| Scripture |
Additional Comments |
| 1 Why have nations tumultuously assembled And do peoples meditate vanity |
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| 2 Station themselves do kings of the earth, And princes have been united together, Against Jehovah, and against His Messiah: |
Saying – This word is supplied by the translators of the Standard (KJV) version of the Bible and has resulted in confusion. It is not the kings of earth which are talking in verse 3, it is the Lord our God and His Son. |
| 3 'Let us draw off Their cords, And cast from us Their thick bands.' |
Let us – Jehovah and His Son Jesus.
Break their bands – The various treaties and trusts which the kings of Europe made in an attempt to retain their power over the people. |
| 4 He who is sitting in the heavens doth laugh, The Lord doth mock at them. |
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| 5 Then doth He speak unto them in His anger, And in His wrath He doth trouble them: |
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| 6 'And I I have anointed My King, Upon Zion My holy hill.' |
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| 7 I declare concerning a statute: Jehovah said unto me, 'My Son Thou [art], I to-day have brought thee forth. |
This day have I begotten thee – Quoted by the Apostle Paul and applied to Jesus' resurrection in Acts 13:33-34.
Br. Russell's application is two-fold.
1. In R2149:6 refers to Jesus' resurrection.
2. In R1385:4 applies to Jesus at age 30.
So which is it? Was our Lord Jesus 'begotten' of the Father when he symbolized his complete consecration to God by water immersion at age 30? Or was it when God raised him from the death on the third day after he had completed his sacrifice at Calvary?
When properly understood, both thoughts are correct. This is more easily seen when we understand the in both the Hebrew and the Greek, the word for "begat" and "born" are the same word. What caused the Bible translators to translate it as "begat," "begotten" or as "born" was the active agent. If the active agent was male, they used "begat" or "begotten," and if it was female, they used "born."
Old Testament examples of ילד (H3205) include:
New Testament examples of γεννάω (G1080) include: All the "begats" in Matt. 1; 1:20; Matt 1:16 And Jacob begat G1080 Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born G1080 Jesus, who is called Christ. |
| 8 Ask of Me and I give nations thy inheritance, And thy possession the ends of earth. |
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| 9 Thou dost rule them with a sceptre of iron, As a vessel of a potter Thou dost crush them.' |
Break them ... in pieces – This is the same language used to describe the 'slaughter weapon' carried by the 6 men of Eze. 9. (See additional comments Eze. 9:2) These follow after the 'Man clothed in linen with the writer's inkhorn by his side' and go through the city and smite the various ones described there. (Eze. 9:5-6)
With a rod of iron – How appropriate indeed! It was the 'legs of iron' (Roman empire) and the 'feet of iron and clay' (Papal Rome) that did such damage to the Lord's people. See Dan. 2:40-43.
Dash them in pieces – See Dan. 2:44
To see just how amazingly this prophecy has been fulfilled see Additiona Comments Eze. 38:13. Especially look for "Updated Information." |
| 10 And now, O kings, act wisely, Be instructed, O judges of earth, |
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| 11 Serve ye Jehovah with fear, And rejoice with trembling. |
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| 12 Kiss the Chosen One, lest He be angry, And ye lose the way, When His anger burneth but a little, O the happiness of all trusting in Him! |
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