Psalms 2:1–6

In its context

Its words in the original

• רָגְשׁוּragshu· rage, be in tumult

  To be in tumult, to be in an uproar. It appears only once in the Bible (Psalm 2:1).

• גוֹיִםgoyim· nation

  Nation, a people with its land. In the plural, "the nations": all the peoples of the world, and especially those who are not Israel.

• לְאֻמִּיםleumim· people, nation

  People, nation.

• יֶהְגּוּyehgu· meditate, murmur

  Meditate: repeat something in a low voice, turn it over again and again. The same word is used for the murmur of someone reading to himself.

• רִיקrik· emptiness, in vain

  Emptiness; a useless thing. "In vain" is without result.

• יִתְיַצְּבוּyityatsvu· take one's stand

  Take one's stand, stand firm in a place, present oneself.

• מַלְכֵיmalche· king

  King: the ruler of a city, a people or a kingdom.

• אֶרֶץerets· earth, land

  The earth, in two senses: the whole world in contrast with the heavens, or a particular country or region ("the land of Egypt").

• רוֹזְנִיםroznim· ruler, dignitary

  Dignitary: a person of weight, an important ruler. It always appears alongside "kings."

• נוֹסְדוּnosdu· found, establish

  Found, lay the foundations; also appoint, establish.

• יָחַדyachad· together

  Together, at the same time.

• יְהוָהyehva· YHWH

  The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.

• מְשִׁיחmeshich· anointed

  Anointed: someone on whom oil has been poured to set him apart for a task from God (priest, king). In Hebrew it is "mashiach", from which "Messiah" comes; in Greek, "Christ".

• נְנַתְּקָהnenatka· tear off, break

  Tear off, break by pulling.

• מוֹסְרוֹתֵיmosrote· bond, fetter

  A bond, a strap that holds; a chain.

• נַשְׁלִיכָהnashlicha· throw

  Throw, cast, cast away.

• עֲבֹתֵיavote· cord; thick foliage

  Cord, braided rope. In Ezekiel 19:11 and 31:3, thick boughs, dense foliage.

• יוֹשֵׁבyoshev· sit, dwell

  Sit, sit down; from there stay in a place, live, dwell. In the causative form, settle someone, make to dwell. Also sit as judge or as king.

• שָּׁמַיִםshamayim· heavens, sky

  The heavens: what is above, where the clouds, the sun and the stars are seen; also the dwelling of God. In Hebrew it is always plural. With birds, "the sky".

• יִשְׂחָקyischak· laugh, play

  Laugh, play, entertain; sometimes mock.

• אֲדֹנָadona· Adonai, Lord

  "Adonai": "my Lord", said only to God. It is a title of respect that acknowledges his authority. It is not another god besides YHWH: often it goes with his name, "Adonai YHWH", Lord YHWH.

• יִלְעַגyilag· mock, deride

  To mock, to laugh at someone with contempt (2 Kings 19:21; Psalm 2:4; Proverbs 17:5). In one passage it is used of speaking a language that is not understood (Isaiah 33:19).

• יְדַבֵּרyedaber· speak

  Speak, talk, say; also promise or command.

• אַפּap· anger, nose

  Nose, nostrils. Since breathing grows hard in anger, the same word also means "anger"; sometimes "face".

• חֲרוֹנcharon· burning anger

  Burning of anger.

• יְבַהֲלֵyevahale· be terrified, dismayed

  Be terrified, suddenly alarmed; hurry in alarm.

• נָסַכְתִּיnasachti· pour out

  Pour out a liquid as an offering; also cast metal, and install a king.

• צִיּוֹןtsiyon· Zion

  Zion: the fortified hill of Jerusalem that David took from the Jebusites; later the name is used for all Jerusalem and for the temple mount.

• הַרhar· mountain, hill country

  Mountain, hill; hill country.

• קָדְשִׁkadshi· holiness, holy place

  Holiness: what is set apart for God. Also a holy place or a holy thing; "the holy of holies" is the most holy place.