Psalms 2:7
in Psalms 2I will proclaim the decree spoken to Me by the LORD: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
I will tell of the decree: Jehovah said unto me, Thou art my son; This day have I begotten thee.
KJV
I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
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This verse in Psalms 2
Commentary
21 notes on this verseThe word today indicates the present time in which he was made in the flesh—he who nevertheless in his own nature was the Lord of everything. John testifies to this, that he came among his own, calling the world his own. Having been called into a kingdom in accordance with his accustomed glory, he said, "I have been made king by him," that is, by God the Father. Furthermore, he fulfilled this by being made the Son in his humanity even if then he was the Son in his own nature.
This site's exposition
You are My Son
on Psalms 2:7-9
Verse 7 names the King as God's Son. Acts 13:33 quotes it of the raising of Jesus, and Hebrews 1:5 quotes it as a word God never said to any angel. Verse 8 hands Him the nations, and verse 9 an iron scepter, as at Revelation 2:27 and 19:15.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
"The Lord has said unto me, You are My Son, today have I begotten You" [Psalm 2:7]. Although that day may also seem to be prophetically spoken of, on which Jesus Christ was born according to the flesh; and in eternity there is nothing past as if it had ceased to be, nor future as if it were not yet, but present only, since whatever is eternal, always is; yet as "today" intimates presentiality, a divine interpretation is given to that expression, "Today have I begotten You," whereby the uncorrupt and Catholic faith proclaims the eternal generation of the power and Wisdom of God, who is the Only-begotten Son.
Begotten from the eternal Father, begotten from eternity, begotten in eternity, with no beginning, with no ending, with no space of extension, because he is what is, because he himself is who is.
A commentator
Origen of AlexandriaCOMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 1:204 · Written before 253.
proposed
There is no evening of God possible and, I think, no morning, but the time, if I may put it this way, which is coextensive with his unoriginated and eternal life, is today for him, the day in which the Son has been begotten. Consequently neither the beginning nor the day of his generation is to be found.
To be sure, God the Word had the name "only-begotten Son" before the ages as connatural with his condition, yet while still possessing the title of the Son as God, he also receives it as human being. Hence in the present psalm he added the …
"I have begotten you" refers to the birth about which Isaiah speaks, "Who will tell about his generation?" He is Light from Light, Almighty from Almighty, true God from true God, from whom, and through whom, and in whom all things exist.
14 more voices on this verse
The Church Fathers2 voices
He willed that he who existed before the ages in heaven should be begotten on the earth—that is, that he who was before unknown should be made known. Now, certainly, Christ has never yet been born in those people who have never perceived the manifold wisdom of God—that is, has never been known, has never been manifested, has never appeared to them. But if these also should perceive the mystery of grace, then in them too, when they were converted and believed, he would be born in knowledge and understanding.
Paul when he was discoursing in the synagogue of Antioch in Pisidia spoke thus: And we bring you good tidings of the promise made unto the fathers, how that God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children in that he raised up Jesus, as …
The Medieval Church2 voices
A commentator
BonaventureCollations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 11 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
The third mode of generation is by means of propagation, and this in a fourfold way: as of a growth coming from a seed, a tree from a root, a conceived offspring from the belly or womb of the mother, or children from a begetting …
Then when he says, "The Lord," from the same history it is shown how he relates to the nations. And concerning this he does two things. First, he shows that it befits Christ to have power over the nations. Second, he sets forth the exercise …
The Puritans and the Awakening5 voices
I will declare the decree,.... These are the words of Jehovah's Anointed and King, exercising his kingly office, according to the decree and commandment of the Father: for these words refer not to the following, concerning the generation of the Son, which does not depend on the decree and arbitrary will of God, but is from his nature; but these words relate to what go before.
