True Bible Study: Psalms 1-41

By Maura K. Hill

The Book of Psalms chapters 1 – 41 records many of King David’s prayers, songs, praise for the Lord God, and prophecy regarding the promised Christ.

It includes words of belief, hope, love, mercy, peace, and righteousness. David believed what the Lord God said regarding salvation, the future time of resurrection, and the final judgments via the Christ.

This book includes verses translated from the Greek old covenant writing, sometimes referred to as the Septuagint. Additionally, some comparisons to the Hebrew text are provided.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Maura K. Hill
• Release date: Apr 3, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005822392

Maura K. Hill

Maura K. Hill was born and raised in Ireland. After working in Ireland and the UK for several years, she relocated to the United States in 1995. She began her formal education in Biblical Koine Greek and Biblical Hebrew at Phillips Theological Seminary via the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma in 1996.  A diligent student of the Biblical Languages, Maura published her first Greek-to-English Translation and Study Guide to I Thessalonians in the Fall of 1997. Since then, she published many additional, original Greek-to-English translations and comprehensive study guides for the New and Old Testaments. She has also published numerous and unique Biblical research articles on various topics. Maura continues her diligent research of the Critical Greek Texts and Papyri. Her publications include: True Bible Study - Adam and Eve Genesis 1-5 Noah and the Flood Genesis 6-11 Abraham Genesis 12-25 Isaac and Jacob/Israel Genesis 26-36 Joseph and Judah Genesis 37-50 Moses leaving Egypt Exodus 1-14 Moses and the Law Exodus 15-23 Moses and the Holy Tent Exodus 24-40 Joshua enters the Promised Land Joshua 1-12 Joshua and Israel's Inheritance Joshua 13-24 Deborah, Gideon, Samson Book of Judges Ruth and God's blessings Book of Ruth Samuel and Saul First Samuel 1-15 Saul and David First Samuel 16-31 King David Second Samuel 1-24 Psalms 1-41 Psalms 42-72 Psalms 73-89 Psalms 90-106 Psalms 107-150 Esther and Mordechai Book of Esther Rebuilding the House of God Book of Ezra Rebuilding Jerusalem Book of Nehemiah Jonah and the Sign Matthew Mark Luke John Acts of the Apostles Romans I Corinthians II Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians and Philemon I and II Thessalonians I and II Timothy and Titus Hebrews James and Jude I and II Peter I, II, and III John Revelation of Jesus Christ Life, Death, and Resurrection Quantum spirit Christian, son of God

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True Bible Study®

Psalms

1 – 41

Word Translation

and

Study

Maura K. Hill

Copyright © 2022 Maura K. Hill

All rights reserved.

Revised: January 2024

The body of this work contains a Word Translation, Study material, and notes written by Maura K. Hill. Permission to quote passages of this book in teaching or in writing with notice of copyright is granted to the owners of a published copyrighted copy of this work.

https://www.TrueBibleStudy.com

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Contents:

Preface

Relevant Notes

Introduction to Psalms 1-41

Psalm 1

Psalm 2

Psalm 3

Psalm 4

Psalm 5

Psalm 6

Psalm 7

Psalm 8

Psalm 9

Psalm 10

Psalm 11

Psalm 12

Psalm 13

Psalm 14

Psalm 15

Psalm 16

Psalm 17

Psalm 18

Psalm 19

Psalm 20

Psalm 21

Psalm 22

Psalm 23

Psalm 24

Psalm 25

Psalm 26

Psalm 27

Psalm 28

Psalm 29

Psalm 30

Psalm 31

Psalm 32

Psalm 33

Psalm 34

Psalm 35

Psalm 36

Psalm 37

Psalm 38

Psalm 39

Psalm 40

Psalm 41

Chart of Events

Book Titles by Maura K. Hill

Preface

Psalms 1 – 41 provide information about the following:

o Prayer and supplication

o Answers with effective outcomes

o Praise and exultation

o Love, mercy, and peace

o Righteousness and lawlessness

o Belief of (faith in) God’s Word

o Hope and prophecy regarding the Christ

o Blessedness of the Lord God

This book includes verses translated from the Greek old covenant writing, sometimes referred to as the Septuagint. The Septuagint (also identified as: LXX) is a translation of the old Hebrew texts along with the spoken language; it was made by approximately seventy scholars in Alexandria, Egypt, during the reign of Ptolemy Philadelphus from about 285 to 247 B.C. Some comparisons to the traditional Masoretic Hebrew text (after 1 A.D.) are also provided in this book.

Please feel free to contact me if you would like to discuss or comment on this Word Translation and Study via the Contact link on https://www.TrueBibleStudy.com.

Thanks to God for His love and grace.

