Psalm 2, rA

The Book of Psalms

Book  I

                Section  1:  Saturday Vespers

Division  1:1

Psalm 2 LXX

ἵνα[1] τί[2] ἐφρύαξαν[3] ἔθνη[4] καὶ[5] λαοὶ[6] ἐμελέτησαν[7] κενά?[8]  παρέστησαν[9] οἱ βασιλεῖς[10] τῆς γῆς[11] καὶ οἱ ἄρχοντες[12] συνήχθησαν[13] ἐπὶ[14] τὸ αὐτὸ[15] κατὰ[16] τοῦ κυρίου[17] καὶ κατὰ τοῦ χριστοῦ[18] αὐτοῦ[19] διάψαλμα.[20]  διαρρήξωμεν[21] τοὺς δεσμοὺς[22] αὐτῶν[23] καὶ ἀπορρίψωμεν[24] ἀφ'[25] ἡμῶν[26] τὸν ζυγὸν[27] αὐτῶν.

ὁ κατοικῶν[28] ἐν οὐρανοῖς[29] ἐκγελάσεται[30] αὐτούς[31] καὶ ὁ κύριος[32] ἐκμυκτηριεῖ[33] αὐτούς.  τότε[34] λαλήσει[35] πρὸς[36] αὐτοὺς ἐν[37] ὀργῇ[38] αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐν τῷ θυμῷ[39] αὐτοῦ ταράξει[40] αὐτούς.

ἐγὼ[41] δὲ[42] κατεστάθην[43] βασιλεὺς[44] ὑπ'[45] αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ σιων[46] ὄρος[47] τὸ ἅγιον[48] αὐτοῦ.  διαγγέλλων[49] τὸ πρόσταγμα[50] κυρίου[51] κύριος εἶπεν[52] πρός με[53] υἱός[54] μου[55] εἶ[56] σύ[57] ἐγὼ σήμερον[58] γεγέννηκά[59] σε.[60]  αἴτησαι[61] παρ'[62] ἐμοῦ[63] καὶ δώσω[64] σοι[65] ἔθνη τὴν κληρονομίαν[66] σου[67] καὶ τὴν κατάσχεσίν[68] σου τὰ πέρατα[69] τῆς γῆς.  ποιμανεῖς[70] αὐτοὺς ἐν ῥάβδῳ[71] σιδηρᾷ[72] ὡς[73] σκεῦος[74] κεραμέως[75] συντρίψεις[76] αὐτούς.

καὶ νῦν[77] βασιλεῖς σύνετε[78] παιδεύθητε[79] πάντες[80] οἱ κρίνοντες[81] τὴν γῆν.[82]  δουλεύσατε[83] τῷ κυρίῳ[84] ἐν φόβῳ[85] καὶ ἀγαλλιᾶσθε[86] αὐτῷ[87] ἐν τρόμῳ.[88]  δράξασθε[89] παιδείας[90] μήποτε[91] ὀργισθῇ[92] κύριος καὶ ἀπολεῖσθε[93] ἐξ[94] ὁδοῦ[95] δικαίας[96] ὅταν[97] ἐκκαυθῇ[98] ἐν τάχει[99] ὁ θυμὸς[100] αὐτοῦ.  μακάριοι[101] πάντες οἱ πεποιθότες[102] ἐπ' αὐτῷ.

https://www.ellopos.net/elpenor/greek-texts/septuagint/chapter.asp?book=24&page=2

http://biblehub.com/sepd/psalms/2.htm

All Greek notes are derived from the following authoritative resources:

AGL: The Analytical Greek Lexicon (Zondervan, Grand Rapids, 1973)

Dana, H. E. and J. R. Mantey, A Manual Grammar of the Greek New Testament (Macmillan, Toronto, 1957)

Psalm 2 Translation

Why is it that the nations riot[103] and the peoples meditate emptiness?  The kings of the earth take a stand.  The princes were assembled to plot against the Lord, and against His Christ chanting, “Let us tear apart their ties, and cast off their yoke from us.”

He dwelling in the heavens ridicules them.  The Lord mocks them.  Then He speaks to them in His anger.  In His fury, He terrifies them.

