Psalm 2 Speech Act

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My king on Zion

Psalm 2

See Full Discourse Layer

Speech Act Analysis

What is Speech Act Analysis?

The Speech Act layer presents the text in terms of what it does, following the findings of Speech Act Theory. It builds on the recognition that there is more to communication than the exchange of propositions. Speech act analysis is particularly important when communicating cross-culturally, and lack of understanding can lead to serious misunderstandings, since the ways languages and cultures perform speech acts varies widely.

For a detailed explanation of our method, see the Speech Act Analysis Creator Guidelines.

• Summary Visual
• Analysis Chart

Summary Visual

Speaker		Verses		Macro Speech Acts				Addressee
Psalmist		v. 1 Why are nations in an uproar, and [why] do peoples plot emptiness?		Disparagement (vv. 1–3)				Listeners
		v. 2 [Why] do earthly kings take a stand and [why] have rulers conspired together against YHWH and against his anointed one?		Why would they plot emptiness?
Nations		v. 3 "Let's tear off their bonds and throw their ropes away from us!"			Conspiracy (v. 3) "Let's rebel against their rule!"			Nations
Psalmist								Listeners
		v. 4 The one enthroned in the heavens laughs. The Lord mocks them.		Description (vv. 4–6)
		v. 5 Then he speaks to them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath.		YHWH responds to them
YHWH		v. 6 "But I have poured out my king on Zion, my holy mountain."			Affirmation (v. 6) "I have given my king authority over you"			Nations
King
		v. 7 I will tell about the decree; YHWH said to me, "You are my son.I hereby father you today.		Proclamation (vv. 7-9)
		v. 8 Ask me, and I will make nations your inheritance and the ends of the earth your property.		I will tell about YHWH's decree
		v. 9 You will crush them with an iron scepter. You will smash them like clay pottery."			Decree (vv. 7bβ-9) "You are my son..."
Psalmist
		v. 10 And now, kings, wise up! Accept discipline, earthly rulers!		Ultimatum (vv. 10–12)
		v. 11 Serve YHWH with fear and rejoice with trembling!		Wise up and submit to YHWH and his king or be destroyed!
		v. 12 Kiss the son, or else he will become angry and you will perish in your way, for his anger quickly ignites.Happy are all who take refuge in him!

Speech Act Analysis Chart

The following chart is scrollable (left/right; up/down).

  Legend

Verse	Hebrew	CBC	Sentence type	Illocution (general)	Illocution with context	Macro speech act	Intended perlocution (Think)	Intended perlocution (Feel)	Intended perlocution (Do)
Verse number and poetic line	Hebrew text	English translation	Declarative, Imperative, or Interrogative Indirect Speech Act: Mismatch between sentence type and illocution type	Assertive, Directive, Expressive, Commissive, or Declaratory Indirect Speech Act: Mismatch between sentence type and illocution type	More specific illocution type with paraphrased context	Illocutionary intent (i.e. communicative purpose) of larger sections of discourse These align with the "Speech Act Summary" headings	What the speaker intends for the address to think	What the speaker intends for the address to feel	What the speaker intends for the address to do

If an emendation or revocalization is preferred, that emendation or revocalization will be marked in the Hebrew text of all the visuals.

Emendations/Revocalizations legend
*Emended text*	Emended text, text in which the consonants differ from the consonants of the Masoretic text, is indicated by blue asterisks on either side of the emendation.
*Revocalized text*	Revocalized text, text in which only the vowels differ from the vowels of the Masoretic text, is indicated by purple asterisks on either side of the revocalization.