Maura K. Hill

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Relevant Notes

Unless otherwise stated, all scriptures are quoted from the following:

o The True Bible Study Word Translation (TBS): the Book of Psalms 1 – 41 is translated from the Greek old covenant writing (Septuagint) by Maura K. Hill.

The various resources and reference materials are listed at https://www.truebiblestudy.com/bible-materials.

In the TBS Word Translation and Study:

o Words in a parenthesis () and italicized within a scripture verse are words inserted to help our English understanding of those words which are translated from Greek words.

o Words in a parenthesis () in the study of the scripture verse are words of explanation regarding the words prior to the parenthesis.

o Additional explanatory insertions within a scripture verse are enclosed in square brackets [] and italicized.

o Additional explanatory notes in the study of a scripture verse are enclosed in square brackets [] and are usually in relation to the Greek or Hebrew texts.

o A slash in the study of a scripture verse, such as: him/her, indicates an alternative word depending on the context.

o A dash, such as: go there – to Jerusalem, indicates that a certain word or phrase is particularly important or deserving of extra emphasis.

o Hyphenated words, such as: used-to-go, indicates that there is only one corresponding word in the Greek text.

o Non-English words are printed with English letters.

o I use an initial capital letter for all occurrences of the words Lord and Master when referring to either God or the Lord Jesus Christ due to my respect for them, therefore the reader will need to carefully consider the context of each particular usage to understand to whom that usage refers.

o Where the word spirit refers to God, I use an initial capital or upper-case S - Spirit. But when the word spirit refers to the gift of holy spirit, etc, I use a small or lower-case s - spirit.

o Underlined text is used for the English word but when translated from the Greek word alla to show that it implies a strong contrast to that-which has just previously been stated, and/or to strengthen a command.

o Underlined text is used for the singular form of the word you to distinguish it from the plural form of the word you which is not underlined.

o Underlined text is also used for emphasis.

o In order to communicate the fullness of the emphasis when the Greek definite article is repeated both with the noun and its adjective - for example: I Corinthians 15:4 the Greek is te hemera te trite, which literally means the day the third - I translate it as "the day, the third (day)."

o Verbs in the imperfect tense are translated with the words used-to and then the meaning of the verb.

o For example: used-to teach indicates that the one teaching spent time teaching, his action of teaching continued during a past time that is now finished for some reason, not that it was a quick one-time occurrence. The one teaching taught others taking time to teach, and he may have repeated his teaching at different times and in different ways. This tense is also used to historically describe past events relating what happened.

o Verbs in the perfect tense are translated from Greek with a superscript number 2 immediately following the verb - for example: it was written². This tense indicates an action done during a past time and which has a present continuing result, meaning it is still the same at the time the verb was spoken or written. Therefore, this example could be translated as: it was written and continues written.

o The noun love¹ or the verb to love¹ comes from the Greek word agape which is God’s kind of love.

When the Biblical writers wrote, there were no punctuation marks, no chapter or verse divisions indicated, etc, as we see them today in many of our English Bible translations and versions. Therefore we must read the whole context of each particular passage of Scripture for thought-content to more clearly understand the truth of what has been written.

Also, the original language was not English, and therefore when I may write that the writer said or wrote such and such, please understand that the writer actually spoke and wrote in the original language the equivalent to that-which I state in the English language to the best of my knowledge.

I recommend that while reading this book, you also have your usual Bible and Biblical study materials open, so as to compare verses and gain greater understanding of the truth of God’s Word.

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Introduction to Psalms 1 – 41

The Book of Psalms includes information about the words and actions of King David and prophecy regarding the Christ who would make salvation available, for example: Luke 20:42 and Acts 13:33-35.

Psalms 1 – 41 correspond to the Book of Genesis (the 1st book of the Bible), and ends with the phrase: May it become! May it become! – with emphasis on the rewards or consequences of mankind’s obedience or disobedience to what the Lord God says, His Word. The constant struggle for mankind to behave correctly according to the Lord God’s words (His spirit category) or badly according to mankind’s fleshly desires (the physical, human category) is evident throughout the psalms.

A psalm refers to a song that is spoken in different tones while accompanied by a stringed instrument being touched, twanged, plucked, or played in commemoration of mercies received from God. David composed his psalms in agreement with the spirit that the Lord God had given to him. On many occasions, David helped King Saul to behave correctly by playing music while singing his psalms (refer to I Samuel 16:13-23). These psalms were also sung by other people during various events after they were written.

David wrote his psalms during the time of the old covenant. He was a type or pattern of the Christ, the promised seed of Genesis 3:15.

