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Psalms 2:11

Old Testament Poetry/Hymns ASV (1901)

What does Psalms 2:11 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Serve Jehovah with fear, And rejoice with trembling.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Serve Jehovah with fear, And rejoice with trembling.
Psalms 2:11 — American Standard Version

Context — Psalms 2

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
8Ask of me, and I will give [thee] the nations for thine inheritance, And the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
9Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter`s vessel.
10Now therefore be wise, O ye kings: Be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
11Serve Jehovah with fear, And rejoice with trembling.
12Kiss the son, lest he be angry, and ye perish in the way, For his wrath will soon be kindled. Blessed are all they that take refuge in him. Psalm 3 A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Serve the Lord with fear, etc.] Not the creature, neither more, nor besides, nor with the Creator; God and mammon cannot both be served; nor any fictitious and nominal deities, the idols of the Gentiles, who are not gods by nature; but the true Jehovah, the one and only Lord God, he only is to be worshipped and served, even Father, Son, and Spirit. Here it may be understood either of the Lord Christ, the Son of God, who is to be served by the kings and judges of the earth, he being King of kings, and Lord of lords; or rather of Jehovah the Father, since the Son seems to be distinguished from him in (<190212>Psalm 2:12): and the service these persons are called unto lies not in the discharge…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Serve the Lord with fear - With reverence, and with deep apprehensions of the consequences of not serving and obeying him. That is, serve him in not opposing, but in promoting his purpose of establishing a kingdom under the Messiah, with the deep apprehension that if you do not do it, he will arise and crush you in his wrath. And rejoice - Prof. Alexander renders this “shout,” and supposes that it refers to the customary recognition of a present sovereign. The word used - גיל gı̂yl - means properly to move in a circle, to revolve; and then to dance in a circle, to exult, to rejoice. Then, according to Gesenius, it means to tremble, to fear, from the leaping or palpitation of the heart Job…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Fear - With an awful sense of his great and glorious majesty. Rejoice - Do not esteem his yoke your dishonour and grievance; but rejoice in this inestimable grace and benefit. Trembling - This is added to warn them of taking heed that they do not turn this grace of God into wantonness. Psalms 2:12”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“2:11-12 rejoice: Rulers must welcome the Son as their true and only King. • Submit to God’s royal son (or Submit to God’s royal Son, or kiss the son): Kissing was an expression of submission (Hos 13:2). • The Lord gives joy to all who fear him (Ps 1:1-2) and trust him (18:30; 34:22; 119:1-3).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Serve: Psa 89:7; Heb 12:28, Heb 12:29 rejoice: Psa 95:1-8, Psa 97:1, Psa 99:1, Psa 119:120; Phi 2:12; Heb 4:1, Heb 4:2, Heb 12:25 Psalms 2:12”
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Related study paths

Read Psalms 2 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification