Psalms 2:5

Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.

Then shall he speak {H1696} unto them in his wrath {H639}, and vex {H926} them in his sore displeasure {H2740}.

Then in his anger he rebukes them, terrifies them in his fury.

Then He rebukes them in His anger, and terrifies them in His fury:

Then will he speak unto them in his wrath, And vex them in his sore displeasure:

Commentary

Psalms 2:5 KJV describes God's powerful and decisive response to the rebellion of human rulers and nations who defy His authority and that of His Anointed King. This verse follows the declaration of their futile plotting (Psalms 2:1-3) and God's sovereign laughter at their schemes (Psalms 2:4).

Context of Psalms 2

Psalm 2 is often referred to as a Messianic Psalm, portraying the universal kingship of God and His Messiah. It unfolds as a dramatic narrative:

  • The Rebellion (verses 1-3): Kings and rulers conspire against the Lord and His Anointed One.
  • God's Reaction (verses 4-5): From heaven, God scoffs at their rebellion and then responds with fierce wrath and displeasure, as highlighted in verse 5.
  • The Divine Decree (verses 6-9): God declares His King established on Zion and grants Him universal dominion, promising to break rebellious nations with a rod of iron (Psalms 2:9).
  • A Call to Wisdom (verses 10-12): The psalm concludes with an exhortation for kings and judges to serve the Lord with fear and to "kiss the Son," lest they perish in His wrath.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty: This verse underscores God's absolute control and authority over all earthly powers. Despite human rebellion, His plans cannot be thwarted.
  • Consequences of Rebellion: It clearly states that defiance against God and His Anointed King will be met with severe divine judgment, not indifference.
  • God's Righteous Wrath: The "wrath" and "sore displeasure" are not arbitrary outbursts but righteous indignation against sin, injustice, and direct opposition to His holy will.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Wrath" (Hebrew: aph): This word often refers to the nostril or face, implying a strong, visible anger, sometimes described as a snorting in fury. It denotes a burning, intense indignation.
  • "Vex" (Hebrew: bahal): This term means to terrify, trouble, dismay, or throw into confusion. It suggests a sudden and overwhelming fear or distress that will seize the rebellious.
  • "Sore displeasure" (Hebrew: charon): This word intensifies "wrath," indicating a fierce, burning anger or indignation. Together, "wrath" and "sore displeasure" convey the full, unmitigated force of God's righteous anger.

Related Scriptures

The theme of God's wrath against rebellion is consistent throughout Scripture:

Practical Application

Psalms 2:5 serves as a powerful reminder for all people, not just rulers:

  • Accountability: It highlights that all individuals are accountable to God. Rebellion against His will, whether overt or subtle, will not go unpunished.
  • Seriousness of Sin: The verse underscores the gravity of sin and its capacity to provoke God's righteous judgment.
  • Call to Repentance: Understanding God's wrath should lead to humility and a turning away from self-reliance and defiance towards Him. The subsequent verses in Psalm 2 offer a path to blessing through submitting to His Son.
  • Comfort for the Righteous: For those who trust in God, this verse offers comfort, knowing that God will ultimately deal with evil and establish His perfect rule.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 11:4

    But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

  • Revelation 19:15

    And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

  • Psalms 78:49

    He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels [among them].

  • Psalms 78:50

    He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence;

  • Psalms 21:9

    Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the LORD shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them.

  • Psalms 110:5

    ¶ The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.

  • Psalms 110:6

    He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill [the places] with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries.
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