Psalm 2/Grammar

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About the Grammar Layer

The grammar layer visually represents the grammar and syntax of each clause. It also displays alternative interpretations of the grammar. (For more information, click "Expand" to the right.)

The grammatical diagram provides a way to visualise how different parts of a sentence work together. It represents the “surface-level” grammar, or morphosyntax, of a sentence. Morphosyntax includes both the form of words (morphology) and their placement in the sentence (syntax). This approach to visualising the text, based on the Reed-Kellogg diagramming method, places the grammatical subject in one slot, the verb in another slot, and modifiers and connectives in other slots.

For a detailed description of our method, see the Grammar Creator Guidelines.

Grammar Visuals for Psalm 2

v. 1

Preferred

SimpleGrammar
DiscourseUnit [v. 1] 
    Fragment
      ClauseCluster
        Clause
          Subject
            noun: גוֹיִם nations
          Predicate
            verb: רָגְשׁוּ are in an uproar
            Adverbial
              adverb: לָמָּה why
        Conjunction
          conjunction: וּ and
        Clause
          Subject
            noun: לְאֻמִּים peoples
          Predicate
            verb: יֶהְגּוּ mutter >> plot
            Adverbial
              adverb: לָמָּה why <status="elided">
            Adverbial
              noun: רִיק in vain <status="alternative">
            Object
              noun: רִיק emptiness 
  

Note for v. 1

The interrogative "'why" (לָמָּה) is elided in the second clause. Cf. NLT: "Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans?" At least semantically, it is probably implied in the clauses of v. 2 as well.

Note for v. 1

The noun רִיק could either be the direct object of the verb or a nominal adverb. Both interpretations are grammatically possible. For the direct object interpretation, cf. Ps 4:3 (תֶּאֱהָב֣וּן רִ֑יק). See also the numerous examples of הגה taking a similar abstract noun as its object: Isa 59:3 (עַוְלָה); Ps 37:30 (חָכְמָה); Ps 38:13 (וּמִרְמֹות); Prov 8:7 (אֱמֶת); Job 27:4 (רְמִיָּה). For the nominal adverb interpretation, cf. Ps 73:13—אַךְ־רִ֭יק זִכִּ֣יתִי לְבָבִ֑י (also Isa 30:7; cf. the frequently occurring phrase לְרִיק/לָרִיק, Lev 26:16, 20; Isa 49:4; 65:23; Job 39:16). Given the fact that the verb הגה typically takes an object (either a bare noun phrase or a beth prepositional phrase), the direct object interpretation is more likely. If the poet wanted to clearly indicate an adverbial reading, we might have expected לריק.

v. 2

Preferred

SimpleGrammar
DiscourseUnit [v. 2]
    Fragment
      ClauseCluster
        Clause
          Subject
            ConstructChain <gloss="earthly kings">
              noun: מַלְכֵי kings
              noun: אֶרֶץ earth
          Predicate
            verb: יִתְיַצְּבוּ take a stand
            Adverbial
              adverb: לָמָּה why <status="elided">
            Adverbial <status="elided">
              Adverbial
                PrepositionalPhrase
                  Preposition
                    preposition: עַל against
                  Object
                    noun: יְהוָה YHWH
              Conjunction
                conjunction: וְ and
              Adverbial
                PrepositionalPhrase
                  Preposition
                    preposition: עַל against
                  Object
                    ConstructChain <gloss="his anointed one">
                      noun: מְשִׁיח anointed one
                      suffix-pronoun: וֹ him
        Conjunction
          conjunction: וְ and
        Clause
          Subject
            noun: רוֹזְנִים rulers
          Predicate
            verb: נוֹסְדוּ have gathered >> have conspired
            Adverbial
              adverb: לָמָּה why <status="elided">
            Adverbial
              adverb: יָחַד together
            Adverbial
              Adverbial
                PrepositionalPhrase
                  Preposition
                    preposition: עַל against
                  Object
                    noun: יְהוָה YHWH
              Conjunction
                conjunction: וְ and
              Adverbial
                PrepositionalPhrase
                  Preposition
                    preposition: עַל against
                  Object
                    ConstructChain <gloss="his anointed one">
                      noun: מְשִׁיח anointed
                      suffix-pronoun: וֹ him
    Fragment <status="alternative">
      particle: סֶלָה Selah <status="emendation"> 
  

