Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 2:2
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, [saying],
2. The kings of the earth ] In contrast to ‘my king,’ Psa 2:6. Cp. the use of the phrase in striking contexts, Psa 76:12; Psa 89:27; Psa 102:15; Psa 138:4; Psa 148:11; Isa 24:21.
set themselves ] The tenses of the original in Psa 2:1-2 give a vividness and variety to the picture which can hardly be reproduced in translation. Rage and take counsel are perfects, representing the throng as already gathered, and the chiefs seated in divan together: imagine and set themselves are imperfects (the graphic, pictorial tense of Hebrew poetry), representing their plot in process of development. The rapid lively rhythm moreover well suggests the stir and tumult of the gathering host.
against the Lord ] They would not deny that in making war upon Israel they were making war upon Israel’s God (2Ki 18:32 ff.); but they little knew Whom they were defying (2Ki 19:22 ff.).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The kings of the earth – This verse is designed to give a more specific form to the general statement in Psa 2:1. In the first verse the psalmist sees a general commotion among the nations as engaged in some plan that he sees must be a vain one; here he describes more particularly the cause of the excitement, and gives a nearer view of what is occurring. He now sees kings and rulers engaged in a specific and definite plot against Yahweh and against His Anointed. The word kings here is a general term, which would be applicable to all rulers – as the kingly government was the only one then known, and the nations were under the control of absolute monarchs. A sufficient fulfillment would be found, however, if any rulers were engaged in doing what is here described.
Set themselves – Or, take their stand. The latter expression would perhaps better convey the sense of the original. It is the idea of taking a stand, or of setting themselves in array, which is denoted by the expression; – they combine; they resolve; they are fixed in their purpose. Compare Exo 2:4; Exo 19:17; Exo 34:5. The attitude here is that of firm or determined resistance.
And the rulers – A slight addition to the word kings. The sense is, that there was a general combination among all classes of rulers to accomplish what is here specified. It was not confined to any one class.
Take counsel together – Consult together. Compare Psa 31:13, While they took counsel together against me. The word used here, yachad, means properly to found, to lay the foundation of, to establish; then, to be founded (Niphal); to support oneself; to lean upon – as, for example, to lean upon the elbow. Thus used, it is employed with reference to persons reclining or leaning upon a couch or cushion, especially as deliberating together, as the Orientals do in the divan or council. Compare the notes at Psa 83:3. The idea here is that of persons assembled to deliberate on an important matter.
Against the Lord – Against Jehovah – the small capitals of Lord in our common version indicating that the original word is Yahweh. The meaning is, that they were engaged in deliberating against Yahweh in respect to the matter here referred to – to wit, his purpose to place the Anointed One, his King (Psa 2:6), on the hill of Zion. It is not meant that they were in other respects arrayed against him, though it is true in fact that opposition to God in one respect may imply that there is an aversion to him in all respects, and that the same spirit which would lead men to oppose him in any one of his purposes would, if carried out, lead them to oppose him in all things.
And against his Anointed – – meshycho – his Messiah: hence, our word Messiah, or Christ. The word means Anointed, and the allusion is to the custom of anointing kings and priests with holy oil when setting them apart to office, or consecrating them to their work. Compare Mat 1:1, note; Dan 9:26, note. The word Messiah, or Anointed, is therefore of so general a character in its signification that its mere use would not determine to whom it was to be applied – whether to a king, to a priest, or to the Messiah properly so called. The reference is to be determined by something in the connection. All that the word here necessarily implies is, that there was some one whom Yahweh regarded as his Anointed one, whether king or priest, against whom the rulers of the earth had arrayed themselves. The subsequent part of the psalm Psa 2:6-7 enables us to ascertain that the reference here is to one who was a King, and that he sustained to Yahweh the relation of a Son. The New Testament, and the considerations suggested in the introduction to the psalm (Section 4), enable us to understand that the reference is to the Messiah properly so called – Jesus of Nazareth. This is expressly declared Act 4:25-27 to have had its fulfillment in the purposes of Herod, Pontius Pilate, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, in rejecting the Saviour and putting him to death. No one can doubt that all that is here stated in the psalm had a complete fulfillment in their combining to reject him and to put him to death; and we are, therefore, to regard the psalm as particularly referring to this transaction. Their conduct was, however, an illustration of the common feelings of rulers and people concerning him, and it was proper to represent the nations in general as in commotion in regard to him.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 2:2
Against the Lord, and against His anointed.
