English Standard Version
Psalms 2:4
4He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.
Psalms 2:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
- New International Version (NIV)The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.
- New King James Version (NKJV)He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision.
- New Living Translation (NLT)But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them.
Context of Psalms 2:4
2The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, 3"Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us." He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. 5Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, 6"As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill."
Read all of Psalms 2Psalms 2:4 word by word
יוֹשֵׁ֣ב בַּשָּׁמַ֣יִם יִשְׂחָ֑ק אֲ֝דֹנָ֗י יִלְעַג־לָֽמוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 2:4
- Psalms 11:4The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord's throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.
- Psalms 68:33to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens; behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
- Psalms 115:3Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.
- Isaiah 40:22It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in;
- Isaiah 57:15For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
- Isaiah 66:1Thus says the Lord: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest?
- Psalms 37:13but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming.
- Psalms 53:5There they are, in great terror, where there is no terror! For God scatters the bones of him who encamps against you; you put them to shame, for God has rejected them.
- Psalms 59:8But you, O Lord, laugh at them; you hold all the nations in derision.
- 2 Kings 19:21This is the word that the Lord has spoken concerning him: "She despises you, she scorns you— the virgin daughter of Zion; she wags her head behind you— the daughter of Jerusalem.
- Proverbs 1:26I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you,
Commentaries on Psalms 2:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4He that sitteth in the heavens - Whose kingdom ruleth over all, and is above all might and power, human and diabolical. Shall laugh. Words spoken after the manner of men; shall utterly contemn their puny efforts; shall beat down their pride, assuage their malice, and confound their devices.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4He that sitteth in the heavens - God, represented as having his home, his seat, his throne in heaven, and thence administering the affairs of the world. This verse commences the second strophe or stanza of the psalm; and this strophe Psalm 2:4-6 corresponds with the first Psalm 2:1-3 in its structure. The former describes the feelings and purposes of those who would cast off the government of God; this describes the feelings and purposes of God in the…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4enthroned in heaven: The Lord's position in the universe is so secure that he laughs at humans who claim they can oppose his power and authority (see Psalms 3 7:13; 59:8).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. By a figure whose boldness is only allowable to an inspired writer, God's conduct and language in view of this opposition are now related. He that sitteth in the heavens--enthroned in quiet dignities (compare Psa 29:10; Is 40:22). shall laugh--in supreme contempt; their vain rage excites His derision. He is still the Lord, literally, "Sovereign," though they rebel.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 2:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- The Treasury of David
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries