Charles Ellicott Commentary Psalms 2:12

"Kiss the son, lest he be angry, and ye perish in the way, For his wrath will soon be kindled. Blessed are all they that take refuge in him." — Psalms 2:12 (ASV)

Kiss the Son. This familiar translation must be surrendered. It has against it the weight of all the ancient versions except the Syriac. Thus the Chaldaic has, “receive instruction”; the Septuagint, followed by the Vulgate, “lay hold of discipline.” Symmachus and Jerome render it “pay pure adoration.” Aquila has “kiss with discernment.” Bar, in the sense of “son,” is common in Chaldee and is familiar to us from the Aramaic patronymics of the New Testament: e.g., Bar-Jonas, Bar-nabas, etc.

The only place where it occurs in Hebrew is Proverbs 31:2, where it is repeated three times; but the Book of Proverbs has a great deal of Aramaic coloring. Our psalmist uses ben for “son” in Psalm 2:7, and it is unlikely that he would change to so unusual a term, unless nashshekû-bar were a proverbial saying, and of this there is no proof. Surely, too, the article or a suffix would have been employed. “Kiss son” seems altogether too abrupt and bald even for Hebrew poetry.

The change of subject also in the coordinate clause, “lest he (i.e., Jehovah, as the context shows) be angry,” is very awkward. As to the translation of the verb, the remark of Delitzsch, that it means “to kiss, and nothing else,” is wide of the mark, since it must in any case be taken figuratively, with the sense of doing homage, as in Genesis 41:40 (margin), or worshipping (1 Kings 19:18; Hosea 13:2).

The most consistent rendering is, therefore, proffer pure homage (to Jehovah), lest he be angry.

It may be added that the current of Rabbinical authority is against our Authorized Version. Thus R. Solomon states: “Arm yourselves with discipline” (so, with a slight variation, one of the latest commentators, E. Reuss, says: “Arm yourselves with loyalty”); another Rabbi: “Kiss the covenant”; another, “Adore the corn.”

Among the best of modern scholars, Hupfeld renders it “yield sincerely”; Ewald, “receive wholesome warning”; Hitzig, “submit to duty”; Gratz (by emendation), “give good heed to the warning.”

From the way. The Septuagint and Vulgate amplify and explain this as “from the righteous way.” It is the way; only by following it can individuals or nations find peace and happiness. (See Note on Psalm 119:1).

When his wrath. Better: for his wrath is soon kindled, or easily kindled.

Put their trust. Better: find their refuge.

Notice at the close of the psalm the settled and memorable belief that good must ultimately triumph over evil. The rebels against God’s kingdom must be conquered in the noblest way: by being drawn into it.