Revelation 2:27

2:27 he ¹  will rule ²  them with an iron rod ³ 

and like clay jars he will break them to pieces, ⁴ 

Revelation 12:5

12:5 So ⁵  the woman gave birth to a son, a male child, ⁶  who is going to rule ⁷  over all the nations ⁸  with an iron rod. ⁹  Her ¹⁰  child was suddenly caught up to God and to his throne,

Psalms 2:9

2:9 You will break them ¹¹  with an iron scepter; ¹² 

you will smash them like a potter’s jar!’” ¹³ 

[2:27]  ¹ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[2:27]  ² tn Grk “will shepherd.”

[2:27]  ³ tn Or “scepter.” The Greek term ῥάβδος (rJabdo") can mean either “rod” or “scepter.”

[2:27]  ⁴ sn A quotation from Ps 2:9 (with the line introducing the quotation containing a partial allusion to Ps 2:8). See also Rev 12:5, 19:15.

[12:5]  ⁵ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the conclusion of the anticipated birth.

[12:5]  ⁶ tn On this term BDAG 135 s.v. ἄρσην states: “male…The neut. ἄρσεν Rv 12:5, difft. vs. 13, comes fr. Is 66:7 and is in apposition to υἱόν. On the juxtaposition s. FBoll, ZNW 15, 1914, 253; BOlsson, Glotta 23, ’34, 112.”

[12:5]  ⁷ tn Grk “shepherd.”

[12:5]  ⁸ tn Or “all the Gentiles” (the same Greek word may be translated “Gentiles” or “nations”).

[12:5]  ⁹ tn Or “scepter.” The Greek term ῥάβδος (rJabdo") can mean either “rod” or “scepter.”

[12:5]  ¹⁰ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[2:9]  ¹¹ tc The LXX reads “you will shepherd them.” This reading, quoted in the Greek text of the NT in Rev 2:27; 12:5; 19:15, assumes a different vocalization of the consonantal Hebrew text and understands the verb as רָעָה (ra’ah, “to shepherd”) rather than רָעָע (ra’a’, “to break”). But the presence of נָפַץ (nafats, “to smash”) in the next line strongly favors the MT vocalization.

[2:9]  ¹² tn The Hebrew term שֵׁבֶט (shevet) can refer to a “staff” or “rod,” but here it probably refers to the Davidic king’s royal scepter, symbolizing his sovereignty.

[2:9]  ¹³ sn Like a potter’s jar. Before the Davidic king’s awesome power, the rebellious nations are like fragile pottery.