King James Version
What Does Psalms 2:1 Mean?
“Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? rage: or, tumultuously assemble imagine: Heb. meditate”
Context
1
Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? rage: or, tumultuously assemble imagine: Heb. meditate
2
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
3
Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
Commentary
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers(1) **Why do the heathen rage?**—Better, *Why did nations band together, *or *muster? *The Hebrew occurs only here as a verb, but derivatives occur in Pss. 4:14, Psalm 64:2: in the first, of a *festive crowd; *in the second, of a *conspiracy allied with some evil intent. *This fixes the meaning here, *band together, *possibly as in Aquila’s translation, with added sense of *tumult. *The LXX. have “grown restive,” like horses; Vulg., “have raged.”
**Imagine.**—Better, *meditate, *or *plan. *Literally, as in Psalm 1:2, only here in bad sense, *mutter, *referring to the whispered treasons passing to and fro among the nations, “a maze of mutter’d threats and mysteries.” In old English “imagine” was used in a bad sense; thus Chaucer, “nothing list him to be *imaginatif*”* i.e., suspicious. *The verb in this clause, as in the next, is in the present, the change being expressive: Why *did *they plot? what *do *they hope to gain by it?
Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.
Historical Context
This verse is found in the book of Psalms. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.
Theological Significance
Psalms 2:1 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.
Cross-References
Verses related to Psalms 2:1
Cross-references from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge