Psalm 112 Emotional
From Psalms: Layer by Layer
Psalm 112/Emotional
Choose a PsalmNavigate Psalm 112
The one who fears YHWH
Psalm 112
Emotional Analysis
This layer explores the emotional dimension of the biblical text and seeks to uncover the clues within the text itself that are part of the communicative intent of its author. The goal of this analysis is to chart the basic emotional tone and/or progression of the psalm.
For a detailed explanation of our method, see the Emotional Analysis Creator Guidelines.
Emotional Analysis Chart
If an emendation or revocalization is preferred, that emendation or revocalization will be marked in the Hebrew text of all the visuals.
| Emendations/Revocalizations legend | |
|---|---|
| *Emended text* | Emended text, text in which the consonants differ from the consonants of the Masoretic text, is indicated by blue asterisks on either side of the emendation. |
| *Revocalized text* | Revocalized text, text in which only the vowels differ from the vowels of the Masoretic text, is indicated by purple asterisks on either side of the revocalization. |
| Verse | Text (Hebrew) | Text (CBC) | The Psalmist Feels | Emotional Analysis Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | הַ֥לְלוּ יָ֨הּ ׀ | Praise Yah! | ||
| אַשְׁרֵי־אִ֭ישׁ יָרֵ֣א אֶת־יְהוָ֑ה | Happy is the one [who] fears YHWH, | • Admiration for the one who fears YHWH. • Hope that a YHWH-fearing king will appear. |
• The term for "happy" (אַשְׁרֵי) carries a connotation of being "accompanied by an attitude of admiration" (SDBH). • If this psalm is indeed reflecting upon the character of an idealized king (see Story Behind), then this celebration of a YHWH-fearing king is an expression of hope that such a king will appear. | |
| בְּ֝מִצְוֺתָ֗יו חָפֵ֥ץ מְאֹֽד׃ | [who] delights very much in his commands! | |||
| 2 | גִּבּ֣וֹר בָּ֭אָרֶץ יִהְיֶ֣ה זַרְע֑וֹ | His offspring will be great on the earth, | • Admiration for the one who fears YHWH. • Hope that a YHWH-fearing king will appear. |
|
| דּ֭וֹר יְשָׁרִ֣ים יְבֹרָֽךְ׃ | a generation of upright people [who] will be blessed. | |||
| 3 | הוֹן־וָעֹ֥שֶׁר בְּבֵית֑וֹ | Immense wealth is in his house, | ||
| וְ֝צִדְקָת֗וֹ עֹמֶ֥דֶת לָעַֽד׃ | and his righteousness endures forever. | |||
| 4 | זָ֘רַ֤ח בַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְ א֭וֹר לַיְשָׁרִ֑ים | A light for the upright has risen in the darkness, | ||
| חַנּ֖וּן וְרַח֣וּם וְצַדִּֽיק׃ | merciful and compassionate and righteous. | |||
| 5 | טֽוֹב־אִ֭ישׁ חוֹנֵ֣ן וּמַלְוֶ֑ה | Fortunate is the one who lends generously, | • Admiration for the one who fears YHWH. • Hope that a YHWH-fearing king will appear. |
• The expression טוב איש is functionally equivalent to אשרי איש (cf. notes on Lexical Semantics). It too is accompanied by an attitude of admiration. • The hendiadys "lends generously" (חוֹנֵ֣ן וּמַלְוֶ֑ה) emphasizes the lavishness of the man's generosity. |
| יְכַלְכֵּ֖ל דְּבָרָ֣יו בְּמִשְׁפָּֽט׃ | [who] manages his affairs with justice! | |||
| 6 | כִּֽי־לְעוֹלָ֥ם לֹא־יִמּ֑וֹט | For he will never waver. | • Admiration for the one who fears YHWH. • Hope that a YHWH-fearing king will appear. |
|
| לְזֵ֥כֶר ע֝וֹלָ֗ם יִהְיֶ֥ה צַדִּֽיק׃ | The righteous one will be remembered forever. | |||
| 7 | מִשְּׁמוּעָ֣ה רָ֭עָה לֹ֣א יִירָ֑א | He will not be afraid of bad news. | ||
| נָכ֥וֹן לִ֝בּ֗וֹ בָּטֻ֥חַ בַּיהוָֽה׃ | His heart is confident, trusting in YHWH. | |||
| 8 | סָמ֣וּךְ לִ֭בּוֹ לֹ֣א יִירָ֑א | His heart is encouraged. He will not be afraid, | ||
| עַ֖ד אֲשֶׁר־יִרְאֶ֣ה בְצָרָֽיו׃ | until he looks [in triumph] on his adversaries. | |||
| 9 | פִּזַּ֤ר ׀ נָ֘תַ֤ן לָאֶבְיוֹנִ֗ים | He has given freely to the poor. | ||
| צִ֭דְקָתוֹ עֹמֶ֣דֶת לָעַ֑ד | His righteousness endures forever. | |||
| קַ֝רְנ֗וֹ תָּר֥וּם בְּכָבֽוֹד׃ | His horn will rise in honor. | |||
| 10 | רָ֘שָׁ֤ע יִרְאֶ֨ה ׀ וְכָעָ֗ס | The wicked person will see and become vexed. | • Hope that a YHWH-fearing king will appear. • Confident that the wicked will be thwarted. • Relief because of deliverance from the wicked. |
|
| שִׁנָּ֣יו יַחֲרֹ֣ק וְנָמָ֑ס | He will grind his teeth and waste away. | |||
| תַּאֲוַ֖ת רְשָׁעִ֣ים תֹּאבֵֽד׃ | The desire of the wicked will come to an end. |
Summary Visual
(Click visual to enlarge).