David himself experienced many events throughout his lifetime before his death – and the prophecies by David regarding the promised Christ either came to pass while Jesus Christ was alive before his death, or following his resurrection now living with eternal life, or they will come to pass completely at the future time recorded in the Book of Revelation.

The genealogy of the Christ includes Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, Phares, Esrom, Aram, Aminadab, Naasson (refer to Exodus 6:23), and his son Salmon who begat Boaz with Rahab (refer to Joshua 6:25), Boaz begat Obed with Ruth, Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David the king (refer to Ruth 4:18-22; Matthew 1:1-17; Luke 3:23-38).

Many of David’s words and phrases are figures of speech to emphatically convey the quality and effect of whom or what he is referring to. Also, many of the verbs are in the aorist tense in the Greek text, and this is why the verbs may be translated as a past event – however, this tense can refer to any time past, present, or future emphasizing that once a specific action is done then it becomes a past reality.

David knew that the Lord God was the only One Who could do many things for him, such as saving him, rescuing him, etc, and therefore David frequently used the imperative tense when addressing Him. The Lord Jesus Christ did not exist during David’s lifetime, and there was no other human-being who could help David; he needed the Lord God’s intervention during various situations.

The Greek word diapsalma, or Hebrew word selah, is included at the end of many verses to indicate a musical interlude or break through that psalm following a raising of the voice when singing a particular phrase or phrases in a psalm – it helps to pause and consider those words sung in a higher level before continuing with the next connected or linked phrase. In the True Bible Study translation, the word consider is used to encourage us to pause and think carefully about what is written in the previous phrase(s) before continuing with the next phrase.

The psalms were recorded by David himself or by his recorders, writers, scribes, reminders (refer to II Samuel 8:15-18, 20:24-26). Also, the Greek and Hebrew texts vary as to the words to be included in some of the psalms.

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Happy and righteous

Happy is the righteous man

Word Translation

Psalm 1

¹:¹Happy (is the) adult-male who did not journey in a deliberate-determination of not-reverential-people, and did not stand in a way of sinners, and did not sit-down on a seat of pestilent-people –

.2but his intention (is) in the law of (the) Lord, and he will care in His law of day and night, .3and he will be as the tree, the (tree) having been planted² beside the intersections of the waters which will give its fruit in its time and its leaf will not flow-away, even all as-many-things-as ever he may do, he will be caused-to-prosper.

.4Not thus (are) the not-reverential-people, not thus – but (they will be) as the light-chaff which the wind tosses-out from (the) face of the earth.

.5Because-of-this not-reverential-people will not stand-up in judgment, neither sinners in a deliberate-determination of righteous-people; .6because (the) Lord knows (the) way of righteous-people, and (the) way of not-reverential-people will destroy-itself.

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Study

Psalm 1:1-3:

¹:¹Happy (is the) adult-male who did not journey in a deliberate-determination of not-reverential-people, and did not stand in a way of sinners, and did not sit-down on a seat of pestilent-people –

.2but his intention (is) in the law of (the) Lord, and he will care in His law of day and night, .3and he will be as the tree, the (tree) having been planted² beside the intersections of the waters which will give its fruit in its time and its leaf will not flow-away, even all as-many-things-as ever he may do, he will be caused-to-prosper.

The word translated happy means that the person spoken about is pronounced happy, in a state of well-being and contentment; he is happy from the Lord God’s viewpoint, not that he feels happy at that time necessarily, but because of the reason that David explains.

Happy is the adult-male (grown man [the Greek word translated adult-male is aner indicating a grown man; in Hebrew it is ish emphasizing the individual male human-being]) who…

o did not journey (pass, walk or behave during the everyday living of his life)

o in a deliberate-determination (within the cause and sphere of action of a purposed will)

o of not-reverential-people (pertaining to those who are without reverential respect for the Lord God, who do not have reverence to/for Him; this is bad behavior, their actions or activities are against Him and His Word to/for mankind),

o and did not stand (take his position standing firm)

o in a way (path, road; figuratively referring to the manner of action, method of proceeding in behavior)

o of sinners (pertaining to sinful people, those who miss the mark of what God says, swerve from His Word, perform aberration from God’s Word, God’s will, God’s law, God’s precepts),

o and did not sit-down (cause himself to be seated, as accepting an invitation)

o on a seat (on an assigned chair indicating a certain status or position of authority, thereby agreeing with others present at an assembly or in their dwelling by being at rest or ease among them and partaking of food and drink at the table)

o of pestilent-people (pertaining to those who behave as a plague, pests, destructive to life from God’s viewpoint) –

…but emphatically (contrary to journeying in a deliberate-determination of not-reverential-people, and standing in a way of sinners, and sitting-down on a seat of pestilent-people) his intention is (his will, the active volition and desire of someone who is happy is) in the law of the Lord (the Master’s law; the word law refers to what the Lord God sets-up, divides-out and administers to be customarily and rightly used among mankind so as to behave correctly [in the Hebrew text the word for Lord is Jehovah (Yahweh) which refers to God in His covenant-relationship to that-which He created])…

…and he will care (have care for, focus his concern) in His law (the Lord’s law, performing the actions according to what is written in it) of day and night (during day and night, daytime and nighttime, all the time)…

…and he will be as the tree (in comparison to a wooden plant), emphatically and specifically the tree that was planted and continues planted (caused to be planted, put there for the purpose of living and growing, as placing it in a garden) beside the intersections of the waters (alongside, by the side of the waters that are located at the crossroads or crossing paths, channels, canals or divisions of flowing water to irrigate that location, waters that come from different directions and that pass through the same place and then lead out, exodus – at the intersection there is always a good supply of water for the planted tree)…

o which will give its fruit in its time (this tree will yield its produce, the fruit that it is capable of producing during the specific time, opportune or precise period, occasion, the season pertaining to that tree)

o and its leaf will not flow-away (move downwards away from the tree, none of the leaves which indicate the production of buds to produce fruit will go from the tree, it will not shed its leaves and it will keep producing fruit),

o emphatically to the degree and in explanation that

o all as-many-things-as ever he may do (all, everything, as much as at any time the happy man would perform, make an action),

o he will be caused-to-prosper (that man will with intensity be led on a good journey, a way that is well, successful; usages of this verb prosper are connected with God’s intention to provide for His people).

[Reference: Joshua 1:8; Acts 13:22 and 23.]

Verses 4-6:

.4Not thus (are) the not-reverential-people, not thus – but (they will be) as the light-chaff which the wind tosses-out from (the) face of the earth.

.5Because-of-this not-reverential-people will not stand-up in judgment, neither sinners in a deliberate-determination of righteous-people; .6because (the) Lord knows (the) way of righteous-people, and (the) way of not-reverential-people will destroy-itself.

Not thus (not in the manner described in verse 3 above) are the not-reverential-people (as verse 1 above), not thus (by repeating the same phrase great emphasis is given – definitely not in this manner) – but emphatically (contrary to what is written in verse 3 above)…

o the not-reverential-people will be as the light-chaff (in comparison to chaff dust)

o which the wind tosses-out (a blowing stream of air causes to hurl or jerk it with a forceful ripping motion) from the face of the earth (from the presence or vicinity of the land, the ground on which it had been located, it is no longer among the good grain being kept, it is excluded).

Because-of-this (on account of this, for this reason) not-reverential-people will not stand-up (those people will not cause themselves to arise so as to move and perform actions) in judgment (making their decisions regarding people whose intention is in the law of the Lord; people who are not reverential are-not and will-not-be involved in judgment regarding God’s people, they will be excluded as the light-chaff; the future time of judgment will be the action or process of pronouncing sentence, the decision being made in judgment by the Lord God regarding everyone)…

…neither sinners (and not, nor sinful people, as verse 1 above; they will not stand-up, they will be excluded) in a deliberate-determination (purposed will) of righteous-people (pertaining to those who are just, justified, who are in a right/just state, being and doing what is right/just from God’s viewpoint)…

…because the Lord personally knows (the Master has a truly active and relative knowing, He is personally knowledgeable about) the way of righteous-people (their path, road; figuratively referring to their manner of action, their method of proceeding in their behavior – the Lord God continues being involved in their way both now and in the future when they will receive eternal life)…

…and the way of not-reverential-people will destroy itself (cause itself to be destroyed, to be utterly ruined or completely lost away from the Lord God – He is not involved in their way both now and at the future time of resurrection when they will receive their final death in consequence of their bad behavior).

The Lord God does not cause or force people to behave against Him, but the consequence of such actions is to bring the implementation of His righteous (just) judgment upon them. Also, there is great emphasis given to what is written in these verses by the repetition of the Greek word kai which can be translated into English as and or also and in these verses as even for additional emphasis.

The Lord God

In the Greek language the word translated God is the singular noun Theos, which refers to the only true God emphasizing that He is the First, Superior or Ultimate One, the One Who has power, executes judgment, and emanates what He is, His power and light. In the Hebrew language this word is a plural noun adding emphasis to His superiority in all words and actions (encompassing everything that He is, the only true God); Elohim, the Creator in relation to His creations; He should be acknowledged to be in the highest position of all.

The significance of referring to God as Lord, which is the Greek word kurios, emphasizes and confirms the validity and authenticity of God’s lordship, dominion and authority over and relative-to His people. This word is used in Greek as a translation for the Hebrew word Jehovah (Yahweh) and refers to God in His covenant-relationship to that-which He created.

[Reference: Matthew 25:46; Revelation chapters 20 – 22. Also refer to the article: Hope and Resurrection (https://www.truebiblestudy.com/bible-materials).]

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The Lord God and His anointed son

Happy are those persuaded on the Lord

Much of what is written in Psalm 2 are words of prophecy regarding the Christ, whom the Lord God first promised in Genesis 3:15. At the time when Psalm 2 was first spoken, sung, or written, these words were relevant to the kings of Israel, including Saul, David, and Solomon.

Word Translation

Psalm 2

²:¹In order that what were nations haughty and peoples cared-for empty-things; .2the kings of the earth stood-beside and the rulers were gathered-together on the same-objective against the Lord and against His anointed-one?

Consider.

.3Let us throughly-tear their bonds and let us toss-away their yoke from us.

.4The (One) dwelling-down in (the) heavens will laugh them out, and the Lord will mock them out; .5then He will utter-forth towards them in His wrath, and He will disturb them in His rage – .6but I, a king, was constituted by Him on Sion, His holy mountain.

.7Throughly-messaging the arrangement of the Lord, (the) Lord said to me, "You are My son, I have begotten² you today;

.8you must ask from Me, and I will give to you nations (to be) your inheritance and the ends of the earth (to be) your held-possession;

.9you will shepherd them in an iron rod, you will crush them as a vessel of a potter."

.10And now, kings, you must understand – let all the (people) judging the earth be trained; .11you must serve-as-slaves to the Lord in fear, and you must exult on Him in trembling;

.12you must grasp training, lest-perhaps (the) Lord may be caused-wrath, and you will destroy-yourselves from a righteous way whenever His rage may be burned-out in quickness. Happy (are) all the (people) having been persuaded² on Him.

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Study

Psalm 2:1 and 2:

²:¹In order that what were nations haughty and peoples cared-for empty-things; .2the kings of the earth stood-beside and the rulers were gathered-together on the same-objective against the Lord and against His anointed-one?

Consider.

In order that what (for what purpose and result) were…

o nations haughty (groups of people who were not descendants of Israel, other ethnic groups were arrogant, as a horse neighs and prances in defiance)

o and peoples cared-for empty-things (masses or groups of people, all the descendants of Israel focused concern on things that were vain, void, empty of contents);

…the kings of the earth (royal rulers, sovereigns having royal dominion and government and rule and territory and power over nations) stood beside (caused themselves to stand, took their position nearby)…

…and the rulers (chiefs among the descendants of Israel, those in the first-placed or dignified-hierarchical positions) were gathered-together (assembled) on the same-objective (purpose and place)…

o against the Lord (the Master [in the Hebrew text the word for Lord is Jehovah (Yahweh) which refers to God in His covenant-relationship to that-which He created])

o and against His anointed-one (the man whom the Lord God anointed for a specific purpose – at this time referring to David being the king, but prophetically referring to the Christ being the savior to/for mankind who was initially promised by God in Genesis 3:15)?

Consider (pause and think carefully about what is written in the previous phrases before continuing with the next connected phrase).

In Acts 4:25 and 26, the apostles quoted Psalm 2:1 and 2 in their prayer to the Lord God; they said that the Lord God made known this information to David by means of the holy spirit that He had given to him. They included this in reference to the sufferings, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, and at that time, nations other-than Israel/Judah (the descendants of Israel) were known as Gentiles.

In Psalm 2:2, the word anointed-one comes from the same Greek word translated Christ. The Greek verb chrio translated anoint literally means to touch the surface of a body slightly, to graze or rub something over with something else – it refers to being anointed for a specific purpose (refer to I Samuel 16:13; II Samuel 12:7, 22:51; Psalm 18:50; Luke 4:18 and 19; Acts 4:27, 10:38). In the lands and time-period of the writing of the Bible holy oil was poured on the chief/high priest of God to begin his ministry for God, and it was also used to anoint kings. Many people and things were anointed with holy oil to signify their making holy (sanctified) for a specific purpose, etc, which can be read about in many scriptures in the Bible (refer also to Exodus 30:22-33).

Israel

The first record of the name Israel is in Genesis 32:27-29 when God changed the name of the man known as Jacob to Israel so as to indicate that he was strong with God via the spirit category during that event.

The 12 biological sons of Israel were known as the sons of Israel to identify them when their actions were being strong with God via the spirit category just as their father.

Likewise, any of the descendants of the 12 sons were known as the sons of Israel to identify them as the group of people both male and female collectively who were descendants of the man named Israel – when their actions aligned with what God instructed them to do, which was when they were being strong with God via the spirit category.

