Psalm 2 6

Psalm 2:6 kjv

Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

Psalm 2:6 nkjv

"Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion."

Psalm 2:6 niv

"I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain."

Psalm 2:6 esv

"As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill."

Psalm 2:6 nlt

For the Lord declares, "I have placed my chosen king on the throne
in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain."

Psalm 2 verses

Psalm 2 6 Meaning

Psalm 2:6 proclaims the absolute and unwavering sovereignty of God in establishing His chosen King. Despite the futile rebellion of earthly rulers mentioned earlier in the Psalm, God declares His steadfast purpose: He Himself has decisively installed His divine King upon Mount Zion, His holy dwelling place. This verse signifies the unshakeable divine decree concerning the anointed one, securing His rule from Zion, which represents the spiritual and earthly seat of God's dominion and the promised Davidic throne.

Psalm 2 6 Context

Psalm 2 is a royal messianic psalm depicting a dramatic conflict between God and rebellious nations. The Psalm opens with the rage of the nations and their rulers, conspiring against the LORD and His Anointed One (verses 1-3). God, however, laughs at their folly from heaven (verse 4) and declares His kingly decree (verse 6). This declaration follows a warning to the rebellious nations that God will shatter them with a rod of iron (verse 9), establishing His divine authority beyond all opposition. The immediate context, therefore, is God's powerful response to humanity's rebellion, asserting His sovereignty and the authority of His chosen King. Historically, the psalm may have had a primary reference to an Israelite king, likely David or his successors, who was seen as God's earthly representative. However, its language and scope extend far beyond any individual human monarch, pointing to a ultimate, divine King—the Messiah. Mount Zion itself, located in Jerusalem, became the sacred symbol of God's dwelling among His people, the place of the Temple, and the throne of the Davidic dynasty, thus signifying the center of God's redemptive plan and divine government.

Psalm 2 6 Word analysis

• "Yet" / "But" (וַאֲנִי - wa-'anî):

  • Word Level: This Hebrew conjunction wa combined with the emphatic pronoun anî (I) forms "But I" or "And I" (depending on the translation emphasis). It functions as a strong adversative, setting up a sharp contrast to the previous verses where nations conspire. It asserts God's firm resolve against human rebellion.
  • Significance: Highlights God's absolute sovereignty and unshakeable will. While nations plot, God acts definitively.

• "have I set" / "have I installed" (נָסַכְתִּי - nāsakhtî):

  • Word Level: Derived from the verb nasakh (נָסַךְ), which means "to pour, cast, anoint, or install." While "set" or "established" are common translations, the original connotation often involves an act of pouring (like liquid, perhaps an anointing) or founding/casting (like a metal object or a foundation). In a royal context, it points strongly to an official anointing or consecration.
  • Significance: Emphasizes a deliberate, authoritative, and divine act of enthronement. This is not a human selection but a sovereign divine appointment, much like an anointing. It prefigures the title "Messiah" (anointed one) or "Christ."

• "my King" (מַלְכִּי - malkî):

  • Word Level: malek (king) combined with the possessive suffix î (my). This clearly denotes God's personal ownership and identification with this King.
  • Significance: The King is not self-appointed or chosen by men, but God's very own, implying divine authority, endorsement, and intimate relationship. This "my King" immediately connects to the "Anointed One" (Messiah) in Psalm 2:2.

• "upon my holy hill" (עַל-הַר קָדְשִׁי - ʻal-har qodshî):

  • Word Level: ʻal (upon), har (mountain/hill), qodesh (holiness/sanctuary), with possessive suffix î (my). This denotes a sacred place specifically chosen and claimed by God.
  • Significance: Points to the sacredness of the location, where God Himself dwells or reveals His presence. It signifies the spiritual authority emanating from this place, established by God Himself.

• "of Zion" (צִיּוֹן - Tsiyyôn):

  • Word Level: Zion. The name for a specific hill in Jerusalem, later extended to refer to the entire city, especially as the site of David's royal city and the Temple.
  • Significance: Geographically locates the King's dominion to Jerusalem, historically the center of Israel's worship and political life under the Davidic dynasty. Theologically, Zion becomes a symbol of God's earthly dwelling, the source of His law, and the seat from which the Messiah's rule will ultimately extend to the entire earth.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "Yet have I set": This powerful opening emphasizes divine agency and intentionality. It's a defiant declaration against chaos and rebellion, underscoring God's ultimate control and sovereign prerogative to appoint. This sets the tone for a resolution contrary to the rebellious will of humanity.
  • "my King": This phrase clarifies the object of God's action. The King is directly tied to God's purpose and identity, indicating a divine selection and partnership. It imbues the King with supreme legitimacy and an untouchable status against earthly defiance.
  • "upon my holy hill of Zion": This phrase designates the specific locus of the King's rule. The use of "my" twice reinforces God's claim over both the chosen King and the consecrated place of rule. Zion, as a symbol, transcends its physical location to represent God's chosen seat of spiritual and governmental authority on earth, a foundation laid by God Himself for His eternal reign.

Psalm 2 6 Bonus section

The definitive act stated in Psalm 2:6 serves as a powerful polemic against any human attempts to dethrone or undermine God's appointed authority. It directly contradicts the boasting of the nations in Psalm 2:3 who desire to "break their bonds in pieces and cast away their cords." God's response is an immediate and unassailable counter-declaration of His own prior, perfect establishment of His rule. This makes the King's position divinely sanctioned and eternally secured. Furthermore, this installation on Zion not only affirms the King's authority but also implies Zion's preeminence as the source of true spiritual and political order for all creation, making it the eschatological capital of the world, from which justice and salvation emanate.

Psalm 2 6 Commentary

Psalm 2:6 is a pivotal verse, forming the divine decree that counters the rebellious plots of earthly kings. It unveils God's unwavering response to human insolence: a resolute, sovereign act of appointing His King. The language of "setting" or "installing" carries the weight of a divine anointing, a sacred investiture. This King, specifically identified as "my King" by God, holds a unique and intimate relationship with the Almighty, receiving His full backing and authority. The location, "my holy hill of Zion," is not arbitrary. Zion is divinely chosen as the sacred epicenter from which God's reign, exercised through His Anointed One, will extend. It speaks to the ultimate triumph of God's will and His kingdom, a rule founded on divine decree and power rather than human permission. Ultimately, this verse finds its complete fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who, through His resurrection and ascension, has been installed as the true King on the heavenly Zion, ruling now and awaiting the consummation of His universal dominion from His divine throne.