Psalm 2 Academics
My king on Zion
Psalm 2
Academic Resources
Explore our academic Psalms resources for Psalm 2, including our Layer-by-Layer analysis, select Exegetical Issues, and Overview Videos.
Overview 
- This page will introduce and provide orientation to Psalm 2 as a whole. It covers the message, structure, background and participants of the psalm.
Layer-by-Layer Analysis 
- The heart of our process is our layer-by-layer exegetical analysis, where we unfold the semantics, story behind, discourse, and poetics of each psalm.
Grammar & Semantics
Semantics is the study of how language is used to represent meaning. The goal of semantic analysis is to understand the meaning of words and how they relate to each other in context. Our Semantics analysis consists of the following sub-layers:
- Grammar & Textual Criticism
- Lexical Semantics
- Phrase-Level Semantics
- Verbal Semantics
Story Behind
The Story Behind the Psalm shows how each part of the psalm fits together into a single coherent whole. Here, we analyze the meaning of sentences and larger units of discourse, up to and including the entire psalm. This also include historical background and figurative imagery.
Discourse
Our Discourse Layer moves beyond semantic-level meaning, and analyzes features of the text dependent on the speaker, addressee, and macrosyntax.
Poetics
Exploring the Psalms as poetry is crucial for understanding and experiencing the psalms and thus for faithfully translating them into another language.
Verse-by-Verse Notes 
- Explore the psalm verse-by-verse and section-by-section.
Psalm 2 Exegetical Issues 
- These issues examine the top three tough questions for each psalm, explaining different scholarly interpretations, and offering our perspective.
- This exegetical issue will focus on the meaning of the word נָסַכְתִּי (a qal 1cs qatal verb from the root נסך). It will discuss the following options for interpreting the term:
- God establishes his king upon Mount Zion.
- God anoints his king, thereby ordaining him.
- God makes one king with a drink offering (libation).
- God pours out/casts his king (as a statue/image) on Zion.
- The second line of Ps 2:11 (גִילוּ בִּרְעָדָה) is difficult, since the verb גִּיל usually means "rejoice," which is a joyful act, whereas רְעָדָה ("trembling") is usually associated with fear or terror (e.g., Exod 15:15; Job 4:14; Ps 48:6; 55:5).[3] To "rejoice" in "terror" thus creates an apparent contradiction in terms.
- This portion of the text, particularly the phrase נַשְּׁקוּ בַר in v. 12, is the crux interpretum of Ps 2." Translations, both ancient and modern, differ significantly from one another at this point, and many include footnotes indicating that the Hebrew text is uncertain.