As time progressed, the name the sons of Israel became a title only to identify those descendants who should have behaved in accordance with that name, which emphasized their forefather Jacob’s walk with/for God via the spirit category – however, on many occasions those descendants did not behave correctly and they rejected the only true God – the Lord God of them.

[Reference: I Samuel 10:1-16, 11:15, 16:1-14, I Kings 1:32-39; Acts 4:25 and 26.]

Verses 3-6:

.3Let us throughly-tear their bonds and let us toss-away their yoke from us.

.4The (One) dwelling-down in (the) heavens will laugh them out, and the Lord will mock them out; .5then He will utter-forth towards them in His wrath, and He will disturb them in His rage – .6but I, a king, was constituted by Him on Sion, His holy mountain.

The nations, peoples, kings, and rulers expressed their opinions and intentions against the Lord God and His anointed-one, as follows:

o "Let us throughly-tear (this is a polite command or a very strong suggestion advising those listening to them to think the correct way from their viewpoint regarding what actions they should take against the Lord God and His anointed-one – we should rend asunder, in pieces; this verb expresses their intention, will, volition in this situation)

o their bonds (bands, which figuratively refers to God’s Word, will, law, precepts, the guidelines for correct behavior issued by the Lord God and His anointed-one, as though God’s Word to/for them were restraints of a governing authority which they rejected)

o and let us toss-away (we should throw with a forceful ripping motion thereby separating)

o their yoke away from us."

The word translated yoke is not referring to a literal yoke, but figuratively describing the manner of action and behavior commanded by the Lord God to/for mankind, which should be as oxen being tied to the same wooden/metal bar or frame by-which they all work within its limitations plowing a field, working in service on the same team going evenly together in the same direction according to their master’s direction and instruction for the benefit of all. However, these nations, peoples, kings, and rulers considered the Lord God’s Word to be something whereby it was against them, as forcing them to work and live within its limitations.

Verse 4 reads: The One (referring to the Lord God) Who is continuing to dwell-down (permanently dwell, settle-down, fixedly house or inhabit)…

o in the heavens (His location is within or among the heavens; literally referring to the areas above the earth, the sky, God’s location today from mankind’s view; the usage of the plural form heavens figuratively emphasizes the expansive greatness of God’s spirit realm)

o will laugh them out (express out loud the sound of joy, mirth, gladness),

o and the Lord will mock them out (the Master will deride them intensely, as turning up His nose at what they say against Himself and His anointed-one [in the Hebrew text the word Lord is the title Adon which emphasizes the Lord God’s rulership within the sphere of action of His domain]);

…then He will utter-forth (at that time He will be in the state of speaking) towards them…

o in His wrath (His lasting angry vengeance, like the heat of a burning-fire; this will not be a spur-of-the-moment thing on the Lord’s part but it will have continued for a period of time),

…and He will disturb them (be in the state of stirring them up, agitating them, just like a normally calm pool of water is agitated and moves when something else is thrown into it breaking through its surface and causing a rippling effect over the whole pool)…

o in His rage (intense passion, a heated-outburst from His mind, as a sudden flame from a burning fire) –

…but emphatically I, a king (royal ruler, sovereign having royal dominion and government and rule and territory and power)…

o was constituted (in Greek there is a definite word for I plus the verb meaning I was constituted giving emphasis – I myself was caused to be placed, made to stand-down in the level or position of being a king)

o by Him (by the power of, from under the hand of, the instrumental and efficient agent being the Lord God)

o on Sion (or Zion), specifically His holy mountain (the mount, hill, high-place where the Lord God dwells that is sanctified, set apart for Him and where He proclaims His salvation and pronounces His judgment; on earth this literally refers to the city of David, Jerusalem, part of which contains the mount or hill called: Sion, also known as Ophel; King David brought the ark of the covenant into Sion, located due south from Moriah where Solomon built the temple in later years and Sion began to refer to all of Jerusalem).

Since the fall of mankind recorded in Genesis chapter 3, the Lord God is not seen by mankind and He will not be located on the earth (refer to John 1:18; Colossians 1:15; I Timothy 1:17, 6:16; I John 4:12) until the future time as recorded in Revelation chapters 21 and 22.

Psalm 2:6 refers to David becoming the king over the descendants of Israel, and prophetically it refers to the Christ (the Anointed-one) becoming the king over all of God’s people.

[Reference: Genesis 22:2; II Samuel 2:4, 5:3-10, 6:12 and 17; I Kings 8:1; II Chronicles 3:1. Also refer to the articles: Adam and Eve; Hope and Resurrection (https://www.truebiblestudy.com/bible-materials).]

Verses 7-9:

.7Throughly-messaging the arrangement of the Lord, (the) Lord said to me, "You are My son, I have begotten² you today;

.8you must ask from Me, and I will give to you nations (to be) your inheritance and the ends of the earth (to be) your held-possession;

.9you will shepherd them in an iron rod, you will crush them as a vessel of a potter."

At the time when the Lord was throughly-messaging the arrangement of the Lord (the Master was thoroughly declaring, proclaiming throughout, fully letting everyone know about His arrangement, that-which He put or set in order; this verb expresses the Lord God’s intention, will, volition), the Lord said to me (the anointed-one)…

o "Emphatically you are My son (in Greek there is a definite word for ‘you’ plus the verb meaning ‘you are’ giving emphasis – you yourself are My male offspring; the word ‘son’ emphasizes origin, quality, and essence),

o emphatically I have begotten you today (again there is emphasis by including a definite word for ‘I’ – I Myself have brought you forth, I gave birth to you this day and you remain My son);

…you must ask from Me (it is imperative that you request from Me being the source of what you ask to be given to you, as an inferior asking a superior)…

o and I will give to you (I will grant your request as follows; this verb expresses the Lord’s intention, will, volition in this situation)

o nations to be your inheritance (groups of people, ethnic groups will become your assigned-lot, the heir’s portion – you are the inheritor or heir who will receive your allotted-portion of many people of various backgrounds)

o and the ends of the earth to be your held-possession (the extremities of the land, limits of the ground, will be your property in your control as to living in it, holding it firm/fast, retaining it);

…you will shepherd them (take-care of and protect, exercise the whole office of a shepherd which involves not only feeding the flock with food but also leading and guiding and guarding, etc) in an iron rod (by, within a staff for training and a scepter of authority and office – this rod will be made of iron, which figuratively refers to the fact that it will be strong and will not be damaged or bribed or twisted from performing its correct function)…

…you will crush them (rub those nations together and shatter them, figuratively referring to the fact that those who do not believe and do, obey, what the Lord God says will be destroyed by you) as a vessel of a potter (in comparison to how a potter disintegrates a pottery vessel or ceramic that is made of clay but that is not correct – he does not keep it)."

David was a type or pattern of the Christ, the promised seed of Genesis 3:15. Psalm 2:7-9 is prophecy about God speaking to Jesus on the day of his resurrection (refer to Acts 13:33; Hebrews 1:5 and 5:5). The resurrected Christ is the first of mankind brought-forth (given birth to) in his new spiritual body from the place of death, the grave, where the rest of the dead-people remain dead and buried. God brought him forth, not a woman or a man. The Lord Jesus Christ is God’s son, the first human-being who completely died and whom God has completely resurrected never to die again!

[Reference: Genesis 3:15, 17:1-8; Acts 13:33; Romans 1:1-4; I Corinthians 15:45; Colossians 1:18; Hebrews 1:5, 5:5; Revelation 1:5, 2:27, 12:5, 19:15. Also refer to the article: The name of the Lord Jesus Christ (https://www.truebiblestudy.com/bible-materials).]

Verses 10-12:

.10And now, kings, you must understand – let all the (people) judging the earth be trained; .11you must serve-as-slaves to the Lord in fear, and you must exult on Him in trembling; .12you must grasp training, lest-perhaps (the) Lord may be caused-wrath, and you will destroy-yourselves from a righteous way whenever His rage may be burned-out in quickness.

Happy (are) all the (people) having been persuaded² on Him.

At the present time, kings (royal rulers, sovereigns having royal dominion and government and rule and territory and power)…

o you must understand (have insight, put the information together in your minds to the end of gaining insight into the Lord God’s words to/for you) –

o let all the people judging the earth (this is a polite command or a very strong suggestion advising those listening to think the correct way regarding their behavior – every one of you who are functioning in the role of making the decision, pronouncing sentences regarding other people should)

o be trained (taught, as training children or young servants; the verb train usually includes not only instruction but also education, discipline, correction, etc);

…you must serve-as-slaves to the Lord (serve in the position and capacity of being slaves, people who are bound carrying-out service to/for the Master)…

o in fear (within fear of/for Him; the word fear in this context refers to fright, being afraid at the consequences of the performance of any wrong behavior, and therefore manifesting the awe and respect that is rightfully due and ought to be shown towards the Lord),

…and you must exult on Him (be elated, as leaping a lot, jumping, springing about, dancing, resting or based upon the Lord) in trembling (as a shaking or quaking, within tremendous intensity in your obedience to Him)…

…you must grasp training (seize, catch, take hold of what you are being taught)…

o lest-perhaps (whether or not at some time, whether it may happen or not that)

o the Lord may be caused-wrath (the Master would be made to have a lasting angry vengeance, like the heat of a burning-fire, as verse 5 above),

…and you will destroy yourselves (cause yourselves to be destroyed, to be utterly ruined or completely lost) out from a righteous way (the path or road that is just, justified, in a right/just state; figuratively referring to the manner of action, method of proceeding in behavior pertaining to being and doing what is right/just from the Lord’s viewpoint) whenever (at whatever time that)…

o His rage (intense passion, a heated-outburst from His mind, as a sudden flame from a burning fire, as verse 5 above)

o may be burned-out in quickness (would be caused to start and completely burn as fire all in its path with speed, swiftly).

