Commentary page
Psalms 2
This page gathers the commentary on one source unit: the classic commentaries as they are printed, the sources the text cites, the sages named in it and direct links back to the text.
Read the full text in the readerPsalms Chapter 2
Psalms Chapter 2 presents 12 verses in a searchable Hebrew text unit. This original reading guide identifies observable themes and a practical path through the chapter without adding an unverified interpretation.
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Begin with the opening verses, notice repetitions and transitions, then use the verse index to return to the exact line. The verse index is especially useful for following repeated words and changes in scene or voice.
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Read the passage once for its sequence of ideas, then return to the words that carry the argument or image. The source text remains the primary evidence; this note offers a structured way to enter it rather than replacing close reading.
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A unit-by-unit map of all 12 verses on this page: opening words, the moves the text actually makes and a link back to that exact verse.
- Verse 15 words
Opens “לָ֭מָּה רָגְשׁ֣וּ גוֹיִ֑ם וּ֝לְאֻמִּ֗ים יֶהְגּוּ־רִֽיק׃…”
- Verse 26 words
Opens “יִ֥תְיַצְּב֨וּ׀ מַלְכֵי־אֶ֗רֶץ וְרוֹזְנִ֥ים נֽוֹסְדוּ־יָ֑חַד עַל־יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה וְעַל־מְשִׁיחֽוֹ׃…”
- Verse 35 words
Opens “נְֽ֭נַתְּקָה אֶת־מֽוֹסְרוֹתֵ֑ימוֹ וְנַשְׁלִ֖יכָה מִמֶּ֣נּוּ עֲבֹתֵֽימוֹ׃…”
- Verse 45 words
Opens “יוֹשֵׁ֣ב בַּשָּׁמַ֣יִם יִשְׂחָ֑ק אֲ֝דֹנָ֗י יִלְעַג־לָֽמוֹ׃…”
- Verse 56 words
Opens “אָ֤ז יְדַבֵּ֣ר אֵלֵ֣ימוֹ בְאַפּ֑וֹ וּֽבַחֲרוֹנ֥וֹ יְבַהֲלֵֽמוֹ׃…”
- Verse 65 words
Opens “וַ֭אֲנִי נָסַ֣כְתִּי מַלְכִּ֑י עַל־צִ֝יּ֗וֹן הַר־קׇדְשִֽׁי׃…”
- Verse 79 words
Opens “אֲסַפְּרָ֗ה אֶֽ֫ל־חֹ֥ק יְֽהֹוָ֗ה אָמַ֘ר־אֵלַ֥י בְּנִ֥י אַ֑תָּה אֲ֝נִ֗י…”
- Verse 87 words
Opens “שְׁאַ֤ל מִמֶּ֗נִּי וְאֶתְּנָ֣ה ג֭וֹיִם נַחֲלָתֶ֑ךָ וַ֝אֲחֻזָּתְךָ֗ אַפְסֵי־אָֽרֶץ׃…”
- Verse 96 words
Opens “תְּ֭רֹעֵם בְּשֵׁ֣בֶט בַּרְזֶ֑ל כִּכְלִ֖י יוֹצֵ֣ר תְּנַפְּצֵֽם׃…”
- Verse 106 words
Opens “וְ֭עַתָּה מְלָכִ֣ים הַשְׂכִּ֑ילוּ הִ֝וָּסְר֗וּ שֹׁ֣פְטֵי אָֽרֶץ׃…”
- Verse 115 words
Opens “עִבְד֣וּ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה בְּיִרְאָ֑ה וְ֝גִ֗ילוּ בִּרְעָדָֽה׃…”
- Verse 1211 words
Opens “נַשְּׁקוּ־בַ֡ר פֶּן־יֶאֱנַ֤ף׀ וְתֹ֬אבְדוּ דֶ֗רֶךְ כִּֽי־יִבְעַ֣ר כִּמְעַ֣ט אַפּ֑וֹ…”
Rashi's commentary
Verse 11
Tremble with fright — When trembling comes, as it is written here, (Isaiah 33) "the godless are seized with trembling" and they will be happy with service to the Lord.