I, now I am appointed king under Him, over Zion, His holy mountain.  I publish the statute of [the] Lord.  [The] Lord said to Me.  “You [are] My Son, yes, You.  I, today I bring You forth.  Ask from Me.  I give You nations [for] Your inheritance, and Your spoils, the ends of the earth.  You pastor them with an iron staff.  You shatter them like a potter’s vessel.”

Now, kings, Understand.  Be chastened, all the judges of the earth.  Be enslaved to the Lord with fear.  Rejoice in Him with trembling.  Embrace chastening, lest at any time the Lord be angry, and you be destroyed from the path of righteousness, when His fury is quickly inflamed.  Very blessed [are] all those who put their confidence in Him.

Commentary

The universal uproar in the world is set in lethal opposition to everything God the Father does through God the Son.  The futility of the world’s commitment to war against God is met with uproarious laughter, followed by fury, and its resultant terror.

Three redundant repetitions emphasize the futility of the world’s cause: “I, now I,’ “You ... yes, You,” and “I, today I.”  We might have translated, “Now I am assuredly appointed king ... “You [are] certainly My Son.  Today I definitely bring You forth.”  Satan expects his own victory in the Crucifixion, but experiences his own defeat in the Coronation of the true king.  ΙΣ ΧΣ ΝΙΚΑ!  As a coronation present, Jesus receives the rule over all nations (Daniel 2:44-45).  As the spoils of war Jesus receives the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).

Instead of the hoped for cruel Pharaoh, described by MT, the new nation receives the shepherd king, first pictured in David.  He picks up the yoke, the cross, which the princes would cast aside.  He exchanges the scepter for the staff.  Yet, He is not to be trifled with.  His staff is still iron.  The nations are all crushed.  Only one nation remains.

The new nation is built on wisdom.  Former dignitaries receive the humiliation of child training.  Peoples discover that the path to genuine freedom lies in becoming God’s slave.  Kissing the Son is identical to embracing His rule, His discipleship, His pedagogy.  Repentance brings increased awareness of our narrow escape, so we tremble at the same time we rejoice.  However, those who prefer the wrath of God will find it quickly enough.

A new major theme greets us in Psalm 2.  Psalms is in part an ode to God’s King and kingdom.  This is not a separate theme: for God rules by His Law in this new nation.  What we find here is His Law of freedom, love, and mercy: the Kingdom of Kindness.  The primary use of God’s Law is a sure guide for Christian living.  The blessing of Psalm 1 is singular.  Here it is plural.[104]

[105]

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[1] ἵνα Adverb; that; with τί: why is it that?

[2] τί Interrogative pronoun τίς, τί, τίνος, always with accent: how, why?

[3] ἐφρύαξαν Aorist indicative active, third plural of φρυάσσω: snort, neigh, stamp like a horse; be noisy, fierce, insolent, tumultuous, rage, riot.

[4] ἔθνη Neuter nominative and accusative plural noun ἔθνος, εος, τό: nations.  Here, including the Jews.  The prophetic eye of the psalmist sees that the Jews are behaving like the heathen before Pilate.

[5] καὶ Conjunction καὶ: both ... and, and.

[6] λαοὶ Masculine nominative plural noun λαός, οῦ, ὁ: people (collective), peoples.

[7] ἐμελέτησαν Aorist indicative active, third plural of μελετάω: to give painful attention, study diligently, premeditate, plan, plot.

[8] κενά Accusative plural adjective κενός, ή, όν: vain, devoid of all content, meaning, or purpose, empty, emptiness.

[9] παρέστησαν Aorist indicative active, third plural of παρίστημι: to stand beside, take a united stand.  Not middle, hence, they take a stand.

[10] οἱ βασιλεῖς Masculine nominative plural noun βασιλεύς, έως, ὁ; not accusative since accusative requires τοῦς βασιλεῖς: the kings.

[11] τῆς γῆς Feminine genitive singular noun γῆ, γῆς, ἡ: of the land, of the earth.  There is a remote possibility that land emphasizes Israel in contrast to the sea that emphasizes the gentile nations.  However, this idea is more than a stretch here.

[12] καὶ οἱ ἄρχοντες Masculine nominative plural noun ἄρχων, οντος, ὁ from ἀρχή: to be first, prince, and the princes.

[13] συνήχθησαν Aorist indicative passive, third plural of συνάγω: to assemble, collect, convene, convoke, gather, meet, bring together, they were brought together.

