The Meaning of Psalms 2:4 Explained

Psalms 2:4

KJV: He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.

YLT: He who is sitting in the heavens doth laugh, The Lord doth mock at them.

Darby: He that dwelleth in the heavens shall laugh, the Lord shall have them in derision.

ASV: He that sitteth in the heavens will laugh: The Lord will have them in derision.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

He that sitteth  in the heavens  shall laugh:  the Lord  shall have them in derision. 

What does Psalms 2:4 Mean?

Verse Meaning

David envisioned God as ruler over all, sitting on His royal throne in heaven, not at all threatened or worried about the plan of the nations, but laughing at its futility. The figure of God sitting on His throne is a common personification that the psalmists used (cf. Psalm 9:11; Psalm 22:3; Psalm 29:10; Psalm 55:19; Psalm 102:12; Psalm 113:5; Isaiah 6:1; Ezekiel 1:26; Revelation 4:2; Revelation 5:1). This is the only place in Scripture where the writer described God as laughing.

Context Summary

Psalm 2:1-12 - God's Son Upon His Throne
This is one of the sublimest of the Psalms, and can find its fulfillment only in our Lord. See Acts 4:25; Acts 13:33; Hebrews 1:5; Hebrews 5:5; Revelation 2:27. The mold in which the psalm is cast is highly dramatic.
The determined hate of the peoples, Psalms 2:1-3
Rage conveys the idea of gesticulations and cries of frenzy. For Psalms 2:2, see Luke 23:12-13; Acts 4:25-26.
The divine tranquillity, Psalms 2:4-6
The scene shifts to heaven. In spite of all, the eternal purpose moves on. I have set-that is, "anointed." "Messiah" and "Christ" alike mean anointed, Acts 10:38.
The manifesto of Messiah, Psalms 2:7-9
Before time began He was the only begotten Son of God, John 17:5. But His sonship was declared at His resurrection, Acts 13:30-37. The world is His, to be won by the Cross and intercession.
Overtures of peace, Psalms 2:12
Kiss, 1 Samuel 10:1. This psalm closes as the first began, "Oh, the blessedness!" [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 2

1  The kingdom of Christ
10  Kings are exhorted to accept it

What do the individual words in Psalms 2:4 mean?

He who sits in the heavens shall laugh Yahweh shall hold in derision them
יוֹשֵׁ֣ב בַּשָּׁמַ֣יִם יִשְׂחָ֑ק אֲ֝דֹנָ֗י יִלְעַג־ לָֽמוֹ

יוֹשֵׁ֣ב  He  who  sits 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
בַּשָּׁמַ֣יִם  in  the  heavens 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַיִם  
Sense: heaven, heavens, sky.
יִשְׂחָ֑ק  shall  laugh 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׂחַק  
Sense: to laugh, play, mock.
אֲ֝דֹנָ֗י  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲדֹנָי  
Sense: my lord, lord.
יִלְעַג־  shall  hold  in  derision 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: לָעַג  
Sense: to mock, deride, ridicule.