Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 2:9

"Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter`s vessel." — Psalms 2:9 (ASV)

Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron - This evidently refers to your enemies, for it cannot be supposed that he would wield 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 made to him would be accompanied by sufficient authority to maintain it.

The dominion to be conceded to him would be not only one of protection for his friends but also of punishment for his enemies. This statement is made prominent here because the former part of the psalm referred to rebels, and the Messiah is represented as being invested with sufficient power to punish and restrain them.

The Vulgate renders this “thou shalt rule;” the Septuagint, “thou shalt feed - ποιμανεῖς poimaneis; that is, you shall feed them as a shepherd does his flock; you shall 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, and 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 Isaiah 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 Psalm 110:6: He shall judge among the heathen; he shall fill the places with the dead bodies. So, likewise, 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. So also in Matthew 25:0, 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. In the latter case, the idea was that the dominion was absolute and that there was nothing that could resist it. Perhaps the idea of justice or severity 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 expressed here 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 like an earthen vessel (Judges 7:20; Jeremiah 22:28). It is used to denote the crushing of infants on stones (Psalms 137:9). The word “shiver” would well express the idea here - “you shall shiver them.”

Like a potter’s vessel - A vessel or instrument made by a potter; a vessel made of clay. This is easily broken, 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 ease, with a word, Christ can subdue his enemies and consign them to ruin (Compare to Matthew 25:41, 46; Luke 19:27).

The sense here is simply that the Messiah would be absolute. He would have power to quell all rebellion against God and to punish all those who rise up against him. Furthermore, 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 (Revelation 2:27, note; Revelation 19:15, note; compare to Revelation 12:5, note; see the notes at these passages).