Happy (the word translated happy means that the person spoken about is pronounced happy, in a state of well-being and contentment; he is happy from God’s viewpoint, not that he feels happy at that time necessarily, but because of the reason that David explains)…

o are all the people (everyone) who are in the state of having been persuaded and are continuing persuaded (actively convinced)

o on Him (resting or basing their persuasion upon the Lord God).

Psalms 1 and 2 provide an introduction or summary of the contents of the rest of the Book of Psalms.

Slaves

During the time-period of the writing of the Bible, a lord (master) was obligated to take-care of his servant (slave) and the servant was obligated to do all his lord would ask of him; it was a mutually-beneficial relationship. To be a servant / slave was quite an honorable and responsible position to hold.

However, today in the minds of some people the word slave has been changed from God’s original design of a working-relationship to what mankind twisted, corrupted and perverted it to mean as a position of demoralization or degradation, etc.

But we who are students of God’s Word must consider the verb to serve-as-slaves in verse 11 above, as God considered it among His people at the time of the writing of the Book of Psalms.

[Reference: II Samuel 22:3; Psalm 1:1; Hebrews 2:13.]

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The Lord helps

Salvation of the Lord

Many of the psalms include words to form a title of introduction (superscription) as to the context of when they were first sung or written – and many include words to form a conclusion (subscription). Some texts place these words as one verse or part of verses either at the beginning or ending of a psalm, and therefore the psalms may vary in verse number. All of the titles and conclusions were not part of the original psalms but they were added by the speaker, writer, translator, or recorder of those psalms.

Psalm 3 is the first psalm where a title and a conclusion were added. In this book, the True Bible Study translation includes these words to help the reader regarding the historical aspect of a particular psalm, where relevant titles or conclusions are written in the Greek text.

Word Translation

Psalm 3

³:¹(a)A psalm by David when he used-to run-away from (the) face of Absalom his son.

.1(b)Lord, why were the (people) pressuring me multiplied? Many-people stand-up on me, .2many-people say to my soul, There is no salvation to him in the God of him!

Consider.

.3But You, Lord, are my Helper, my Glory, even heightening my head.

.4I shouted with my sound towards (the) Lord, and He heard me from His holy mountain.

Consider.

.5I was caused-to-sleep and I slept; I was raised-up-out because (the) Lord will help me; .6I will not be caused-to-fear from ten-thousands of people, the (people) putting-on-together circling-around me.

.7You must stand-up, Lord; You, the God of me, must save me – because You struck all the (people) futilely being-at-enmity with me; You crushed teeth of sinners.

.8(a)The salvation (is) of the Lord, and Your blessing (is) on Your people.

.8(b)Into the completion.

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Study

Psalm 3:1 and 2:

³:¹(a)A psalm by David when he used-to run-away from (the) face of Absalom his son.

.1(b)Lord, why were the (people) pressuring me multiplied? Many-people stand-up on me, .2many-people say to my soul, There is no salvation to him in the God of him!

Consider.

The title (superscription) states that Psalm 3 is a psalm that David composed; this was in agreement with the spirit that the Lord God had given to him, at the historical time when he was running away from the face (fleeing from the presence or vicinity) of Absalom his son (Absalom or Abessalom was David’s 3rd male offspring). This refers to the events recorded in II Samuel chapters 15 – 17.

Lord (addressing God as the Master acknowledging God’s lordship and his respectful submission to Him [in the Hebrew text the word for Lord is Jehovah (Yahweh) which refers to God in His covenant-relationship to that-which He created])…

o why were the people who are pressuring me (causing me compression or stress that afflicts me, via whatever would press-upon or squeeze me, whether that pressure is physical or mental or spiritual)

o multiplied (caused to be made-full, filled to fullness, as multiplication becoming numerous)?

Many-people stand-up on me (much, a lot of people stand up in a position of authority down on me, against me)…

…many-people say to my soul (my being, myself, the life of my physical body, my soul/breath life)…

o "There is no salvation to him (no safety for him, he