indignation and burning anger, which will cause the rebellious to be struck with dismay and panic. This declaration is not merely words but carries the full weight of His sovereign power, executing immediate and fearful consequences.

Psalm 2 5 Context

Psalm 2 is a messianic, royal psalm portraying the global opposition of human rulers to God and His Anointed King (the Messiah). The chapter opens with the tumultuous raging and conspiracy of the nations against the Lord and His Messiah (vv. 1-3). Rather than panicking, God in heaven laughs at their futile rebellion (v. 4). Verse 5 marks the divine response, transitioning from scorn to decisive action. It sets the stage for God's declaration of His chosen King (v. 6) and the King's universal decree (vv. 7-9), culminating in a call for human rulers to submit and humble themselves (vv. 10-12). Thus, verse 5 is the pivotal point where divine passive amusement turns into an active, terrifying display of sovereign judgment. Historically, this theme resonated with Israel's belief in God's ultimate authority over all nations and found its ultimate fulfillment in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Psalm 2 5 Word Analysis

• Then (אָז - az):

  • Word Level: This Hebrew particle often signifies a consequential "then," marking a pivotal turn in the narrative, indicating that what follows is a direct and immediate result of the preceding events (the nations' rebellion and God's amusement). It suggests a dramatic shift from God's silent scorn to His vocal intervention.
  • Significance: It emphasizes the certainty and swiftness of God's response. Their rebellion is met with an immediate, definitive action.

• he will speak (יְדַבֵּר - y'dabber):

  • Word Level: From the root דָּבַר (davar), which implies authoritative speech, decree, or even action (as words of God are powerful and effective, not just mere sounds). It's more than casual talking; it's a pronouncement of judgment or a command.
  • Significance: God does not need physical intervention at first; His spoken word is enough to enact His will. His speaking here is inherently powerful and brings about the stated effect. It echoes the creative power of His word in Genesis.

• to them (עָלֵימוֹ - aleimo):

  • Word Level: Refers directly to the rebellious kings and nations mentioned in Psalm 2:1-3.
  • Significance: This identifies the direct recipients of God's wrath—those who dared to conspire against His divine authority. It is a specific, targeted judgment.

• in his wrath (בְאַפּוֹ - b'appo):

  • Word Level: The Hebrew word for "wrath" is אַף (aph), literally meaning "nose" or "nostrils," by extension signifying anger or indignation, as flushed nostrils often accompany intense anger. It conveys a settled, deep-seated displeasure.
  • Significance: This is not a human, sinful outburst of anger, but righteous indignation, God's perfect aversion to sin and rebellion against His holy order. It's His consistent justice being expressed.

• and terrify them (וַיְבַהֲלֵם - vay'vahaleim):

  • Word Level: From the root בָּהַל (bahal), meaning to disturb, dismay, trouble, or put into consternation. It suggests being thrown into sudden panic, confusion, or overwhelming dread. It implies internal fear and external discomposure.
  • Significance: God's speaking has a direct, internal impact on the rebels, stripping them of their resolve and replacing their defiant boasting with terror. This fear incapacitates their rebellion.

• in his fury (בַּחֲרוֹנוֹ - bacharono):

  • Word Level: The Hebrew word is חָרוֹן (charon), derived from a root meaning "to burn" or "be kindled." It describes a hotter, fiercer, and more intense anger than aph. It speaks of burning indignation or fierce rage.
  • Significance: This term intensifies the prior "wrath," highlighting the full, consuming nature of God's righteous anger. It emphasizes the utterly destructive power of divine indignation against impenitent defiance. It underscores the severity and depth of the divine response.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury": This parallelism strengthens the message of God's judgment. The "speaking" (verbal action) leads directly to the "terrifying" (psychological and spiritual effect). The two terms for divine anger, aph (wrath/indignation) and charon (fury/burning anger), highlight the composite nature of God's perfect anger—a profound displeasure leading to consuming indignation. This group emphasizes that God's judgment is both pronounced and felt, leading to internal terror before external execution. His power is demonstrated not merely by physical force, but by the power of His voice and the sheer magnitude of His holiness.

Psalm 2 5 Bonus Section

• Polemic against human pride: This verse implicitly refutes any notion of human autonomy or ability to successfully defy divine authority. The world's rulers may conspire, but their strength and plans are nothing against the voice of the Almighty. It directly opposes pagan views of competing gods or human kings achieving absolute dominion.
• Active vs. Passive Deity: Psalm 2:5 unequivocally presents God not as a passive observer, but as an actively involved and sovereign Lord who intervenes powerfully when His cosmic order is challenged. His wrath is purposeful and righteous.
• Messianic Fulfillment: This verse sets the stage for the establishment of the Messiah's kingdom. The "speaking" and "terrifying" precede God's decree of His King (Ps 2:6-7) and the command for universal submission (Ps 2:10-12). In the New Testament, Jesus is presented as the rightful King who will ultimately return in judgment and glory (Rev 19:11-16), fulfilling the fierce judgment predicted here.
• Day of the Lord: The language of "wrath" and "fury" often appears in prophecies concerning the "Day of the Lord," a biblical motif describing God's decisive intervention in history to judge sin and establish His righteous reign. Psalm 2:5 encapsulates the terrifying reality of that impending day for the ungodly.

Psalm 2 5 Commentary

Psalm 2:5 provides a solemn glimpse into the reality of God's active, judicial involvement in the affairs of mankind. The seemingly insignificant laughter and scorn of God in verse 4 are here replaced by an imminent and tangible display of His absolute sovereignty. His "speaking" is an act of power, revealing His judgment not as a distant threat but as a present and terrifying reality for those who rebel against His anointed King. The paired terms "wrath" (ἀφ, aph) and "fury" (חָרוֹן, charon) accentuate the righteous and intense nature of His anger. This wrath is not arbitrary emotion but God's settled opposition to sin and deliberate rebellion. It conveys the consuming nature of His holiness when confronted with absolute evil. The consequence of His word is immediate terror, proving the utter foolishness and futility of any human attempt to usurp His dominion. This verse assures believers of God's ultimate vindication and serves as a dire warning to the unbelieving, underscoring that their defiance will meet an unassailable and terrifying divine response.

• Examples: This principle finds echoes in various biblical accounts: the terror that seized the Canaanites before Israel (Josh 2:9), the confusion that often precedes divine judgment (Exod 14:24), or the dismay that overtakes wicked kings facing their downfall (Isa 13:8). The terrifying power of God's word foreshadows the ultimate judgment, the "wrath of the Lamb," that will cause the kings of the earth to seek hiding places (Rev 6:15-17).