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Selected Verse: Psalms 2:9 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ps 2:9	Strong Concordance	Thou shalt break [07489] them with a rod [07626] of iron [01270]; thou shalt dash them in pieces [05310] like a potter's [03335] vessel [03627].
	King James	Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
His enemies shall be subject to His terrible power (Job 4:9; Th2 2:8), as His people to His grace (Psa 110:2-3). rod of iron--denotes severity (Rev 2:27). a potter's vessel--when shivered cannot be mended, which will describe utter destruction.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

His enemies shall be subject to His terrible power (Job 4:9; Th2 2:8), as His people to His grace (Psa 110:2-3).

rod of iron--denotes severity (Rev 2:27).

a potter's vessel--when shivered cannot be mended, which will describe utter destruction.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron - That is, evidently, thine enemies, for it cannot be supposed to be meant that he would sway such a scepter over his own people. The idea is that he would crush and subdue all his foes. He would have absolute power, and the grant which had been made to him would be accompanied with authority sufficient to hold it. That dominion which was to be conceded to him would be not only one of protection to his friends, but also of punishment on his enemies; and the statement here is made prominent because the former part of the psalm had respect to rebels, and the Messiah is here represented as being invested with power sufficient to punish and restrain them. The Vulgate renders this "thou shalt rule;" the Septuagint, "thou shalt feed - ποιμανεῖς poimaneis; that is, thou shalt feed them as a shepherd does his flock; thou shalt exercise over them the care and protection of a shepherd. This rendering occurs by a slight change in the pointing of the Hebrew word, though the most approved mode of pointing the word is that which is followed in our common translation. DeWette, Hengstenberg, Alexander, Horsley, adopt the common reading. What is said in this verse has been urged as an objection to referring it to the Messiah. The remark of DeWette on this matter has been quoted in the introduction to this psalm, Section 4 (3). But it may be observed, while it is everywhere represented that the scepter of the Messiah over the earth will be a mild scepter, it is also everywhere stated that he will ultimately crush and overthrow all his foes. Thus, in Isa 11:4 : "He shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked." So Psa 110:6 : "He shall judge among the heathen; he shall fill the places with the dead bodies." So, likewise, Rev 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." So also in Matt. 25, and elsewhere, it is said that he will come to judgment, and will consign all his foes to appropriate punishment. While it is said that the reign of the Messiah would be a mild reign, and that his kingdom would not be of this world, and while he is represented as the Prince of peace, it is also said that he would be invested with all the authority of a sovereign. While he would have power to protect his friends, he would also have power to humble and crush his foes. The expression "with a rod of iron" refers to the scepter which he would bear. A scepter was sometimes made of wood, sometimes of gold, sometimes of ivory, and sometimes of iron. The idea, when the past was the case, was, that the dominion was absolute, and that there was nothing that could resist it. Perhaps the idea of justice or severity would be that which would be most naturally suggested by this. As applicable to the Messiah, it can only mean that his enemies would be crushed and subdued before him. Thou shalt dash them in pieces - The same idea is here expressed in another form, but indicating more particularly the ease with which it would be done. The word rendered "dash them in pieces" means to break in pieces as an earthen vessel, Jdg 7:20; Jer 22:28. It is used to denote the crushing of infants on stones, Psa 137:9. The word "shiver" would well express the idea here - "thou shalt shiver them." Like a potter's vessel - A vessel or instrument made by a potter; a vessel made of clay. This is easily broken, and especially with a rod of iron, and the idea here is that he would crush and subdue his enemies as easily as this could be done. No image could more happily express the ease with which he would subdue his foes; and this accords with all the representations of the New Testament - that with infinite case - with a word - Christ can subdue his enemies, and consign them to ruin. Compare Mat 25:41, Mat 25:46; Luk 19:27. The sense here is, simply, that the Messiah would be absolute; that he would have power to quell all rebellion against God, and to punish all those that rise up against him; and that on those who are incorrigibly rebellious he would exercise that power, and take effectual means to subdue them. This is merely what is done by all just governments, and is by no means inconsistent with the idea that such a government would be mild and gentle toward those who are obedient. The protection of the righteous makes the punishment of the wicked necessary in all governments, and the one cannot be secured without the other. This verse is applied to the Messiah in the Book of Revelation, Rev 2:27, note; Rev 19:15, note; compare Rev 12:5, note (see the notes at these passages).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron - That is, evidently, thine enemies, for it cannot be supposed to be meant that he would sway such a scepter over his own people. The idea is that he would crush and subdue all his foes. He would have absolute power, and the grant which had been made to him would be accompanied with authority sufficient to hold it. That dominion which was to be conceded to him would be not only one of protection to his friends, but also of punishment on his enemies; and the statement here is made prominent because the former part of the psalm had respect to rebels, and the Messiah is here represented as being invested with power sufficient to punish and restrain them. The Vulgate renders this "thou shalt rule;" the Septuagint, "thou shalt feed - ποιμανεῖς poimaneis; that is, thou shalt feed them as a shepherd does his flock; thou shalt exercise over them the care and protection of a shepherd. This rendering occurs by a slight change in the pointing of the Hebrew word, though the most approved mode of pointing the word is that which is followed in our common translation. DeWette, Hengstenberg, Alexander, Horsley, adopt the common reading. What is said in this verse has been urged as an objection to referring it to the Messiah. The remark of DeWette on this matter has been quoted in the introduction to this psalm, Section 4 (3). But it may be observed, while it is everywhere represented that the scepter of the Messiah over the earth will be a mild scepter, it is also everywhere stated that he will ultimately crush and overthrow all his foes.