Taking counsel against Christ
Anointed here means the same as Messiah, and both words the same as Christ in the New Testament. How literally were the words of this verse fulfilled, when Herod and Pontius Pilate, and the rulers of the Jews combined together to put Jesus to death! How cordially they hated each other; and yet how cordially they united in persecuting Jesus! This has been the history of our religion from the beginning. Men who would take counsel together in nothing else have taken counsel together against the Lord and against His anointed. Christianity has been opposed by every form of religion beneath the sun. The civil ruler has opposed it with the sword; the bigot with the screw, the wheel, and the stake; the philosopher with sophistry and derision; and the multitude with lawless violence. All have been alike eager to nail it to the cross, thrust a spear into its side, and place upon its head a crown of thorns. And when asked to spare it the language of all has been, Not this man, but Barabbas! This feature of heterogeneous opposition to our religion is conspicuous in all modern and liberal and infidel conventions, where men of all beliefs and of no belief, ignoring for the time being all their differences, unite heart and soul in a crusade against the Word of God. They care little what stars occupy a place in the religious heavens of the world, provided the Star of Bethlehem be not of the number. They will tolerate any other form of religion sooner than the religion of the Lord and of His anointed. (David Caldwell, A. M.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 2. Against his anointed] al Meshichiah, “Against his Messiah.” – Chaldee. But as this signifies the anointed person, it may refer first to David, as it does secondly to Christ.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The kings; either those mentioned 2Sa 5; 2Sa 8; or rather Herod the Great, and the other Herod, and Pilate, and others with or after them.
Of the earth; so called in way of contempt, and to show their madness in opposing the God of heaven.
Set themselves: the word notes their firm purpose and professed hostility, and the combination of their counsels and forces.
Against the Lord; either directly and professedly; or indirectly and by consequence, because against his anointed, and against his counsel and command. And; or, that is, as that particle is oft used; the latter clause explaining the former, and showing in what sense they fought against that God whom they pretended to own and worship.
Against his anointed; against such a king whom God hath chosen and exalted, and wonderfully accomplished and set up for his work and service, who therefore will certainly defend him against all his enemies.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
2. The kings and rulers lead ontheir subjects.
set themselvestake astand.
take counselliterally,”sit together,” denoting their deliberation.
anointedHebrew,“Messiah”; Greek, “Christ” (Joh1:41). Anointing, as an emblem of the gifts of the Holy Spirit,was conferred on prophets (Isa 6:1);priests (Ex 30:30); and kings(1Sa 10:1; 1Sa 16:13;1Ki 1:39). Hence this title wellsuited Him who holds all these offices, and was generally used by theJews before His coming, to denote Him (Da9:26). While the prophet has in view men’s opposition generally,he here depicts it in its culminating aspect as seen in the events ofChrist’s great trial. Pilate and Herod, and the rulers of the Jews(Mat 27:1; Luk 23:1-25),with the furious mob, are vividly portrayed.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
The kings of the earth set themselves,…. Rose and stood up in great wrath and fury, and presented themselves in an hostile manner, and opposed the Messiah: as Herod the great, king of Judea, who very early bestirred himself, and sought to take away the life of Jesus in his infancy; and Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee, who is called a king, Mr 6:14; who with his men of war mocked him, and set him at nought; and Pontius Pilate, the governor of Judea, who represented the Roman emperor, and condemned him to death, Mt 27:26; and all the kings of the earth ever since, who ever persecuted Christ in his members, and have set themselves with all their might to hinder the spread of his Gospel and the enlargement of his interest;
and the rulers take counsel together; as did the Jewish sanhedrim, the great court of judicature among the Jews, the members of which were the rulers of the people, who frequently met together and consulted to take away the life of Christ: though it may also include all other governors and magistrates who have entered into schemes
against the Lord, and against his Anointed, or Messiah, Christ: by “the Lord”, or Jehovah, which is the great, the glorious, and incommunicable name of God, and is expressive of his eternal being and self-existence, and of his being the fountain of essence to all creatures, is meant God the Father; since he is distinguished from his Son, the Messiah, his anointed One, as Messiah and Christ signify; and who is so called, because he is anointed by God with the Holy Ghost, without measure, to the office of the Mediator, Prophet, Priest, and King; from whom the saints receive the anointing, which teacheth all things, and every grace of the Spirit in measure; and who, after his name, are called Christians. This name of the promised Redeemer was well known among the Jews, Joh 1:41; and which they took from this passage, and from some others;
[saying], as follows:
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(2) Set themselvesi.e., with hostile intent, as in Jer. 46:4, where the same word is used of warriors: Stand forth with your helmets.