Note for v. 2

The prepositional phrases "against YHWH and against his anointed" (v. 2c) probably modify both of the preceding clauses (v. 2ab). Implicitly, it modifies the clauses in v. 1 as well.

Note for v. 2

The Septuagint includes "Selah" (Greek: διάψαλμα) at the end of v. 2.

v. 3

Preferred

SimpleGrammar
DiscourseUnit [v. 3]
    Fragment
      ClauseCluster
        Clause
          Predicate
            verb: נְנַתְּקָה let's tear off
            Object
              particle: אֶת
              Nominal
                ConstructChain <gloss="their bonds">
                  noun: מוֹסְרוֹתֵי bonds
                  suffix-pronoun: מוֹ them
        Conjunction
          conjunction: וְ and
        Clause
          Predicate
            verb: נַשְׁלִיכָה let's throw
            Adverbial
              PrepositionalPhrase
                Preposition
                  preposition: מִמֶּ away from
                Object
                  suffix-pronoun: נּוּ us
            Object
              ConstructChain <gloss="their ropes">
                noun: עֲבֹתֵי ropes
                suffix-pronoun: מוֹ them 
  

v. 4

Preferred

SimpleGrammar
DiscourseUnit [v. 4]
    Fragment
      Clause
        Subject
          Nominal
          Clause
            Predicate
              verb-participle: יוֹשֵׁב one who sits >> one enthroned
              Adverbial
                PrepositionalPhrase
                  Preposition
                    preposition: בַּ in
                  Object
                    article: ה the <status="elided">
                    noun: שָּׁמַיִם heavens
        Predicate
          verb: יִשְׂחָק laughs
          Adverbial <status="elided">
            PrepositionalPhrase
              Preposition
                preposition: לָ at
              Object
                suffix-pronoun: מוֹ them
    Fragment 
      Clause
        Subject
          noun: אֲדֹנָי the Lord
        Subject <status="alternative">
          noun: יְהוָה YHWH <status="alternative emendation">
        Predicate
          verb: יִלְעַג mocks
          Adverbial
            PrepositionalPhrase <gloss="them">
              Preposition
                preposition: לָ at
              Object
                suffix-pronoun: מוֹ them 
  

Note for v. 4

The prepositional phrase "them" (לָמוֹ) appears to modify not only the verb in the b-line (ילעג), but the verb in the a-line as well (ישׂחק). For other instances of שׂחק ל, see Pss 37:13; 59:9.

Note for v. 4

In v. 4b, many manuscripts read יהוה instead of אֲדֹנָי. But אדני, which is attested in our earliest Hebrew manuscript (11Q7), is almost certainly the earlier reading. Scribes are more likely to have changed אדני (which is far less common) to יהוה (which is far more common) rather than the other way around. Furthermore, אדני, which highlights YHWH's superiority, fits the context very well (see esp. the similar context for אדני in Ps 37:13a—אֲדֹנָ֥י יִשְׂחַק־ל֑וֹ). Note also that the earthly kings are called to become YHWH's "servants" in v. 11, i.e., to submit to his lordship and serve him as master.