[14] ἐπὶ Preposition with accusative: motion toward, hostile, on, against.

[15] τὸ αὐτὸ Neuter nominative and accusative singular reflexive pronoun αὐτόϛ, ή, ό: here used as a third person pronoun, him, upon or against it, the thing.

[16] κατὰ Preposition with genitive: against.

[17] τοῦ κυρίου Masculine genitive singular noun κύριος, ίου, ὁ: the Lord.

[18] καὶ κατὰ τοῦ χριστοῦ Masculine genitive singular noun χριστός, οῦ, ὁ from χρίω: to anoint, and against His Anointed, Christ, Messiah.

[19] αὐτοῦ Genitive singular reflexive pronoun αὐτόϛ, ή, ό: here used as a third person possessive pronoun, His.

[20] διάψαλμα Neuter nominative singular noun διάψαλμα[τ], ατος, τό, a contraction of διά + ψαλμα: apart from the psalm, through the psalm, selah, consider, chant.

[21] διαρρήξωμεν Future indicative active, first plural of διαρρήσσω, a contraction of δια + ρήσσω or ρήγνυμι: to rend, shatter, break, burst, dash in pieces, apart, or asunder.

[22] τοὺς δεσμοὺς Masculine accusative plural noun δεσμός, οῦ, ὁ from δέω: to bind, obligate, tie, ties.

[23] αὐτῶν Genitive plural reflexive pronoun αὐτόϛ, ή, ό: here used as a third person possessive pronoun, their

[24] καὶ ἀπορρίψωμεν Future indicative active, first plural of ἀπορρίπτω, a contraction of ἀπο + ρίπτω: to throw off or away.

[25] ἀφ' Preposition ἀπό: from.

[26] ἡμῶν Genitive first plural personal pronoun ἐγὼ, ἐμοῦ or μοῦ: I, me, mine, we, us, our, ours.

[27] τὸν ζυγὸν Masculine accusative singular noun ζυγός, οῦ, ὁ: cross bar, beam, balance, yoke.  The connection with the Crucifixion is perhaps ironic.  One cross is traded for another.

[28] ὁ κατοικῶν Present active participle, masculine nominative singular from κατοικέω: the One abiding, dwelling, living, inhabiting.

[29] ἐν οὐρανοῖς Masculine dative plural noun οὐρανός, οῦ, ὁ: heavens.

[30] ἐκγελάσεται Future indicative active, third singular of ἐκγελάω, a contraction of ἐκ + γελάω: to laugh out, burst out laughing, laugh out loud, ridicule.

[31] αὐτούς Masculine accusative plural reflexive pronoun αὐτόϛ, ή, ό: them.

[32] καὶ ὁ κύριος Masculine nominative singular noun χριστός, οῦ, ὁ.

[33] ἐκμυκτηριεῖ Future indicative active, third singular of ἐκμυκτηρίζω, a contraction of ἐκ + μυκτηρίζω: to contract the nose in contempt and derision, deride, mock.

[34] τότε Adverb of time: then.

[35] λαλήσει Future indicative active, third singular of λαλέω: talk, speak, say, introduces a direct quote.

[36] πρὸς Preposition with accusative: towards, to.

[37] ἐν Preposition: in the state of, in.

[38] ὀργῇ Feminine dative singular noun ὀργή, ῆς, ἡ: anger.

[39] καὶ ἐν τῷ θυμῷ Masculine dative singular noun θυμός, ου, ὁ from θύω: to offer, burn, anger, wrath, fury.

[40] ταράξει Future indicative active, third singular of ταράσσω: agitate, trouble; with fear, terrify.

[41] ἐγὼ Nominative first singular personal pronoun ἐγὼ, ἐμοῦ or μοῦ: I, me, mine, we, us, our, ours.

[42] δὲ Conjunction, continuation: now, yet.

[43] κατεστάθην Aorist indicative passive, first singular of καθίστημι, a contraction of καθ + ίστημι: place, set, appoint.

[44] βασιλεὺς Masculine nominative singular noun βασιλεύς, έως, ὁ: king.

[45] ὑπ' Preposition ὑπό with genitive: under, by the agency of, at the hands of.

[46] ἐπὶ σιων Proper noun: on Sion or Zion.

[47] ὄρος Neuter nominative singular noun ὄρος, εος, τό: mountain.

