Psalm 2:8 kjv
Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Psalm 2:8 nkjv
Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
Psalm 2:8 niv
Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.
Psalm 2:8 esv
Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.
Psalm 2:8 nlt
Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance,
the whole earth as your possession.
Psalm 2 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| OT Prophecy & Promises | ||
| Gen 12:3 | ...all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. | Abrahamic Covenant, nations blessed |
| Gen 22:18 | ...through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed... | Offspring (Christ) as global blessing |
| 2 Sam 7:12-13 | ...I will raise up your offspring to succeed you... and I will establish his kingdom. | Davidic Covenant, eternal kingdom |
| Psa 22:27 | All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord... | Global worship, Gentile conversion |
| Psa 72:8 | He will rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. | Solomon's reign prefigures global rule |
| Isa 9:6-7 | ...Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end... | Messianic kingdom's infinite dominion |
| Isa 49:6 | I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth. | Messiah's mission to Gentiles |
| Isa 53:12 | Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong... | Messiah's reward for redemptive suffering |
| Jer 23:5 | ...a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. | Righteous Branch (Messiah King) |
| Dan 7:13-14 | ...one like a son of man... Authority, glory and sovereign power were given to him; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. | Son of Man's universal, eternal dominion |
| Zech 9:10 | His dominion will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. | Messianic King's extensive reign |
| NT Fulfillment & Interpretation | ||
| Matt 28:18 | All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. | Jesus' post-resurrection universal authority |
| Acts 1:8 | ...and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. | Great Commission, spread of Gospel to world |
| Acts 13:33 | God has fulfilled this for us... by raising Jesus, as it is written in the second Psalm: “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.” | Apostles link Ps 2 to Jesus' resurrection/divinity |
| Eph 1:20-22 | ...seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms... authority, power, dominion, and every title... | Christ's exalted position above all power |
| Phil 2:9-11 | ...God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow... | Christ's ultimate exaltation and universal homage |
| Col 1:16-18 | For in him all things were created... and in him all things hold together. | Christ's pre-eminence and sustaining power |
| Heb 1:2 | ...appointed him heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. | Christ as appointed heir of all creation |
| Heb 1:5 | For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father”? | Direct quotation linking Jesus to Ps 2:7 |
| Rev 11:15 | The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever. | Final, consummated kingdom of Christ |
| Rev 12:10 | ...the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come. | Present reality of Christ's rule |
| Rev 19:15 | Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” | Christ's future authoritative rule |
| Rev 20:4 | They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. | Millennial reign of Christ |
Psalm 2 verses
Psalm 2 8 Meaning
Psalm 2:8 is a declaration from God the Father to His Anointed King, the Messiah. It presents a divine promise that, upon the Messiah's request, God will grant Him ultimate, universal dominion. This inheritance encompasses all nations (Gentiles) and extends to the very "ends of the earth," signifying complete global possession and sovereign authority. It is not merely a conquest, but a divinely conferred and rightful legacy.
Psalm 2 8 Context
Psalm 2 is a royal messianic psalm that portrays the cosmic drama between rebellious humanity and God's sovereign plan. The chapter opens with the tumultuous raging of nations and their kings against the Lord and His Anointed (Psa 2:1-3). In response, God scoffs at their futility from His heavenly throne (Psa 2:4) and declares His king (the Messiah) to be enthroned on Zion (Psa 2:6). Immediately following this decree (Psa 2:7), the Father speaks directly to His Son in Psalm 2:8, offering the inheritance of global dominion. The broader context highlights the certainty and authority of God's chosen King despite human opposition, promising a complete overthrow of all rival claims to authority and the ultimate triumph of God's righteous rule through His Son. This is presented as a foundational divine decree establishing the parameters of the Messiah's kingdom.
Psalm 2 8 Word analysis
- Ask (שְׁאַל - sha'al): This is not a pleading request born of need, but rather a confident appeal or demand, a recognition of an inherent right based on the preceding declaration by God (Psa 2:7, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father"). It signifies a formal act of claiming what has been divinely promised and bestowed. It also implies the Father’s readiness and eagerness to grant what is rightfully the Son’s.
- of me: Highlights the ultimate source of this power and dominion—God the Father alone, not human effort or conquest, but divine conferment.
- and I will make (אֶתְּנָה - ettenah - I will give/grant): A strong volitional statement, emphasizing God's active role in bestowing this immense inheritance. It's a definite future action, not a mere possibility.
- the nations (גּוֹיִם - goyim): Refers to all Gentile peoples, those outside of Israel. In Old Testament usage, "goyim" can sometimes have negative connotations of hostility, but here it speaks of the object of the Messiah's reign. This promise signifies a kingdom far surpassing the boundaries of ancient Israel, establishing a universal dominion over all humanity.
- your inheritance (נַחֲלָה - nachalah): Denotes a possession passed down as an ancestral right or legal legacy. It frames the nations not as conquests but as rightful divine possessions bestowed upon the Son. It signifies the secure, enduring nature of this grant.
- and the ends of the earth (אַפְסֵי אָרֶץ - afsei aretz): This idiom literally means "the extremities/borders of the land" or "the very edge of the earth." It conveys the idea of ultimate geographical universality and comprehensiveness, leaving no corner of the globe outside His designated sphere of influence and possession.
- your possession (אֲחֻזָּתְךָ - achuzzatekha): Another term for a secured holding or property, reinforcing the completeness and finality of the dominion given to the Son.
Psalm 2 8 Bonus section
- The divine offer to "ask" can be understood in the context of Christ's intercessory role (e.g., in His high priestly prayer in John 17, and ongoing at God's right hand), where His requests always align with the Father's will and global purpose.
- The promise to "make the nations your inheritance" directly challenges and overthrows all claims to universal dominion by pagan deities and human empires (like Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Rome), asserting that the God of Israel is the true and sole grantor of such power, and only to His Anointed Son.
- For believers, this verse offers immense hope and informs our Great Commission. Just as the Father grants the nations to the Son, He also commands His followers to make disciples of all nations, implicitly gathering the inheritance for the King. Our prayers for "Your kingdom come" align with this divine promise and the Messiah's present and future reign.
Psalm 2 8 Commentary
Psalm 2:8 forms the central decree in this coronation psalm, detailing the Messiah's expansive realm. It answers the initial rebellion of human kings by revealing God's ironclad counter-plan: His Son will rule them all. The verse is profound in its declaration of a king unlike any earthly monarch, whose dominion is not limited by geography or people group but embraces every nation and the entirety of the earth. This universal inheritance is presented not as something the Messiah must seize, but as a direct gift from God the Father in response to a request born of right, underscoring the divine legitimacy and authority of His reign. This promise finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, whose post-resurrection ascension inaugurated His cosmic authority, which will culminate in a visible, global kingdom. The command to "ask" is pregnant with meaning, pointing to the Messiah's full dependence on and harmonious relationship with the Father, ensuring His rule aligns perfectly with God's will and purpose for redemption.