Rulers.Properly, grave dignitaries.
Take counsel.Better, have taken their pians, and are now mustering to carry them into effect. Notice the change of tense: in the first clause, the poet sees, as it were, the array; in the second, he goes back to its origin.
Against the Lord.Notice the majestic simplicity of this line. The word Messiah is applicable in its first sense to any one anointed for a holy office or with holy oil (Lev. 4:3; Lev. 4:5; Lev. 4:16). Its distinctive reference to an expected prince of the chosen people, who was to redeem them from their enemies, and fulfil completely all the Divine promises for them, probably dates from this psalm, or more distinctly from this psalm than from any one passage. At least, that the traditional Jewish interpretation had fastened upon it as of this importance is shown by the frequent and emphatic quotation of this psalm in the New Testament. (See New Testament use of these verses in Act. 4:25, and Note in New Testament Commentary.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2. Kings of the earth rulers The chief powers of the earth are arrayed against Jehovah and his Anointed.
Set themselves Literally, place themselves firmly. The word is often used in a military or hostile sense, as 1Sa 17:16, and here denotes an attitude of determined opposition.
The verb is in the future, but imports what is going on at the present time.
Take counsel Have consulted confidentially.
Anointed Hebrew, Messiah, for which the Greek is Christ, (see note Mat 1:1,) here referring historically to the Hebrew king whom God had anointed with holy oil, (1Sa 16:13,) but prophetically to Christ, the royal Son of David, to whom it is directly applied Act 4:24-27, and who was consecrated, not with oil, but by the fulness of the Holy Ghost at his baptism. Mat 3:13-17
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 2:2. The kings of the earth set themselves, &c. Or, Rise up, and the rulers assemble together. Chandler renders it, Set themselves in opposition, and instigate each other. This gives a very strong and significant meaning, as David’s enemies urged and instigated each other in their opposition to him. Or, if we apply it to David, in his great successor the Messiah, it answers to real facts; the Jewish priests, elders, and council, instigating false witness to accuse him, Pilate to condemn, and the people to clamour their Messiah to the cross; the people instigating Pilate to release Barabbas, and crucify Jesus; and the devil instigating them all to perpetrate this impious murder. The opposition to which they instigated one another, was against the Lord, and against his Anointed; Jehovah, because he exalted David to be king in Jerusalem; and because Jesus, whom the princes and people crucified, was that Messiah and Saviour, in whom God had determined that the throne of David should be perpetuated as long as sun and moon should endure.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Not only the rabble, and the common people, join in the confederacy against God and his Christ, but the kings and potentates. ‘Herod and Pontius Pilate, of a truth, ‘ said the apostle. And how many since their days? Act 4:27 . But Reader, is there not a yet more violent opposition made against Jesus? Is not hell up in arms against the kingdom of Jesus? Nay, my soul, was not all thy powers, when in a state of unrenewed nature, as rebellious as any? And even now, are not the breakings out of the remaining indwelling corruptions of thy sinful body, too often rising up against thy lawful Sovereign? Hear Paul’s complaint: see whether it is not thine own, and lie low in the dust before God. Rom 7:21 to the end.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 2:2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, [saying],
Ver. 2. The kings of the earth set themselves ] Or, stand up, as if they would do the deed, and bear down all before them. The many had acted their part, Psa 2:1 , and now the mighties show themselves, but go off again with shame enough. The Spanish friar used to say, there were but few princes in hell; and why? because there were but few in all. It was a poor comfort to our Henry VIII to be told upon his death bed that he was now going to the place of kings. Some such there have been as proved nursing fathers to the Church, and propagated the kingdom of Christ in their generations, Isa 49:23 but what a vain vaunt was that of those bloody tyrants in the primitive times, who sounded the triumph beforehand, and thus engraved the victory upon pillars of marble, Nomine Christianorum delete qui Remp. evertebant? What was all this but a blaze before their last light went out? or like some bulging wall that was swollen immediately before it fell? Have any ever yet waxed fierce against Christ and prospered? Job 9:4 .