v. 5

Preferred

SimpleGrammar
DiscourseUnit [v. 5]
    Fragment
      particle: אָז then
    Fragment
      ClauseCluster
        Clause
          Predicate
            verb: יְדַבֵּר he speaks
            Adverbial
              PrepositionalPhrase
                Preposition
                  preposition: אֵלֵי to
                Object
                  suffix-pronoun: מוֹ them
            Adverbial
              PrepositionalPhrase
                Preposition
                  preposition: בְ in
                Object
                  ConstructChain <gloss="his anger">
                    noun: אַפּ anger
                    suffix-pronoun: וֹ him
        Conjunction
          conjunction: וּ and
        Clause
          Predicate
            verb: יְבַהֲלֵ terrifies
            Object
              suffix-pronoun: מוֹ them
            Adverbial
              PrepositionalPhrase
                Preposition
                  preposition: בַ in
                Object
                  ConstructChain <gloss="his wrath">
                    noun: חֲרוֹנ wrath
                    suffix-pronoun: וֹ him 
  

Note for v. 5

The bet prepositions in the phrases "in his anger" and "in his wrath" indicate the mode of the actions.

v. 6

Preferred

SimpleGrammar
DiscourseUnit [v. 6]
    Fragment
      Conjunction
        conjunction: וַ but
    Fragment
      Clause
        Subject
          noun: אֲנִי I
        Predicate
          verb: נָסַכְתִּי have poured out
          Object
            ConstructChain <gloss="my king">
              noun: מַלְכִּ king
              suffix-pronoun: י me
          Adverbial
            PrepositionalPhrase
              Preposition
                preposition: עַל on
              Object
                Apposition
                  noun: צִיּוֹן Zion
                  ConstructChain <gloss="my holy mountain">
                    noun: הַר mountain
                    ConstructChain
                      noun: קָדְשִׁ holiness
                      suffix-pronoun: י me 
  

Note for v. 6

The waw at the beginning of v. 6 functions at the discourse level "to signal text level disjunction or transition." Specifically, in this case, it connects and contrasts YHWH's response to the nations' speech in v. 3. "The function of this type of speech-initial וְ is to mark a dispreferred response."

v. 7

Preferred

SimpleGrammar
DiscourseUnit [v. 7]
    Fragment
      Clause
        Predicate
          verb: אֲסַפְּרָה I will tell
          Adverbial
            PrepositionalPhrase
              Preposition
                preposition: אֶל about
              Object
                noun: חֹק decree
              Object
                ConstructChain <status="alternative">
                  noun: חֹק decree
                  noun: יְהוָה YHWH
    Fragment
      Clause
        Subject
          noun: יְהוָה YHWH
        Predicate
          verb: אָמַר said
          Adverbial
            PrepositionalPhrase
              Preposition
                preposition: אֵלַ to
              Object
                suffix-pronoun: י me
    Fragment
      Clause
        Subject
          noun: אַתָּה you
        Predicate
          verb: are
          Complement
            ConstructChain <gloss="my son">
              noun: בְּנִ son
              suffix-pronoun: י me 
    Fragment
      Clause
        Subject
          noun: אֲנִי I
        Predicate
          verb: יְלִדְתִּי hereby father
          Object
            suffix-pronoun: ךָ you
          Adverbial <gloss="today">
            article: הַ the
            noun: יּוֹם day 
  

Note for v. 7

Depending on how one divides the lines in v. 7ab, "YHWH" may be either the final noun of a construct chain ("...decree of YHWH. He said..." so Targum: קימא דייי; see also the layout in the Aleppo Codex) or the subject of the following clause ("...decree. YHWH said..." so MT accents [ole we-yored]; Aquila[?]: κύριος; Peshitta), or, if "YHWH" is read twice, both the final noun of a construct chain and the subject of the next clause ("...decree of YHWH. YHWH said..." so LXX; Jerome [iuxta Hebr.]). Most of the modern translations consulted group "YHWH" with v. 7a.