The decree - The will and appointment of God concerning this. My son - Which tho' it may in some sort be said to, or of David, yet much more properly belongs to Christ, who is commonly known by this title both in the Old and New Testament, and to whom this title is expressly appropriated by the holy ghost, who is the best interpreter of his own words, Acts xiii, 33 Heb. i, 5.
Christ is said to be the first-begotten and first-born from the dead, Rev. i. Immediately after his resurrection he entered upon the administration of his mediatorial kingdom; it was then that he said, All power is given unto me, and to that especially he had an eye when he taught his disciples to pray, Thy kingdom come.
): Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. This scripture the apostle quotes ( Heb. i. 5 ) to prove that Christ has a more excellent name than the angels, but that he obtained it by inheritance,
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
Consider, (1.) The certain ruin we run upon if we refuse and reject Christ: " Kiss the Son; for it is at your peril if you do not." [1.] "It will be a great provocation to him. Do it, lest he be angry. " The Father is angry already; the Son is the Mediator that undertakes to make peace; if we slight him, the Father's wrath abides upon us ( John iii.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
The Nineteenth Century5 voices
This Psalm wears something of a dramatic form, for now another person is introduced as speaking. We have looked into the council-chamber of the wicked, and to the throne of God, and now we behold the Anointed declaring his rights of sovereignty, and warning the traitors of their doom. God has laughed at the counsel and ravings of the wicked, and now Christ the Anointed himself comes forward, as the Risen Redeemer, "declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead." Romans 1:4.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
The interpretation of this passage to describe the inauguration of Christ as Mediatorial King, by no means impugns the Eternal Sonship of His divine nature. In Ac 13:33, Paul's quotation does not imply an application of this passage to the resurrection; for "raised up" in Ac 13:32 is used as in Ac 2:30;
This Psalm wears something of a dramatic form, for now another person is introduced as speaking. We have looked into the council-chamber of the wicked, and to the throne of God, and now we behold the Anointed declaring his rights of sovereignty, and warning the traitors of their doom. God has laughed at the counsel and ravings of the wicked, and now Christ the Anointed himself comes forward, as the Risen Redeemer, "declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead." Romans 1:4. Looking into the angry faces of the rebellious kings, the Anointed One seems to say, "If this sufficeth not to make you silent, 'I will declare the decree'." Now this decree is directly in conflict with the device of man, for its tenour is the establishment of the very dominion against which the nations are raving. "Thou art my Son." Here is a noble proof of the glorious Divinity of our Immanuel. "For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee?" What a mercy to have a Divine Redeemer in whom to rest our confidence! "This day have I begotten thee." If this refers to the Godhead of our Lord, let us not attempt to fathom it, for it is a great truth, a truth reverently to be received, but not irreverently to be scanned. It may be added, that if this relates to the Begotten One in his human nature, we must here also rejoice in the mystery, but not attempt to violate its sanctity by intrusive prying into the secrets of the Eternal God. The things which are revealed are enough, without venturing into vain speculations. In attempting to define the Trinity, or unveil the essence of Divinity, many men have lost themselves: here great ships have foundered. What have we to do in such a sea with our frail skiffs?
I will declare the decree - These words are supposed to have been spoken by the Messiah. I will declare to the world the decree, the purpose of God to redeem them by my blood, and to sanctify them by my Spirit. My death shall prove that the required atonement has been made; my resurrection shall prove that this atonement has been accepted. Thou art my Son - Made man, born of a woman by the creative energy of the Holy Ghost, that thou mightest feel and suffer for man, and be the first-born of many brethren. This day have I begotten thee - By thy resurrection thou art declared to be the Son of God, εν δυναμει, by miraculous power, being raised from the dead. Thus by thy wondrous and supernatural nativity, most extraordinary death, and miraculous resurrection, thou art declared to be the Son of God. And as in that Son dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, all the sufferings and the death of that human nature were stamped with an infinitely meritorious efficacy. We have St. Paul’s authority for applying to the resurrection of our Lord these words, “Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee;” - see Act 13:33; see also Heb 5:6; - and the man must indeed be a bold interpreter of the Scriptures who would give a different gloss to that of the apostle. It is well known that the words, “Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee,” have been produced by many as a proof of the eternal generation of the Son of God. On the subject itself I have already given my opinion in my note on Luk 1:35, from which I recede not one hair’s breadth. Still however it is necessary to spend a few moments on the clause before us. The word היום haiyom, Today, Is in no part of the sacred writings used to express eternity, or any thing in reference to it; nor can it have any such signification. […]
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
I will declare the decree - We have here another change in the speaker. The Anointed One is himself introduced as declaring the great purpose which was formed in regard to him, and referring to the promise which was made to him, as the foundation of the purpose of Yahweh Psa 2:6 to set him on the hill of Zion.
