1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?

• H1471 NATION M/N – This use of the word heathen is linked to the CORE as the lifting strength of the body; the PRIDE of lifting something or oneself in a positive or negative way; with NATION representing a group of people and gentiles, as well as heathen and nation.
• Ancient Hebrew Parent Root (AHPR): GIMEL VAV – which is symbolically a foot and peg, the peg being what they would stake the tent into the ground with.
• Technically, both Mary and Jesus would have been considered heathens by man’s definition, as she was unwed when she conceived, and Jesus had no earthly father; but neither she, nor Jesus lifted themselves up pridefully; Jesus never misused his nobility to turn the heads of others forcibly; he came to break the bands of death (Mosiah 15:8); and points and teaches us the way we must follow; all of which is mocked in the verses that follow.  

2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying,

3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

• H4147 STRAP F/N – KVJ translations: instruction, band, bond
• AHPR: SAMECH (thorn) RESH (head of man) – symbolically a thorn and head of man, when combined they hold the meaning “turn the head”, as in a noble person being able to call the attention of others, or a teacher turning the head of a student.

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

5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.

• H639 NOSE M/N – The nose represents the breathing of passion or flaring of anger. 
• AHPR: ALEPH (ox head) PEY (mouth) – other words in this parent root are: bake, cooked, snort, adultery.
• I always like to look at the words under the parent root to better understand the relationship between words. An interesting connection in this section is that God’s anger is linked to committing adultery. It makes me wonder if God’s anger is most often linked to the sin of adultery, rather than any other sin that man might commit knowingly. 
• If The Church is the body of Christ, and The Church is the marriage of Christ, in what other ways might we study to understand the sin of adultery? (Eph 4:12-13, 1 Cor 12:12, 27, Isa 54:5)

6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

7 I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

• See commentary in Ps 2:9
• When the prodigal son returned to his father, he believed he was no longer worthy to be called a son. But of course, when we choose Christ and return to him, we are then born of him and he won’t deny any who turn again and choose him. 

8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.

9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.

• H7626 STAFF M/N – KJV Translations: tribe, rod, sceptre, staff, pen, dart, correction
• What can we understand from seeing the many ways this word is translated in the KVJ of the Bible? Seeing a link to correction is huge, because in PS 2:3 they were breaking the bands/bonds/instructions of the Lord, and he repays their action with breaking them with his correction/rod of iron.
• AHPR BEYT (tent) DALET (door) – combined they mean the ” door of the tent”.
• Significantly, the door of the tent hung from a rod  where the father of the tent would sit and watching for approaching danger or visitors. 
• Consider the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32

  “20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.”

• Because the father would have been sitting in the door of the tent, he was able to see his son approaching the home and greet him happily! Had he thought he was threat or an adversary, he would have pulled the tent peg and used it as a spear to injure him. 

• For added insight and to see a different, although significant,  use of then tent peg or nail by a woman when there was no father at the door of the tent, see Judges 4:17-22.

10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.

• H3256 CORRECT V – Definition: To make a preferred change in direction through instruction or chastisement. 

11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

• H3374 ( fem., יראה / yi-rah ) Translation: FEARFULNESS Definition: Inclined to be afraid. KJV Translations: fear, dreadful, fearfulness 
• AHPR YUD (arm) RESH (head of man) – the themes under this PR are: a river of water being likened to fear surging inside; the hand of man throwing or pointing understood as showing the way one must live, walk or find water.
• When water is found, one will bend down or kneel, cup the hands to drink and is the symbolic understanding of showing gratitude and worship/fear in the lowering of the head to show reverence.
• 1 Nephi 8:30,11:24 are both demonstrations of this principle. There was one group mentioned that did not fall away, it was the last group that came to the tree and fell on their knees, like those who would fall at the feet of the Savior. 
• And once again, here is another word that is collectively understood with teachings or instructions like in the verse above. 
• Here is another connection to Lehi’s vision of The Tree of Life in 1 Nephi 8:27 “And it was filled with people, both old and young, both male and female; and their manner of dress was exceedingly fine; and they were in the attitude of mocking and pointing their fingers towards those who had come at and were partaking of the fruit.” 
• This symbolic reference in The Book of Mormon is vital in showing how the adversary will often utilize the same symbolism to mock those holding onto the true teachings and word of God symbolized by the holding to the iron rod. (1 Nephi 11:25)

12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

• H5401 KISS V – Definition: To touch together as when kissing with the lips or in battle with weapons. KJV Translations: kiss, arm, rule, touch 
• See commentary in Ps 2:9 
• The touching of lips is symbolically the same as touching swords in a battle, although the touching of lips representing a peaceable end to the fight. 
• This symbolic play was utilized at the end of Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker to end a battle that begun in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

How has understanding the Hebrew root symbolism expanded your understanding of Psalms 2, 1 Nephi 8, 11, and Luke 15?

What other scripture stories are symbolically tied to the scriptures referenced above? 

Do you have any questions for me?

• I strive to be as clear as I can be, but know that sometimes seeing the Hebrew, the STRONG’s number (ex. H123), or wondering how someone can put so much time into studying like this can be distracting and feel so unfamiliar. But I just started one word/phrase at a time, and my ability to see the connections grew over time.
• I hope that my passion for sharing what I study can give you a jump start into expounding the understanding of scriptures for yourself and bring you closer to Jesus. He’s pretty amazing. And has truly become my best friend.
• I just want to tell everyone that the way Jesus Christ died on the cross with his arms open wide,  and his heart exposed so vulnerably, is exactly how he would embrace you right now. And then he’d pull you into a swing dance, or run with you up a giant wave, or sit on the ground and hold you in your pain.
• He’s just as real as you are and he loves you, no matter what anyone else thinks of you. He never let what others thought of him stop him from believing he was loved. And that is the power of the love he shares with you and me. 

Resources used for Hebrew understanding:
BlueLetterBible.org
Ancient-Hebrew.org
ChurchofJesusChrist.org