Verse	Text (Hebrew)	Text (CBC)	Sentence type	Illocution (general)	Illocution with context	Macro speech act	Intended perlocution (Think)	Intended perlocution (Feel)	Intended perlocution (Do)	Speech Act Notes
1	לָ֭מָּה רָגְשׁ֣וּ גוֹיִ֑ם	Why are nations in an uproar,	Interrogative	Expressive	Expressing contempt for the nations' being in an uproar	Disparaging the futile attempt of the nations and their rulers at rebellion	Listeners will be convinced that the rebellion is futile	Listeners will feel contempt for the rebels		• "The question is rhetorical. Rather than seeking information, the psalmist expresses his outrage that the nations would have the audacity to rebel against God and his chosen king" (NET note). Or, better: the psalmist expresses his contempt that the nations would engage in something so futile, so foolish and destined for failure • BDB: למה "with an impf., often deprecating, or introducing rhetorically, the reason why something should, or should not, be done, why should …?"
	וּ֝לְאֻמִּ֗ים יֶהְגּוּ־רִֽיק׃	and [why] do peoples plot emptiness?			Expressing contempt for the peoples' futile plots
2	יִ֥תְיַצְּב֨וּ ׀ מַלְכֵי־אֶ֗רֶץ	[Why] do earthly kings take a stand,			Expressing contempt for the kings' rebellion
	וְרוֹזְנִ֥ים נֽוֹסְדֽוּ־יָ֑חַד	and officials gather together			Expressing contempt for the officials' rebellion
3	עַל־יְהוָ֥ה וְעַל־מְשִׁיחֽוֹ׃	against YHWH and against his anointed one,	Declarative	Assertive	Asserting the kings' rebellion against YHWH and his anointed one	Disparaging the futile attempt of the nations and their rulers at rebellion	Listeners will be convinced that the rebellion is futile	Listeners will feel contempt for the rebels
	נְֽנַתְּקָה֙ אֶת־מֽוֹסְרֽוֹתֵימֹ֑ו	"Let us tear off their bonds,	Imperative	Directive	Summoning one another to tear off the bonds of YHWH and his anointed one	Disparaging the futile attempt of the nations and their rulers at rebellion	Listeners will be convinced that the rebellion is futile	Listeners will feel contempt for the rebels		• This is a quote of the kings' words.
	וְנַשְׁלִ֣יכָה מִמֶּ֥נּוּ עֲבֹתֵימֹֽו׃	and throw off their ropes from us!"			Summoning one another to throw off the ropes of YHWH and his anointed one
4	יֹושֵׁ֣ב בַּשָּׁמַ֣יִם יִשְׂחָ֑ק	The one enthroned in the heavens laughs,	Declarative	Expressive	Expressing contempt for the kings' rebellion	Disparaging the futile attempt of the nations and their rulers at rebellion	Listeners will be convinced that the rebellion is futile	Listeners will feel contempt for the rebels		• The psalmist's reaction
	אֲדֹנָ֥י יִלְעַג־לָֽמֹו׃	the Lord scoffs at them.			Expressing contempt for the kings' rebellion
5	אָ֤ז יְדַבֵּ֣ר אֵלֵ֣ימֹו בְאַפּ֑וֹ	Then he will speak to them in his anger,			Asserting that YHWH will speak to the kings in his anger
	וּבַחֲרֹונֹ֖ו יְבַהֲלֵֽמֹו׃	and in his wrath he will terrify them:	Declarative	Assertive	Asserting that YHWH will terrify the kings in his wrath	Disparaging the futile attempt of the nations and their rulers at rebellion	Listeners will be convinced that the rebellion is futile	Listeners will feel contempt for the rebels
6	וַאֲנִ֣י נָסַ֣כְתִּי מַלְכִּ֑י	"But I myself have installed my king	Declarative	Assertive	Asserting that YHWH has installed his king on Zion	Disparaging the futile attempt of the nations and their rulers at rebellion	Listeners will be convinced that the rebellion is futile	Listeners will feel contempt for the rebels		• This is a quote of YHWH's words.
	עַל־צִיֹּ֥ון הַר־קָדְשִֽׁי׃	on Zion, my holy mountain."	Declarative	Assertive	Asserting that YHWH has installed his king on Zion	Disparaging the futile attempt of the nations and their rulers at rebellion	Listeners will be convinced that the rebellion is futile	Listeners will feel contempt for the rebels
7	אֲסַפְּרָ֗ה אֶֽל־חֹ֫ק בְּדִיד֥וּת	"I will proclaim the decree	Declarative	Assertive	Asserting that the king will proclaim YHWH’s decree	Proclaiming the decree of the king	Listeners will be convinced of the king's authority	Listeners will feel awe and respect for the king		• This is a quote of the king's words.
	יְהוָה֮ אָמַ֪ר אֵלַ֥י בְּנִ֗י אַ֥תָּה	YHWH said to me, "You are my son;	Declarative	Assertive	Asserting that YHWH has declared the king to be his son	Proclaiming the decree of the king	Listeners will be convinced of the king's authority	Listeners will feel awe and respect for the king		• This is a quote of YHWH's words to the king.
