And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
Rule, х poimanei (G4165)] - 'rule as a shepherd.' In Psalms 2:9 it is, "Thou shall break them with a rod of iron." The Septuagint, pointing the Hebrew differently, read as Revelation. The English version of Psalms 2:9 (note) is right, as the parallel, "dash in pieces," proves. But the Spirit sanctions the additional thought, that the Lord shall mingle mercy to some with judgment on others: beginning by destroying anti-Christian foes. He shall reign in love over the rest. 'Christ shall rule them with a sceptre of iron, to make them capable of being ruled with a sceptre of gold: severity first, that grace may come after' (Trench, who translates 'SCEPTRE' for "rod," as in Hebrews 1:8). 'Shepherd' is used, in Jeremiah 6:3, of hostile rulers; so Zechariah 11:16. As severity is prominent, 'rule as a shepherd' is used thus: He who would have shepherded them with a pastoral rod, shall because of their hardened unbelief, shepherd them with a rod of iron.
Shall they be broken So B Vulgate Syriac Coptic versions read; but A C 'as the vessels of a potter are Shall they be broken. So B, Vulgate, Syriac, Coptic versions read; but A C, 'as the vessels of a potter are broken to shivers.' A potter's vessel dashed to pieces, because of its failing to answer its makers design, is the image for God's sovereign power to give reprobates to destruction, not by caprice, but in His righteous judgment (Romans 11:21-22). The saints shall be in Christ's victorious 'armies' when He shall inflict the last decisive blow, and afterward shall reign with Him, (Revelation 19:1-21; Revelation 20:1-15.) Having by faith "overcome the world," they shall also rule the world.
Even as I - `as I also have received of (from) my Father,' in Psalms 2:7-9. Jesus refused to receive the kingdom without the Cross at Satan's hands: He would receive it from the Father alone, who appointed the Cross, the path to the crown. As the Father has given the authority to me over the pagan and uttermost parts of the earth, so I impart a share to my victorious disciple.