[48] τὸ ἅγιον Neuter nominative singular adjective ἅγιος, ία, ιον: , set apart, dedicated to, sanctified, holy.

[49] διαγγέλλων Present active participle, masculine nominative singular from διαγγέλλω: to publish publicly.

[50] τὸ πρόσταγμα Neuter nominative singular noun πρόσταγμα, ατος, τό from τάσσω, a contraction of πρός + ταγμα: command, decree.

[51] κυρίου Masculine genitive singular noun χριστός, οῦ, ὁ.

[52] εἶπεν Aorist indicative active, third singular of λέγω : he said.

[53] πρός με Accusative first singular personal pronoun ἐγὼ, ἐμοῦ or μοῦ: I, me, mine, we, us, our, ours.

[54] υἱός Masculine nominative singular noun υἱός, οῦ, ὁ: son.

[55] μου Genitive first singular personal pronoun ἐγὼ, ἐμοῦ or μοῦ: I, me, mine, we, us, our, ours.

[56] εἶ Present indicative active, second singular of εἰμί: the copula, be, exist, is.

[57] σύ Nominative second singular personal pronoun σύ, σοῦ: you, your, yours, you, your, yours.

[58] σήμερον Adverb: today.

[59] γεγέννηκά Perfect indicative active, first singular of γεννάω: to create, be born, become, beget, appoint.  In Greek culture, the mother begat at birth; but, the father begat when he officially acknowledged the child by picking it up.  Since Christ is eternally begotten of the Father, we look at this as Christ’s public acknowledgement or presentation: the coronation of the king, if you will.  There is no support for a theology of Christotokos in these words.  Jesus is the eternal Son of God.  He did not become the Son of God by being born of Mary.

[60] σε Accusative second singular personal pronoun σύ, σοῦ: you, your, yours, you, your, yours.

[61] αἴτησαι Aorist imperative middle, second singular of αἰτέω: to petition, request, ask.  See AGL, p. xxi, the form of the aorist imperative middle φίλησαι with antepenultimate accent.  Not to be mistaken for the infinitive with penultimate accent.

[62] παρ' Preposition παρά with genitive: from.

[63] ἐμοῦ Genitive first singular personal pronoun ἐγὼ, ἐμοῦ or μοῦ: I, me, mine.

[64] δώσω Future indicative active, first singular of δίδωμι: give.

[65] σοι Dative second singular personal pronoun σύ, σοῦ: you, your, yours, you, your, yours.

[66] τὴν κληρονομίαν Feminine accusative singular noun κληρονομία, ας, ἡ from κληρονόμος, a contraction of κλῆρος + νόμος: assignment by law, inheritance.

[67] σου Genitive second singular personal pronoun σύ, σοῦ: you, your, yours, you, your, yours.

[68] τὴν κατάσχεσίν Feminine accusative singular noun κατάσχεσις, εως, ἡ from κατέχω, a contraction of κατά + έχω, the second accent is attracted from the subsequent pronoun: to hold with a firm grip, an unbreakable grip, possess; a possession.

[69] τὰ πέρατα Neuter accusative plural noun πέρας, ᾶτος, τό: extremity, uttermost part, conclusion, termination, end.

[70] ποιμανεῖς Future indicative active, second singular of ποιμαίνω from ποιμήν, ένος, ὁ: to rule (Matthew 2:6; Revelation 2:27; 12:5; 19:15), feed (Revelation 7:17), shepherd, pastor.  The Gospel emphasis is unique to LXX.  Both J p-H and MT have lost something important.

[71] ἐν ῥάβδῳ Feminine dative singular noun ῥάβδος, ου, ἡ: rod, wand, scepter, staff.  The shepherd king exchanges his scepter for a staff.

[72] σιδηρᾷ Feminine dative singular adjective σιδήρεος, εα, ᾶ, from the noun σίδηρος, ου, ὁ: iron.

[73] ὡς Adverb, correlative: as; with numerals: about; conjunction: accordingly, how, that, when.

[74] σκεῦος Neuter nominative singular noun σκεῦος, εος, τό: container, utensil, instrument, vessel.

[75] κεραμέως Masculine genitive singular noun κεραμεύς, έως, ὁ from κέραμος, ου, ὁ (we expected a feminine here, pottery): potter.