Thus, in Isa 11:4 : "He shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked." So Psa 110:6 : "He shall judge among the heathen; he shall fill the places with the dead bodies." So, likewise, Rev 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." So also in Matt. 25, and elsewhere, it is said that he will come to judgment, and will consign all his foes to appropriate punishment. While it is said that the reign of the Messiah would be a mild reign, and that his kingdom would not be of this world, and while he is represented as the Prince of peace, it is also said that he would be invested with all the authority of a sovereign. While he would have power to protect his friends, he would also have power to humble and crush his foes. The expression "with a rod of iron" refers to the scepter which he would bear. A scepter was sometimes made of wood, sometimes of gold, sometimes of ivory, and sometimes of iron. The idea, when the past was the case, was, that the dominion was absolute, and that there was nothing that could resist it. Perhaps the idea of justice or severity would be that which would be most naturally suggested by this. As applicable to the Messiah, it can only mean that his enemies would be crushed and subdued before him.

Thou shalt dash them in pieces - The same idea is here expressed in another form, but indicating more particularly the ease with which it would be done. The word rendered "dash them in pieces" means to break in pieces as an earthen vessel, Jdg 7:20; Jer 22:28. It is used to denote the crushing of infants on stones, Psa 137:9. The word "shiver" would well express the idea here - "thou shalt shiver them."

Like a potter's vessel - A vessel or instrument made by a potter; a vessel made of clay. This is easily broken, and especially with a rod of iron, and the idea here is that he would crush and subdue his enemies as easily as this could be done. No image could more happily express the ease with which he would subdue his foes; and this accords with all the representations of the New Testament - that with infinite case - with a word - Christ can subdue his enemies, and consign them to ruin. Compare Mat 25:41, Mat 25:46; Luk 19:27. The sense here is, simply, that the Messiah would be absolute; that he would have power to quell all rebellion against God, and to punish all those that rise up against him; and that on those who are incorrigibly rebellious he would exercise that power, and take effectual means to subdue them. This is merely what is done by all just governments, and is by no means inconsistent with the idea that such a government would be mild and gentle toward those who are obedient. The protection of the righteous makes the punishment of the wicked necessary in all governments, and the one cannot be secured without the other. This verse is applied to the Messiah in the Book of Revelation, Rev 2:27, note; Rev 19:15, note; compare Rev 12:5, note (see the notes at these passages).

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Them - Those that will not quietly submit to thee, shall be crushed and destroyed by thee. This was in part fulfilled, when the Jews who persisted in unbelief, were destroyed by the Romans power: And in the destruction of the Pagan power, when the Christian religion came to be established. But it will not be compleatly fulfilled, 'till all opposing power and principality be put down.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron - This may refer to the Jewish nation, whose final rejection of the Gospel was foreseen, and in whose place the Gentiles or heathen were brought into the Church of Christ. They were dispossessed of their land, their city was razed to its foundations, their temple was burnt with fire, and upwards of a million of themselves were slaughtered by the Romans! So heavily did the iron rod of God's judgments fall upon them for their obstinate unbelief.

