TRV
Psalms 2:3
Bible Versions
Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
They cry, "Let's break their fetters! Let's throw off their chains!"
“Let us break Their chains and cast away Their cords.”
Let us break their bonds asunder, And cast away their cords from us.
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Jeremiah 5:5
I will get me unto the great men, and will speak unto them; for they have known the way of the LORD, [and] the judgment of their God: but these have altogether broken the yoke, [and] burst the bonds. -
Luke 19:14
But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this [man] to reign over us. -
Luke 19:27
But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay [them] before me. -
1 Peter 2:7
Unto you therefore which believe [he is] precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, -
1 Peter 2:8
And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, [even to them] which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
Psalms 2:3 captures the defiant cry of earthly kings and rulers who conspire against the Lord and His Anointed One, the Messiah. This verse is a direct continuation of the rebellion described in Psalm 2:1-2, where the nations rage and the peoples imagine a vain thing.
Context
Following the initial declaration of the nations' unrest, verse 3 reveals their specific intent: to throw off the perceived restrictions of divine authority. The "us" refers to the confederacy of human powers—kings, rulers, and nations—who collectively decide to reject the sovereignty of God and His chosen King. The "their" refers to the Lord and His Messiah, whose rule they find oppressive. This verse, therefore, represents the voice of global human rebellion against divine government.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The terms "bands" (Hebrew: moseroth) and "cords" (Hebrew: ʿabōṭīm) are powerful metaphors. They represent the legal, moral, and governmental authority that God exercises through His covenant and His chosen King. These are not instruments of oppression, but symbols of divine order and righteous governance, often implying a yoke or binding agreement. To "break them asunder" and "cast them away" signifies a violent, deliberate rejection of God's established order and His universal reign. This imagery emphasizes the rebellious rulers' perception of God's rule as a restrictive yoke, rather than a benevolent and just dominion.
Practical Application
This ancient cry of rebellion resonates throughout history and into modern times. Whether through explicit atheism, moral relativism, or political systems that seek to usurp divine prerogatives, humanity often attempts to "cast away" God's authority. However, Psalms 2:3 serves as a timeless reminder that while human defiance is real, God's sovereignty remains absolute. True freedom is found not in rejecting God's "bands" of righteousness, but in embracing His benevolent rule and finding refuge in His Anointed King, as encouraged later in the psalm (Psalm 2:12). This verse calls believers to discern the spirit of rebellion in the world and to stand firm in allegiance to Christ's kingship, understanding that His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom that will ultimately prevail.