The words behind it
11 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| אֲסַפְּרָ֗ה | ʾasaperah | I will recount | H5608 → | 159 times |
| אֶֽ֫ל | ʾel | concerning | H413 → | 5510 times |
| חֹ֥ק | chok | [the] decree of | H2706 → | 127 times |
| יְֽהוָ֗ה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| אָמַ֘ר | ʾamar | he said | H559 → | 5305 times |
| אֵלַ֥י | ʾelai | to me | H413 → | 5510 times |
| בְּנִ֥י | beni | [are] son my | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| אַ֑תָּה | ʾatah | you | H859 → | 1094 times |
| אֲ֝נִ֗י | ʾani | I | H589 → | 874 times |
| הַיּ֥וֹם | haiyom | this day | H3117 → | 2304 times |
| יְלִדְתִּֽיךָ׃ | yelidtikha | I have begotten you | H3205 → | 496 times |
אֲסַפְּרָ֗הI will recount
ʾasaperahH5608 →159 times
אֶֽ֫לconcerning
ʾelH413 →5510 times
חֹ֥ק[the] decree of
chokH2706 →127 times
יְֽהוָ֗הYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
אָמַ֘רhe said
ʾamarH559 →5305 times
אֵלַ֥יto me
ʾelaiH413 →5510 times
בְּנִ֥י[are] son my
beniH1121 →4930 times
אַ֑תָּהyou
ʾatahH859 →1094 times
אֲ֝נִ֗יI
ʾaniH589 →874 times
הַיּ֥וֹםthis day
haiyomH3117 →2304 times
יְלִדְתִּֽיךָ׃I have begotten you
yelidtikhaH3205 →496 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Matthew 3:17And a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!”
it leads to
- Isaiah 42:1
“Here is My Servant, whom I uphold, My Chosen One, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will bring justice to the nations.
- Matthew 12:18
“Here is My Servant, whom I have chosen, My beloved, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will proclaim justice to the nations.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Mark 9:7
Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him!”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Matthew 17:5
While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!”
- Luke 9:35
And a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, whom I have chosen. Listen to Him!”
- Isaiah 42:1
Through
Matthew 17:5While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!”
it leads to
- Matthew 3:17
And a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!”
- Deuteronomy 18:15
The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to him.
- Matthew 3:17
Through
Acts 13:33He has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: ‘You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.’
it leads to
- Hebrews 5:5
So also Christ did not take upon Himself the glory of becoming a high priest, but He was called by the One who said to Him: “You are My Son; today I have become…
- Hebrews 5:5
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Psalms

This page draws on 18 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, Exposition on Psalm 2; Augustine of Hippo, HOMILIES ON 1 JOHN 2:5; Bonaventure, Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 11; Cassiodorus, EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 2:8; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 1; Cosmas Indicopleustes, The Christian Topography, Book 5; Cyril of Alexandria, EXPOSITION OF THE PSALMS 2:7; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Psalms; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Methodius of Olympus, BANQUET OF THE TEN VIRGINS 8:9; Origen of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 1:204; Theodoret of Cyrus, COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 2:7 and Thomas Aquinas, Exposition on the Psalms of David.
