Psalms 2:8

Ask Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance, the ends of the earth Your possession.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The Lord addresses the anointed king, issuing a decree immediately after the father-son declaration in the preceding verse. This moment marks the formal bestowal of global authority following the divine proclamation.

The words — The imperative שְׁאַל (she.'Al) translates literally as "ask," directed toward the speaker, followed by וְ/אֶתְּנָה (ve./'e.te.Nah), meaning "so let me make." These terms introduce the grant of ג֭וֹיִם (Go.yim, "nations") as an inheritance and אָֽרֶץ (A.retz, "earth") as a possession.

The thread — The phrase "ends of the earth" appears in Psalms 22:27, 72:8, and 89:27 to denote the full geographic scope of divine and kingly rule. These references consistently pair the granted territory with universal recognition and sovereign authority.

Why it lands — The text requires acknowledgment that territorial and political dominion is granted by divine decree rather than human conquest. It directs the reader to submit to the established chain of authority and to recognize the boundaries of granted possession.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

שְׁאַ֤לshe.'Alask מִמֶּ֗נִּיmi.Me./nifrom/ me וְאֶתְּנָ֣הve./'e.te.Nahso/ let me make ג֭וֹיִםGo.yimnations נַחֲלָתֶ֑ךָna.cha.la.Te./khainheritance/ your וַ֝אֲחֻזָּתְךָ֗va./'a.chu.za.te./khaand/ possession/ your אַפְסֵי־'af.sei-[the] ends of אָֽרֶץ׃'A.retz[the] earth

King James Version

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

Cross-references

Psalms 22:27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD. All the families of the nations will bow down before Him.
Psalms 89:27 I will indeed appoint him as My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.
Psalms 72:8 May he rule from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates to the ends of the earth.
John 17:4 I have glorified You on earth by accomplishing the work You gave Me to do.
Daniel 7:13 In my vision in the night I continued to watch, and I saw One like the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence.