---
title: "Psalms 2 - Study King James Bible with barnes notes on the whole bible"
description: "Read Psalms 2 with barnes notes on the whole bible commentary. 1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the"
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url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/barnes-notes-on-the-whole-bible/psalms/2"
---

[ Read](/kjv/psalms/2)[ Commentary](/study/psalms/2)[ Interlinear](/interlinear/psalms/2) Audio

 1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?**

 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.

 4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.

 5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.*

 6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.**

 7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou *art* my Son; this day have I begotten thee.*

 8 Ask of me, and I shall give *thee* the heathen *for* thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth *for* thy possession.

 9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.

 10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.

 11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish *from* the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed *are* all they that put their trust in him.
 
[Psalms 1](/study/psalms/1) [Psalms 3](/study/psalms/3)

## Commentary

 To verse 1
 
**Why do the heathen rage - “**Why do nations make a noise?” Prof. Alexander. The word “heathen” here - גוים *gôyim* - means properly “nations,” with out respect, so far as the word is concerned, to the character of the nations. It was applied by the Hebrews to the surrounding nations, or to all other people than their own; and as those nations were in fact pagans, or idolators, the word came to have this signification. [Nehemiah 5:8](/kjv/nehemiah/5/8); [Jeremiah 31:10](/kjv/jeremiah/31/10); [Ezekiel 23:30](/kjv/ezekiel/23/30); [Ezekiel 30:11](/kjv/ezekiel/30/11); compare אדם *'âdâm*, [Jeremiah 32:20](/kjv/jeremiah/32/20). The word Gentile among the Hebrews (Greek, ἔθνος *ethnos* expressed the same thing. [Matthew 4:15](/kjv/matthew/4/15); [Matthew 6:32](/kjv/matthew/6/32); [Matthew 10:5](/kjv/matthew/10/5), [Matthew 10:18](/kjv/matthew/10/18); [Matthew 12:21](/kjv/matthew/12/21), et soepe. The word rendered “rage” - רגשׁ *râgash* - means to make a noise or tumult, and would be expressive of violent commotion or agitation. It occurs in the Hebrew Scriptures only in this place, though the corresponding Chaldee word - רגשׁ *regash* is found in [Daniel 6:6](/kjv/daniel/6/6), [Daniel 6:11](/kjv/daniel/6/11), [Daniel 6:15](/kjv/daniel/6/15) - rendered in [Daniel 6:6](/kjv/daniel/6/6), “assembled together,” in the margin “came tumultuously,” - and in [Daniel 6:11](/kjv/daniel/6/11), [Daniel 6:15](/kjv/daniel/6/15), rendered “assembled.” The psalmist here sees the nations in violent agitation or commotion, as if under high excitement, engaged in accomplishing some purpose - rushing on to secure something, or to prevent something. The image of a mob, or of a tumultuous unregulated assemblage, would probably convey the idea of the psalmist. The word itself does not enable us to determine how extensive this agitation would be, but it is evidently implied that it would be a somewhat general movement; a movement in which more than one nation or people would participate. The matter in hand was something that affected the nations generally, and which would produce violent agitation among them. 

**And the people -**לאמים *L**e**'umiym*. A word expressing substantially the same idea, that of people, or nations, and referring here to the same thing as the word rendered “heathen” - according to the laws of Hebrew parallelism in poetry. It is the people here that are seen in violent agitation: the conduct of the rulers, as associated with them, is referred to in the next verse. 

**Imagine -**Our word “imagine” does not precisely express the idea here. We mean by it, “to form a notion or idea in the mind; to fancy.” Webster. The Hebrew word, הגה *hâgâh*, is the same which, in [Psalms 1:2](/kjv/psalms/1/2), is rendered “meditate.” See the notes at that verse. It means here that the mind is engaged in deliberating on it; that it plans, devises, or forms a purpose; - in other words, the persons referred to are thinking about some purpose which is here called a vain purpose; they are meditating some project which excites deep thought, but which cannot be effectual. 

**A vain thing -**That is, which will prove to be a vain thing, or a thing which they cannot accomplish. It cannot mean that they were engaged in forming plans which they supposed would be vain - for no persons would form such plans; but that they were engaged in designs which the result would show to be unsuccessful. The reference here is to the agitation among the nations in respect to the divine purpose to set up the Messiah as king over the world, and to the opposition which this would create among the nations of the earth. See the notes at [Psalms 2:2](/kjv/psalms/2/2). An ample fulfillment of this occurred in the opposition to him when he came in the flesh, and in the resistance everywhere made since his death to his reign upon the earth. Nothing has produced more agitation in the world (compare [Acts 17:6](/kjv/acts/17/6)), and nothing still excites more determined resistance. The truths taught in this verse are: 

(1) that sinners are opposed - even so much as to produce violent agitation of mind, and a fixed and determined purpose - to the plans and decrees of God, especially with respect to the reign of the Messiah; and 

(2) that their plans to resist this will be vain and ineffectual; wisely as their schemes may seem to be laid, and determined as they themselves are in regard to their execution, yet they must find them vain. 

What is implied here of the particular plans against the Messiah, is true of all the purposes of sinners, when they array themselves against the government of God.

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