Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
Parallel translations
- WEB Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot a vain thing?
- KJV Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
- NKJV Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing?
- NASB Why are the nations restless And the peoples plotting in vain?
- NLT Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans?
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The psalm opens by asking why the nations rage and scheme against God in futility. Human rebellion against the Lord is ultimately empty and doomed.
Overview
This royal psalm portrays the peoples of the earth in tumult, plotting to throw off God's rule. The question 'why' exposes the irrationality of opposing the Almighty. The apostles quote this verse of the coalition that opposed Jesus, the true Anointed King (Acts 4:25-26), showing that the world's rebellion reaches its climax at the cross.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Acts 4:25–26You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of Your servant, our father David: ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
- Rev 17:14They will make war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will triumph over them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and He will be accompanied by His called and chosen and faithful ones.”
- Ps 46:6Nations rage, kingdoms crumble; the earth melts when He lifts His voice.
- Ps 21:11Though they intend You harm, the schemes they devise will not prevail.
- Ps 83:4–8saying, “Come, let us erase them as a nation; may the name of Israel be remembered no more.”
- Acts 17:5–6The Jews, however, became jealous. So they brought in some troublemakers from the marketplace, formed a mob, and sent the city into an uproar. They raided Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas, hoping to bring them out to the people.
- Matt 21:38But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and take his inheritance.’
- Luke 22:22–23Indeed, the Son of Man will go as it has been determined, but woe to that man who betrays Him.”
- Ps 18:42I ground them as dust in the face of the wind; I trampled them like mud in the streets.
- Isa 8:9Huddle together, O peoples, and be shattered; pay attention, all you distant lands; prepare for battle, and be shattered; prepare for battle, and be shattered!
- Luke 18:32He will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon.
- Acts 5:33When the Council members heard this, they were enraged, and they resolved to put the apostles to death.
- Acts 19:28–32When the men heard this, they were enraged and began shouting, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
- Luke 22:1–2Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching,
- John 11:49–50But one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all!
- Acts 16:22The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered that they be stripped and beaten with rods.
- Luke 22:5They were delighted and agreed to give him money.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 2:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.