And the rulers take counsel together
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
set themselves = take their stand.
take counsel together = have gathered by appointment. So the Septuagint and Aramaean. Compare Psa 48:4.
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.
Anointed = Messiah. So Psa 18:50; Psa 20:6; Psa 28:8; Psa 84:9; Psa 89:38, Psa 89:51; Psa 132:10, Psa 132:17. In Dan 9:25, Dan 9:26, rendered Messiah.
saying. The Figure of speech Ellipsis (App-6) correctly supplied.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Psalm 2:2-3
Psa 2:2-3
“The kings of the earth set themselves,
And the rulers take counsel together,
Against Jehovah, and against his anointed, saying,
Let us break their bonds asunder,
And cast away their cords from us.”
This passage is without any doubt whatever a reference to Almighty God the Father and his Son the Messiah. As Albert Barnes effectively stated it:
“The idea here is that it was the purpose of Jehovah and his Anointed to establish a dominion over men, and that it was equally the purpose of the kings and rulers here referred to that it should not be done.
It is ridiculous that some scholars actually apply this Psalm to David; but no one in his right mind can understand that the references here to his reigning to the uttermost parts of the earth could have any application whatever to the Jewish King David.
The New Testament makes it clear enough who is spoken of in this chapter. It is none other than the Christ. See Act 4:25-28; Act 13:33; Heb 1:5; Heb 5:5; Mat 3:17; Rom 1:4; Rev 2:26-27; and Rev 19:15. Sclater, mentioned above, tried to make something out of the fact that Jesus Christ himself did not quote this Psalm; nevertheless, Almighty God Himself quoted it from heaven in broad open daylight before a multitude (See Mat 3:17). Besides, the Divine promises throughout the New Testament are conveyed to us, not altogether by direct quotations from Jesus but by the word of the Apostles. The fact that Christ himself did not quote from this Psalm is of no significance whatever.
Furthermore, in Mat 22:45, Christ himself did indeed clearly allude to the teaching of this very Psalm.
E.M. Zerr:
Psa 2:2. Lord and his anointed mean God and Christ. The kings refers to the rulers in the time of Christ and his followers who plotted against their work. Herod and Pilate were among them and are named in Act 4:27.