[76] συντρίψεις Future indicative active, second singular of συντρίβω, a contraction of συν + τρίβω: to rub together, weaken, bruise, break, smash, shatter.

[77] νῦν Adverb: now, at the present time.

[78] σύνετε Aorist imperative active, second plural of συνίημι, a contraction of συν + ἵημι: to send together, understand, comprehend thoroughly, see clearly, be wise.

[79] παιδεύθητε Aorist imperative passive, second plural of παιδεύω from παιδός, ὁ, ἡ: be instructed, taught, scourge.  To instruct an adult of great public rank as if he were a child is severe punishment, chastise, chasten.

[80] πάντες Masculine nominative plural adjective πᾶς, πᾶςα, πᾶν: all.

[81] οἱ κρίνοντες Present active participle, masculine nominative plural from κρίνω: judge, the ones who judge.

[82] τὴν γῆν Feminine accusative singular noun γῆ, γῆς, ἡ: the land, the earth.

[83] δουλεύσατε Aorist imperative active, second plural of δουλεύω: be enslaved, serve.

[84] τῷ κυρίῳ Masculine dative singular noun κύριος, ίου, ὁ: the Lord.

[85] ἐν φόβῳ Masculine dative singular noun φόβος, ου, ὁ: with or in fear.

[86] καὶ ἀγαλλιᾶσθε Present imperative middle, second plural of ἀγαλλιάω: celebrate, praise, exult, rejoice.

[87] αὐτῷ Masculine dative singular reflexive pronoun αὐτόϛ, ή, ό: in Him.

[88] ἐν τρόμῳ Masculine dative singular noun τρόμος, ου, ὁ from τρέμω: with trembling.

[89] δράξασθε Aorist imperative middle, second plural of δράσσομαι: grasp, lay hold of, seize.

[90] παιδείας Feminine genitive singular noun παιδεία, ας, ἡ: instruction, discipline, correction, chastisement.

[91] μήποτε Adverb, a contraction of μή + ποτε: lest at any time, lest whenever.

[92] ὀργισθῇ Aorist subjunctive passive, third singular of ὀργίζω: he should be provoked to anger, should be angered.  Alternatively, aorist passive participle, masculine dative singular from ὀργίζω: attendant circumstance, he having been provoked to anger.

[93] ἀπολεῖσθε Future indicative middle, second plural of ἀπόλλυμι, a contraction of ἀπό + ὄλλυμι, ὄλεθρος: to kill, put to death, destroyed, lost.  Luke 13:3, 5.

[94] ἐξ Preposition ἐκ: out of, from.

[95] ὁδοῦ Feminine genitive singular noun ὁδόϛ, οῦ, ἡ: way, road, direction, course (of action), system (of doctrine).

[96] δικαίας Feminine genitive singular adjective δίκαιος, αία, αιον: just, righteous.

[97] ὅταν Conjunction, a contraction of ὅτε + ἄν: in case of, at that time, on that occasion, whenever, when.

[98] ἐκκαυθῇ Aorist subjunctive passive, third singular of ἐκκαίω, a contraction of ἐκ + καίω: he should be burned forth, kindled, ignited, inflamed.  Alternatively, aorist passive participle, masculine dative singular from ἐκκαίω: attendant circumstance, he having been burned forth, kindled, ignited, inflamed.

[99] ἐν τάχει Neuter dative singular noun τάχος, εος, τό from ταχύς: hastiness, immediateness, quickness,

[100] ὁ θυμὸς Masculine nominative singular noun θυμός, ου, ὁ from θύω: to offer, burn, anger, wrath, fury.

[101] μακάριοι Masculine nominative plural adjective (or noun) μακάριος, ία, ιον: blessed or happy.

[102] οἱ πεποιθότες Perfect active participle, masculine nominative plural from πείθω: to persuade, convince, trust, confidence.  The one putting confidence in....  Philippians 3:3.

[103] We have chosen the characteristic interpretation throughout, because we believe that this Psalm expresses eternal ideas.  Anyone desiring to follow the tenses involved more rigorously is free to do so.  Alternately, the text can be viewed in the time frame of Jesus before Pilate.  In any case, the meaning should not be significantly changed.

[104] This change in number is not observed in the MT.  It may represent a LXX mistranslation (unlikely) or a subtle observation now lost to the MT.

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