King James Version

Psalms 2:12

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.

Study

Hebrew

Tap a word to see its meaning. Words run left to right in English reading order.

נַשְּׁקוּnashqvkissנָשַׁקverb, piel, imperative, 2nd person, masculine, plural — “kiss”, a commandH5401to kiss, literally or figuratively (touch); also (as a mode of attachment), to equip with weaponsarmed (men), rule, kiss, that touched.בַ֡רvarsonבַּרnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “son”, the ordinary formH1248the heir (apparent to the throne)son.פֶּןpenthat...notפֵּןconjunction — “that...not”H6435properly, removal; used only (in the construction) adverb as conjunction, lest(lest) (peradventure), that...not.יֶאֱנַ֤ףyeenafbe angryאָנַףverb, qal, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “be angry”, an unfinished actionH599to breathe hard, i.e. be enragedbe angry (displeased).וְתֹ֬אבְדוּvetovdvand destroyאָבַדconjunction, verb, qal, imperfect, 2nd person, masculine, plural — “and destroy”, an unfinished actionH6properly, to wander away, i.e. lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy)break, destroy(-uction), [phrase] not escape, fail, lose, (cause to, make) perish, spend, [idiom] and surely, take, be undone, [idiom] utterly, be void of, have no way to flee.דֶ֗רֶךְderekhalongדֶּרֶךְnoun, common, both genders, singular, absolute — “along”, the ordinary formH1870a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverbalong, away, because of, [phrase] by, conversation, custom, (east-) ward, journey, manner, passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-) way(-side), whither(-soever).כִּֽיkiassuredכִּיconjunction — “assured”H3588(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexedand, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + til…יִבְעַ֣רyivarbe brutishבָּעַרverb, qal, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “be brutish”, an unfinished actionH1197to kindle, i.e. consume (by fire or by eating); to be(-come) brutishbe brutish, bring (put, take) away, burn, (cause to) eat (up), feed, heat, kindle, set (on fire), waste.כִּמְעַ֣טkimatas littleמְעַטpreposition, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “as little”, the ordinary formH4592a little or few (often adverbial or compar.)almost (some, very) few(-er, -est), lightly, little (while), (very) small (matter, thing), some, soon, [idiom] very.אַפּ֑וֹapvofaceאַףnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “face”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH639properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ireanger(-gry), [phrase] before, countenance, face, [phrase] forebearing, forehead, [phrase] (long-) suffering, nose, nostril, snout, [idiom] worthy, wrath.אַ֝שְׁרֵ֗יashrehappyאֶשֶׁרnoun, common, masculine, plural, absolute — “happy”, the ordinary formH835happiness; only in masculine plural construction as interjection, how happy!blessed, happy.כָּלkalallכֹּלnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “all”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH3605properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever).ח֥וֹסֵיchosehave hopeחָסָהverb, qal, participle, construct — “have hope”, a verb used as a describing wordH2620to flee for protection; figuratively, to confide inhave hope, make refuge, (put) trust.בֽוֹvvoinבֽוֹpreposition, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “in”in

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

Do homage in purity, lest He be angry, and ye perish in the way, when suddenly His wrath is kindled. Happy are all they that take refuge in Him.

Translation Note

The King James reads “Kiss the Son.” The Hebrew words are נַשְּׁקוּ־בַר. Strong’s H1248 defines בַר as “the heir (apparent to the throne)” and lists the King James rendering “son.” The 1917 Jewish Publication Society reads “Do homage in purity.” Brenton reads “Accept correction,” and the Greek is δράξασθε παιδείας, “take hold of discipline.”

The English versions do not say the same thing. The Jewish Publication Society does not print “son” here. The King James does, and Strong’s Hebrew dictionary gives “son” for this word. Christians take the line with verse 7: the one to be honored is the Son. Jesus is that Son, and Jesus is God.

King James Version. 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.

Jewish Publication Society (1917). “Do homage in purity, lest He be angry, and ye perish in the way, when suddenly His wrath is kindled.”

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English. “Accept correction, lest at any time the Lord be angry, and ye should perish from the righteous way.”

Septuagint, Brenton’s Greek (1851). Δράξασθε παιδείας, μή ποτε ὀργισθῇ Κύριος.

Why don’t Jews believe Jesus is the Messiah? What Does Messiah Mean?

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

Kiss the son, lest he be angry, and ye perish in the way, For his wrath will soon be kindled. Blessed are all they that take refuge in him.

Young’s Literal Translation

Kiss the Chosen One, lest He be angry, And ye lose the way, When His anger burneth but a little, O the happiness of all trusting in Him!

World English Bible

Give sincere homage to the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish on the way, for his wrath will soon be kindled. Blessed are all those who take refuge in him.

Darby Translation

Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish in the way, though his anger burn but a little. Blessed are all who have their trust in him.

Douay-Rheims

Embrace discipline, lest at any time the Lord be angry, and you perish from the just way.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

Do homage in purity, lest He be angry, and ye perish in the way, when suddenly His wrath is kindled. Happy are all they that take refuge in Him.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

Accept correction, lest at any time the Lord be angry, and ye should perish from the righteous way: whensoever his wrath shall be suddenly kindled, blessed are all they that trust in him.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Δράξασθε παιδείας, μή ποτε ὀργισθῇ Κύριος, καὶ ἀπολεῖσθε ἐξ ὁδοῦ δικαίας· ὅταν ἐκκαυθῇ ἐν τάχει ὁ θυμὸς αὐτοῦ, μακάριοι πάντες οἱ πεποιθότες ἐπʼ αὐτῷ.