Psa 2:3. Their bands and their cords refers to the hold that God and his Son rightfully had on the rulers of the world. They (heathen) plotted to revolt against the divine legislation.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
kings: Psa 2:10, Psa 48:4, Psa 110:5, Mat 2:16, Luk 13:31, Luk 23:11, Luk 23:12, Act 12:1-6, Rev 17:12-14
rulers: Mat 26:3, Mat 26:59, Mat 27:1, Act 4:5-8
Lord: Exo 16:7, Pro 21:30, Joh 15:23, Act 9:4
anointed: Psa 45:7, Psa 89:20, Isa 61:1, Joh 1:41, Joh 3:34, Act 10:38, Heb 1:9
Reciprocal: Exo 2:14 – Who Num 16:13 – thou make Deu 17:15 – whom Jos 9:2 – gathered 1Sa 2:10 – anointed 1Sa 2:35 – mine 1Sa 16:12 – anoint him 2Sa 16:20 – Give counsel 1Ki 1:7 – And he conferred 2Ch 6:42 – thine anointed Ezr 4:5 – hired Job 34:19 – princes Psa 3:6 – set Psa 20:6 – Now Psa 28:8 – his Psa 59:3 – the mighty Psa 64:2 – insurrection Psa 69:19 – mine Psa 71:10 – take Psa 74:23 – tumult Psa 83:2 – lo Psa 83:5 – For Psa 84:9 – the face Psa 119:23 – Princes Psa 140:2 – imagine Isa 7:5 – Syria Isa 8:10 – counsel Isa 37:22 – hath despised Isa 45:9 – unto him Jer 5:5 – but these Eze 11:2 – General Dan 6:7 – have consulted Mat 2:4 – the chief Mat 21:38 – This Mat 22:15 – went Mat 26:4 – consulted Mar 12:7 – This Mar 14:43 – and with Mar 15:1 – straightway Luk 2:11 – which Luk 2:26 – the Lord’s Luk 4:18 – anointed Luk 6:11 – they Joh 10:36 – whom Joh 11:47 – gathered Joh 11:53 – they Act 4:27 – whom Act 19:28 – they
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 2:2. The kings of the earth So called by way of contempt, and to show their madness in opposing the God of heaven. Herod the Great, Herod the Tetrarch, Pilate and other princes and magistrates, with or after them, are chiefly intended; set themselves Hebrew, , jithjatzebu, set themselves in opposition, as Chandler renders it. The word expresses their firm purpose and professed hostility, together with the combination of their counsels and forces. And the rulers take counsel together Or assemble together, and instigate each other, according to Waterland and Chandler. Davids enemies urged and instigated each other in their opposition to him; and the Jewish priests, elders, and council instigated false witnesses to accuse the Messiah, Pilate to condemn him, and the people to clamour for his crucifixion; the people also instigated Pilate to release Barabbas, and crucify Jesus; and the devil instigated them all to perpetrate this impious murder: as he afterward instigated kings and nations to persecute, imprison, torture, and put to death, in a variety of ways, his apostles, evangelists, and other followers. See the apostolic exposition of these verses, Act 4:25. Persecution, says Dr. Horne, may be carried on by the people, but it is raised and fomented by kings and rulers. After the ascension of Christ, and the effusion of the Spirit, the whole power of the Roman empire was employed in the same cause by those who, from time to time, swayed the sceptre of the world. But still, they who intended to extirpate the faith, and destroy the church, how many and how mighty soever they might be, were found only to imagine a vain thing. And equally vain will every imagination be that exalteth itself against the counsels of God for the salvation of his people. Against the Lord Hebrew, Jehovah, either directly and professedly, or indirectly and by consequence, because against his counsel and command; and against his Anointed Against the king whom he hath chosen and exalted: that is, in fact, against all religion in general, and against the Christian religion in particular. And it is certain, all that are enemies to Christ, whatever they may pretend, are enemies to God himself. Thus our Lord, They have hated both me and my Father. The great Author of our holy religion is here termed the Lords Anointed, or Messiah, or Christ, in allusion to the anointing of David to be king. He is both authorized and qualified to be the churchs head and king; is duly invested with the office, and every way fitted for it, and yet he is opposed by many; nay, is therefore opposed, because his opposers are impatient of Gods authority, envious at this kings advancement, and have a rooted enmity to the Spirit of holiness.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
When the nations opposed God’s vice-regent, they set themselves against the Lord Himself (cf. Act 4:25-26). The term "Anointed" is really "Messiah" (Heb. masiah), which in Greek translates to "Christ" (christos). Every Israelite king anointed by a prophet was a messiah. Though we usually think of Jesus as the Messiah, He was the most faithful of many "messiahs" in Israel’s history. Since this psalm deals with Israel’s king it is a royal psalm, as are Psalms 18, 20, 21, 45, 72, 89, 101, 110, 132, , 144. The godly meditate on God’s words (Psa 1:1), but these wicked rulers meditated on rebellion.