Psalm 2:9 - Printer Friendly

ESV: You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”

NIV: You will break them with a rod of iron; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.'

NASB: You shall break them with a rod of iron, You shall shatter them like earthenware.’?'

CSB: You will break them with an iron scepter; you will shatter them like pottery."

NLT: You will break them with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots.’'

KJV: Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.

NKJV: You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ ”

This verse predicts that the Lord's Anointed will smash the rebellious nations when He returns to earth to establish His kingdom (Revelation 19:11; 20:4). Not one unrighteous person will be left to enter the kingdom (Titus 3:4–7). He will use a rod of iron to shatter the rebels just as a potter smashes a vessel into pieces.

The Hebrew word for "rod" is sē'bet, often applied to a shepherd's crook. At other times it refers to a scepter. Reportedly, Pharaoh used his scepter to smash vessels that represented rebellious nations or rebellious cities in his empire. Revelation 19:15 unveils what happens to the rebellious nations when Jesus returns to earth. The verse declares: "From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron."

Psalm 89:22–26 predicts the Messiah's conquest and rule: "The enemy shall not outwit him; the wicked shall not humble him. I will crush his foes before him and strike down those that hate him. My faithfulness and my steadfast love shall be with him, and in my name shall his horn be exalted. I will set his hand on the sea and his right hand on the rivers. He shall cry to me, 'You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation.'"

Psalm 2:7–9 records the words of God's Son, Israel's future King. They appropriately follow God's promise to establish His Son on the throne of David, and to deal with rebellious nations in His wrath and fury. Faced with King Jesus' victory over His foes, the psalmist's counsel to the rebels follows in verses 10–12. Revelation 19:11–15 describes the King's outpouring of God's wrath and fury on the rebel nations during the end times.

Psalm 2, written by King David (Acts 4:25), begins by questioning the nations' frenzied attempt to overthrow the Lord and His anointed King, Jesus. Godless cultures plot to rid themselves of divine authority. But trying to escape God's will is ridiculous. He will direct His wrath toward them and asserts He has established His King upon Mount Zion. God addresses His Son as His only begotten. This passage predicts the anointed King—the Messiah—will smash the rebellious nations to pieces with an iron rod. The psalmist urges the kings and rulers of the earth to submit to the Son's rule and come to friendly terms with Him. The psalm closes with the declaration that all who take refuge in the Lord's anointed King are blessed.

Psalm 2 is often labelled a royal psalm, because it refers to the King above all kings. This complements several other psalms: Psalms 18, 20, 21, 45, 72, 89, 101, 110, 132, and 144. Acts 13:33 relates Psalm 2:7 to Jesus. Revelation 2:27, spoken by the risen Savior, relates Psalm 2:9 to His victory over the rebellious nations and His reign on earth. Revelation 19:19–21 describes when and how Jesus will defeat the nations that assemble to go to war against God's anointed Son.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.