• "I will proclaim the LORD’s decree: He said to me" (NIV, cf. NRSV, NLT, CSB, CEV, GNT, REB, NET, LUT, HFA, NGÜ, ELB, EÜ, GNB, ZÜR)
• "I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me" (ESV, cf. NJPS)

A decision is difficult. In the absence of any compelling evidence one way or another, we have defaulted to following the reading tradition of the Masoretes.

v. 8

Preferred

SimpleGrammar
DiscourseUnit [v. 8]    
    Fragment
      ClauseCluster
        Clause
          Predicate
            verb: שְׁאַל ask
            Adverbial
              PrepositionalPhrase
                Preposition
                  preposition: מִמֶּ of
                Object
                  suffix-pronoun: נִּי me
        Conjunction
          conjunction: וְ and
        Clause
          Predicate
            verb: אֶתְּנָה I will make
            Object
              noun: גוֹיִם nations
            Complement
              Nominal
                ConstructChain <gloss="your inheritance">
                  noun: נַחֲלָתֶ inheritance
                  suffix-pronoun: ךָ you
        Conjunction
          conjunction: וַ and
        Clause
          Predicate
            verb: אֶתְּנָה I will make <status="elided">
            Object
              Nominal
                ConstructChain
                  noun: אַפְסֵי ends
                  noun: אָרֶץ earth
            Complement
              ConstructChain <gloss="your property">
                noun: אֲחֻזָּתְ property
                suffix-pronoun: ךָ you 
  

v. 9

Preferred

SimpleGrammar
DiscourseUnit [v. 9]
    Fragment
        Clause
          Predicate
            verb: תְּרֹעֵ you will crush
            verb: תִּרְעֵ you will shepherd <status="alternative revocalization">
            Object
              suffix-pronoun: ם them
            Adverbial
              PrepositionalPhrase
                Preposition
                  preposition: בְּ with
                Object
                  ConstructChain <gloss="an iron scepter">
                    noun: שֵׁבֶט scepter
                    noun: בַּרְזֶל iron
    Fragment
        Clause
          Predicate
            verb: תְּנַפְּצֵ you will smash
            Object
              suffix-pronoun: ם them
            Adverbial
              PrepositionalPhrase
                Preposition
                  preposition: כִּ like
                Object
                  ConstructChain <gloss="clay pottery">
                    noun: כְלִי vessel
                    verb-participle: יוֹצֵר potter 
  

Note for v. 9

In v. 9a, the Septuagint says "you will shepherd them” (ποιμανεῖς αὐτούς). This reading, quoted in the Greek text of the NT in Rev. 2:27, 12:5, and 19:15, assumes a different vocalization of the consonantal Hebrew text (תִּרְעֵם) and understands the verb as רָעָה ("to shepherd") rather than רָעַע ("to break"). But the presence of the verb נפץ ("to smash") in the parallel line strongly favors the MT vocalization. Goldingay proposes a deliberate rhetorical ambiguity here, namely, that this line "lays alternative possibilities before the nations—either firm shepherding or devastating destruction."

v. 10

Preferred

SimpleGrammar
DiscourseUnit [v. 10]
    Fragment
      particle: וְעַתָּה and now
    Fragment
      Vocative
        noun: מְלָכִים kings
      Clause
        Predicate
          verb: הַשְׂכִּילוּ wise up
    Fragment
      Vocative
        ConstructChain <gloss="earthly rulers">
          noun: שֹׁפְטֵי rulers
          noun: אָרֶץ earth
    Fragment
      Clause
        Predicate
          verb: הִוָּסְרוּ accept discipline 
  

v. 11

Preferred

SimpleGrammar
DiscourseUnit [v.11]
    Fragment
      ClauseCluster
        Clause
          Predicate
            verb: עִבְדוּ serve
            Object
              particle: אֶת 
              noun: יְהוָה YHWH
            Adverbial
              PrepositionalPhrase
                Preposition
                  preposition: בְּ with
                Object
                  noun: יִרְאָה fear
        Conjunction
          conjunction: וְ and
        Clause
          Predicate
            verb: גִילוּ rejoice
            Adverbial
              PrepositionalPhrase
                Preposition
                  preposition: בִּ with
                Object
                  noun: רְעָדָה trembling 
  

