Psalms 2:7

Old Testament Poetry/Hymns ASV (1901)

What does Psalms 2:7 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “I will tell of the decree: Jehovah said unto me, Thou art my son; This day have I begotten thee.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

I will tell of the decree: Jehovah said unto me, Thou art my son; This day have I begotten thee.
Psalms 2:7 — American Standard Version

Context — Psalms 2

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
7I will tell of the decree: Jehovah said unto me, Thou art my son; This day have I begotten thee.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“I will declare the decree, etc.] These are the words of Jehovah’s Anointed and King, exercising his kingly office, according to the decree and commandment of the Father: for these words refer not to the following, concerning the generation of the Son, which does not depend on the decree and arbitrary will of God, but is from his nature; but these words relate to what go before. The Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and Oriental versions, place this clause at the end of (<190206>Psalm 2:6); some render it, “declaring his commandment”, or “the commandment of the Lord”; the laws that he would have observed, both by him and by the subjects of his kingdom. The Syriac and Arabic versions, “that he might…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The king thus constituted declares the fundamental law of His kingdom, in the avowal of His Sonship, a relation involving His universal dominion. this day have I begotten thee--as Sa2 7:14, "he shall be My son," is a solemn recognition of this relation. The interpretation of this passage to describe the inauguration of Christ as Mediatorial King, by no means impugns the Eternal Sonship of His divine nature. In Act 13:33, Paul's quotation does not imply an application of this passage to the resurrection; for "raised up" in Act 13:32 is used as in Act 2:30; Act 3:22, &c., to denote bringing Him into being as a man; and not that of resurrection, which it has only when, as in Act 2:34, allusion…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“I will declare the decree - We have here another change in the speaker. The Anointed One is himself introduced as declaring the great purpose which was formed in regard to him, and referring to the promise which was made to him, as the foundation of the purpose of Yahweh Psalms 2:6 to set him on the hill of Zion. The first strophe or stanza Psalms 2:1-3 is closed with a statement made by the rebels of their intention or design; the second Psalms 2:4-6 with a statement of the purpose of Yahweh; the third is introduced by this declaration of the Messiah himself. The change of the persons speaking gives a dramatic interest to the whole psalm. There can be no doubt that the word “I” here refers…”
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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
“The decree - The will and appointment of God concerning this. My sin - Which tho' it may in some sort be said to, or of David, yet much more properly belongs to Christ, who is commonly known by this title both in the Old and New Testament, and to whom this title is expressly appropriated by the holy ghost, who is the best interpreter of his own words, Act 13:33; Heb 1:5. This day - This may be understood either, Of his eternal generation. This day, from all eternity, which is well described by this day, because in eternity there is no succession, no \[yesterday,\] no \[tomorrow,\] but it is all as one continued day or moment without change or flux; or, Of the manifestation of Christ's…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“2:7-9 The Lord adopted the king of David’s dynasty to conquer rebellious nations by force (see 89:26-27). 2:7 Today I have become your Father: People in the ancient Near East commonly accepted a father-son relationship between gods and kings. In Israel, the Lord adopted kings as his sons. God set David apart as his most excellent and exalted son (89:27). All descendants of David were the Lord’s representatives or agents. As an eternal member of the Godhead (John 1:1) and a descendant of David (Acts 13:33; Heb 1:5; 5:5), Jesus is the true Son of God.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“the decree: or, for a decree, Psa 148:6; Job 23:13; Isa 46:10 Thou: Mat 3:17, Mat 8:29, Mat 16:16, Mat 17:5; Act 8:37, Act 13:33; Rom 1:4; Heb 1:5, Heb 3:6; Heb 5:5, Heb 5:8 this: Psa 89:27; Joh 1:14, Joh 1:18, Joh 3:16; Heb 1:6 Psalms 2:8”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“The Anointed One himself now speaks and expresses what he is, and is able to do, by virtue of the divine decree. No transitional word or formula of introduction denotes this sudden transition from the speech of Jahve to that of His Christ. The psalmist is the seer: his Psalm is the mirrored picture of what he saw and the echo of what he heard. As Jahve in opposition to the rebels acknowledges the king upon Zion, so the king on Zion appeals to Him in opposition to the rebels. The name of God, יהוה, has Rebia magnum and, on account of the compass of the full intonation of this accent, a Gaja by the Sheb (comp. אלהי Psa 25:2, אלהים Psa 68:8, אדני Psa 90:1). (Note: We may observe here, in…”
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Sources and verification