Verse 12
Lest he be angry — Lest he be full of wrath
Edition: Sefaria Community Translation. License: CC0. Sefaria.
Malbim's commentary
Verse 1
>"WHY?" After the Psalmist explained the loss of the wicked person, who is like chaff that is blown away* by the wind and has no hope unless he protects...
Edition: Sefaria Community Translation. License: CC0. Sefaria.
Original text
לָ֭מָּה רָגְשׁ֣וּ גוֹיִ֑ם וּ֝לְאֻמִּ֗ים יֶהְגּוּ־רִֽיק׃
Why do nations assemble, and peoples plot vain things;
יִ֥תְיַצְּב֨וּ׀ מַלְכֵי־אֶ֗רֶץ וְרוֹזְנִ֥ים נֽוֹסְדוּ־יָ֑חַד עַל־יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה וְעַל־מְשִׁיחֽוֹ׃
kings of the earth take their stand, and regents intrigue together against the one anointed by G OD ?
נְֽ֭נַתְּקָה אֶת־מֽוֹסְרוֹתֵ֑ימוֹ וְנַשְׁלִ֖יכָה מִמֶּ֣נּוּ עֲבֹתֵֽימוֹ׃
“Let us break the cords of their yoke, shake off their ropes from us!”
יוֹשֵׁ֣ב בַּשָּׁמַ֣יִם יִשְׂחָ֑ק אֲ֝דֹנָ֗י יִלְעַג־לָֽמוֹ׃
The One who is enthroned in heaven laughs; my Sovereign mocks at them.
אָ֤ז יְדַבֵּ֣ר אֵלֵ֣ימוֹ בְאַפּ֑וֹ וּֽבַחֲרוֹנ֥וֹ יְבַהֲלֵֽמוֹ׃
Then [God] speaks to them in anger, terrifying them with divine rage,
וַ֭אֲנִי נָסַ֣כְתִּי מַלְכִּ֑י עַל־צִ֝יּ֗וֹן הַר־קׇדְשִֽׁי׃
“But I have installed My king on Zion, My holy mountain!”
אֲסַפְּרָ֗ה אֶֽ֫ל־חֹ֥ק יְֽהֹוָ֗ה אָמַ֘ר־אֵלַ֥י בְּנִ֥י אַ֑תָּה אֲ֝נִ֗י הַיּ֥וֹם יְלִדְתִּֽיךָ׃
Let me tell of the decree: G OD said to me, “You are My son, I have fathered you this day.
שְׁאַ֤ל מִמֶּ֗נִּי וְאֶתְּנָ֣ה ג֭וֹיִם נַחֲלָתֶ֑ךָ וַ֝אֲחֻזָּתְךָ֗ אַפְסֵי־אָֽרֶץ׃
Ask it of Me, and I will make the nations your domain; your estate, the limits of the earth.
תְּ֭רֹעֵם בְּשֵׁ֣בֶט בַּרְזֶ֑ל כִּכְלִ֖י יוֹצֵ֣ר תְּנַפְּצֵֽם׃
You can smash them with an iron mace, shatter them like potter’s ware.”
וְ֭עַתָּה מְלָכִ֣ים הַשְׂכִּ֑ילוּ הִ֝וָּסְר֗וּ שֹׁ֣פְטֵי אָֽרֶץ׃
So now, O kings, be prudent; accept discipline, you rulers of the earth!
עִבְד֣וּ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה בְּיִרְאָ֑ה וְ֝גִ֗ילוּ בִּרְעָדָֽה׃
Serve G OD in awe; tremble with fright,
נַשְּׁקוּ־בַ֡ר פֶּן־יֶאֱנַ֤ף׀ וְתֹ֬אבְדוּ דֶ֗רֶךְ כִּֽי־יִבְעַ֣ר כִּמְעַ֣ט אַפּ֑וֹ אַ֝שְׁרֵ֗י כׇּל־ח֥וֹסֵי בֽוֹ׃ {פ}
pay homage in good faith, lest [God] be angered, and your way be doomed in the mere flash of divine anger. Happy are all who take refuge in [God].
English translation: THE JPS TANAKH: Gender-Sensitive Edition · CC-BY-NC