Note for v. 11

To "serve" YHWH in this context is to submit to his authority, his lordship (cf. the word אדני in v. 4), and to embrace his "decree" (vv. 7-9). So SDBH: "action by which humans, either as individuals or as groups, assume a position of subservience towards a deity, perform the required rituals, and live in accordance with the requirements of that deity."

v. 12

Preferred

SimpleGrammar
DiscourseUnit [v. 12]
    Fragment
      Clause
        Predicate
          verb: נַשְּׁקוּ kiss
          Adverbial <status="alternative">
            Nominal
              adjective: בַר pure <status="alternative">
          Adverbial <status="alternative">
            PrepositionalPhrase
              Preposition
                preposition: בְ <status="alternative emendation">
              Object
                ConstructChain
                  noun: רַגְלָי feet <status="alternative emendation">
                  suffix-pronoun: ו him <status="alternative emendation">
          Object
            noun: בַר son
            Nominal
              adjective: בַר pure <status="alternative">
        SubordinateClause
          Conjunction
            conjunction: פֶּן or else
          ClauseCluster
            Clause
              Predicate
                verb: יֶאֱנַף he will become angry
            Conjunction
              conjunction: וְ and
            Clause
              Predicate
                verb: תֹאבְדוּ you will perish
                Adverbial <gloss="in your way">
                  noun: דֶרֶךְ way
              SubordinateClause
                Conjunction
                  conjunction: כִּי for
                Clause
                  Subject
                    ConstructChain <gloss="his anger">
                      noun: אַפּ anger
                      suffix-pronoun: וֹ him
                  Predicate
                    verb: יִבְעַר ignites
                    Adverbial
                      PrepositionalPhrase <gloss="quickly">
                        Preposition
                          preposition: כִּ as
                        Object
                          noun: מְעַט little
    Fragment
      ConstructChain <gloss="Happy are all who take refuge in him">
        Nominal
          noun: אַשְׁרֵי happiness
        ConstructChain
          Nominal
            quantifier: כָּל all
          Nominal
            Clause
              Predicate
                verb-participle: חוֹסֵי those who take refuge
                Adverbial
                  PrepositionalPhrase
                    Preposition
                      preposition: ב in
                    Object
                      suffix-pronoun: וֹ him 
  

Note for v. 12

The word בַר is interpreted by some as an adjective ("kiss the pure one") and by others as an adverb ("kiss purely>>sincerely"). The adverbial interpretation is unlikely since "בַּר occurs nowhere else as an adverb" and "the stem נשקו, moreover, never appears in classical Hebrew without an object." The adjectival interpretation ("pure one") is possible, but it is less likely than the interpretation of the word as a noun meaning (in Aramaic) "son." See The Text and Meaning of Ps 2:12a.

Bibliography

Baethgen, Friedrich. 1904. Die Psalmen. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck und Ruprecht.

Bandstra, Barry. 1995. “Marking Turns in Poetic Text. ‘Waw’ in the Psalms.” Narrative and Comment: Contributions to Discourse Grammar and Biblical Hebrew, 45–52.

Craigie, Peter C. 1983. Psalms 1–50. WBC 19. Waco, TX: Word.

Delitzsch, Franz. 1883. Biblical Commentary on the Psalms: Vol. 1. Translated by Eaton David. Vol. 1. New York: Funk and Wagnalls.

Hupfeld, Hermann. 1855. Die Psalmen. Vol. 1. Gotha: Friedrich Andreas Perthes.

Prince, J. Dyneley. 1900. “Notes on Psalm Ii. 11-12 and on אׂרֶו , Isaiah Xliv. 14.” Journal of Biblical Literature 19, no. 1: 1–4.

Tsumura, David Toshio. 2023. Vertical Grammar of Parallelism in Biblical Hebrew. Ancient Israel and Its Literature 47. Atlanta, GA: SBL Press.