	אֲנִ היום יְלִדְתִּֽיךָ׃	today I have begotten you.	Declarative	Assertive	Asserting that YHWH has begotten the king today	Proclaiming the decree of the king	Listeners will be convinced of the king's authority	Listeners will feel awe and respect for the king
8	שְׁאַ֤ל מִמֶּ֗נִּי וְאֶתְּנָ֣ה גֹויִם נַחֲלָתֶ֑כָה	Ask of me, and I will give nations as your inheritance,	Imperative	Directive	Summoning the king to ask for nations as his inheritance	Proclaiming the decree of the king	Listeners will be convinced of the king's authority	Listeners will feel awe and respect for the king		• This is a quote of YHWH's words to the king.
	וַאֲחֻזָּתְךָ֖ אַפְסֵי־אָֽרֶץ׃	and the ends of the earth as your possession.	Declarative	Assertive	Asserting that YHWH will give the ends of the earth as the king’s possession	Proclaiming the decree of the king	Listeners will be convinced of the king's authority	Listeners will feel awe and respect for the king
9	תְּרֹעֵ֣ם בְּשֵׁ֣בֶט בַּרְזֶ֑ל	You will shatter them with an iron scepter;	Declarative	Assertive	Asserting that the king will shatter the nations with an iron scepter	Proclaiming the decree of the king	Listeners will be convinced of the king's authority	Listeners will feel awe and respect for the king
	כִּכְלִ֣י יֹוצֵ֥ר תְּנַפְּצֵֽם׃	you will dash them to pieces like pottery."	Declarative	Assertive	Asserting that the king will dash the nations to pieces like pottery	Proclaiming the decree of the king	Listeners will be convinced of the king's authority	Listeners will feel awe and respect for the king
10	וְעַתָּ֤ה מְלָכִ֨ים ׀ הַשְׂכִּ֑ילוּ	So now, O kings, be wise;	Imperative	Directive	Summoning the earthly kings to be wise	Summoning the kings to submit to the rule of YHWH and of his anointed one	The earthly kings will be terrified at the prospect of facing the king's wrath	The earthly kings will submit to the rule of YHWH and of his anointed one		• Ultimatum: "A final offer or demand made by one party to another, especially in diplomatic negotiations, expressing or implying the threat of serious consequences or the breakoff of relations if the terms are not accepted" (The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition)"
	הִ֝וָּסְר֗וּ שֹׁ֣פְטֵי אָֽרֶץ׃	Accept discipline, earthly rulers!	Imperative	Directive	Summoning the earthly rulers to accept discipline	Summoning the kings to submit to the rule of YHWH and of his anointed one	The earthly kings will be terrified at the prospect of facing the king's wrath	The earthly kings will submit to the rule of YHWH and of his anointed one		• "fear... trembling"
11	עִבְד֣וּ אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה בְּיִרְאָ֑ה	Serve YHWH with fear,	Imperative	Directive	Summoning the kings to serve YHWH	Summoning the kings to submit to the rule of YHWH and of his anointed one	The earthly kings will be terrified at the prospect of facing the king's wrath	The earthly kings will submit to the rule of YHWH and of his anointed one
	וְ֝גִ֗ילוּ בִּרְעָדָֽה׃	and rejoice with trembling!	Imperative	Directive	Summoning the kings to rejoice with trembling	Summoning the kings to submit to the rule of YHWH and of his anointed one	The earthly kings will be terrified at the prospect of facing the king's wrath	The earthly kings will submit to the rule of YHWH and of his anointed one
12	נַשְּׁקוּ־בַ֡ר פֶּן־יֶאֱנַ֤ף ׀ וְתֹ֬אבְדוּ דֶ֗רֶךְ	Kiss the son, or else he will become angry and you will perish in your way,	Imperative	Directive	Summoning the kings to kiss the son • Explaining what will happen if they refuse to kiss the son	Summoning the kings to submit to the rule of YHWH and of his anointed one	The earthly kings will be terrified at the prospect of facing the king's wrath	The earthly kings will submit to the rule of YHWH and of his anointed one
	כִּֽי־...
	אַשְׁרֵ֥י כָּל־חֹ֥סֵי בֹֽו׃	Blessed are all who take refuge in him.	Declarative	Assertive	Asserting that those who take refuge in the son are blessed	Summoning the kings to submit to the rule of YHWH and of his anointed one	The earthly kings will be terrified at the prospect of facing the king's wrath	The earthly kings will submit to the rule of YHWH and of his anointed one