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²⁷ And [2532] he shall rule [4165] them [846] with [1722] a rod [4464] of iron [4603]; as [5613] the vessels [4632] of a potter [2764] shall they be broken to shivers [4937]: even [2504] as [5613] I [2504] received [2983] of [3844] my [3450] Father [3962].

² The LORD [03068] shall send [07971] the rod [04294] of thy strength [05797] out of Zion [06726]: rule [07287] thou in the midst [07130] of thine enemies [0341].
³ Thy people [05971] shall be willing [05071] in the day [03117] of thy power [02428], in the beauties [01926] of holiness [06944] from the womb [07358] of the morning [04891]: thou hast the dew [02919] of thy youth [03208].

⁸ And [2532] then [5119] shall [601] that Wicked [459] be revealed [601], whom [3739] the Lord [2962] shall consume [355] with the spirit [4151] of his [846] mouth [4750], and [2532] shall destroy [2673] with the brightness [2015] of his [846] coming [3952]:

⁹ By the blast [05397] of God [0433] they perish [06], and by the breath [07307] of his nostrils [0639] are they consumed [03615].

⁵ And [2532] she brought forth [5088] a man [730] child [5207], who [3739] was [3195] to rule [4165] all [3956] nations [1484] with [1722] a rod [4464] of iron [4603]: and [2532] her [846] child [5043] was caught up [726] unto [4314] God [2316], and [2532] to his [846] throne [2362].

¹⁵ And [2532] out of [1537] his [846] mouth [4750] goeth [1607] a sharp [3691] sword [4501], that [2443] with [1722] it [846] he should smite [3960] the nations [1484]: and [2532] he [846] shall rule [4165] them [846] with [1722] a rod [4464] of iron [4603]: and [2532] he [846] treadeth [3961] the winepress [3025] [3631] of the fierceness [2372] and [2532] wrath [3709] of Almighty [3841] God [2316].

²⁷ But [4133] those [1565] mine [3450] enemies [2190], which [3588] would [2309] not [3361] that I [3165] should reign [936] over [1909] them [846], bring [71] hither [5602], and [2532] slay [2695] them before [1715] me [3450].

⁴⁶ And [2532] these [3778] shall go away [565] into [1519] everlasting [166] punishment [2851]: but [1161] the righteous [1342] into [1519] life [2222] eternal [166].

⁴¹ Then [5119] shall he say [2046] also [2532] unto them on [1537] the left hand [2176], Depart [4198] from [575] me [1700], ye cursed [2672], into [1519] everlasting [166] fire [4442], prepared [2090] for the devil [1228] and [2532] his [846] angels [32]:

⁹ Happy [0835] shall he be, that taketh [0270] and dasheth [05310] thy little ones [05768] against the stones [05553].

²⁸ Is this man [0376] Coniah [03659] a despised [0959] broken [05310] idol [06089]? is he a vessel [03627] wherein is no pleasure [02656]? wherefore are they cast out [07993], he and his seed [02233], and are cast [02904] into a land [0776] which they know [03045] not?

²⁰ And the three [07969] companies [07218] blew [08628] the trumpets [07782], and brake [07665] the pitchers [03537], and held [02388] the lamps [03940] in their left [08040] hands [03027], and the trumpets [07782] in their right [03225] hands [03027] to blow [08628] withal: and they cried [07121], The sword [02719] of the LORD [03068], and of Gideon [01439].

⁶ He shall judge [01777] among the heathen [01471], he shall fill [04390] the places with the dead bodies [01472]; he shall wound [04272] the heads [07218] over many [07227] countries [0776].

⁴ But with righteousness [06664] shall he judge [08199] the poor [01800], and reprove [03198] with equity [04334] for the meek [06035] of the earth [0776]: and he shall smite [05221] the earth [0776] with the rod [07626] of his mouth [06310], and with the breath [07307] of his lips [08193] shall he slay [04191] the wicked [07563].