Psalm 16 Poetic Structure
Delights forever
Psalm 16
Poetic Structure
In poetic structure, we analyse the structure of the psalm beginning at the most basic level of the structure: the line (also known as the “colon” or “hemistich”). Then, based on the perception of patterned similarities (and on the assumption that the whole psalm is structured hierarchically), we argue for the grouping of lines into verses, verses into sub-sections, sub-sections into larger sections, etc. Because patterned similarities might be of various kinds (syntactic, semantic, pragmatic, sonic) the analysis of poetic structure draws on all of the previous layers (especially the Discourse layer).
Poetic Macro-structure
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. |
Notes
- The main body of the poem (vv. 2–11) clearly divides into two main sections: vv. 2–6 and vv. 7–11.[1]
- Each of these main sections has a similar beginning (first-person verb of speech, followed by the divine name): "I say to YHWH" (v. 2) // "I will bless YHWH" (v. 7).
- Each of these main sections has a similar ending: "delightful places" (בַּנְּעִמִים) (v. 6) // "delights" (נְעִמוֹת) (v. 11).
- Each of these two main sections consists of 11 lines. The main body of the psalm, therefore, has 22 lines, the number of letters in the Hebrew alphabet. (Note also that both sections begin with alef, the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and the last verse begins with tav, the last letter of the alphabet.)
- The second main section (vv. 7–11) is bound by an inclusio: "[YHWH] has advised me" (v. 7) // "you make me know" (v. 11). Both verbs have YHWH as their subject and belong to the semantic domain of "Knowing."
- The two main sections of the psalm correspond to the two statements made in v. 1: "Protect me, God, because I have taken refuge in you." The first main section (vv. 2–6), in which the psalmist declares his commitment to YHWH alone, corresponds to "I have taken refuge in you" (v. 1β). The second main section (vv. 7–11), in which the psalmist describes what YHWH does for him, corresponds to "protect me, God" (v. 1α). Verse 1, therefore, which stands outside of the main body of the psalm, is a summary of the psalm as a whole.
- Each of the psalm's two main sections further divides into two smaller sections.
- The first main section (vv. 2–6) divides into two sub-sections: vv. 2–4 and vv. 5–6.
- The first sub-section (vv. 2–4) is bound by an inclusio (first-person verbs of speech): "I have said" (v. 2a) // "I will not utter..." (v. 4b).
- The second sub-section (vv. 5–6) is united by its use of related semantic domains: land, inheritance, possession.
- These two sub-sections have similar beginnings: "YHWH" (v. 2a) // "YHWH" (v. 5a).
- These two sub-sections also have similar endings: "on my lips" (v. 4c) // "to me" (v. 6b). The similarity is especially striking in Hebrew: עַל־שְׂפָתָֽי (v. 4c) // שָֽׁפְרָ֥ה עָלָֽי (v. 6b). Note the repetition of the same preposition (עַל), the similar sounds (שׁפ // שׂפ), and the lengthened first-person suffix pronoun at the end of each line (תָי // -לָי-).
- The second main section (vv. 7–11) also divides into two sub-sections: vv. 7–8 and vv. 9–11. Furthermore, the sub-structure of vv. 7–11 closely mirrors the sub-structure of vv. 2–6.
- The first sub-section (vv. 7–8) has an ABA'B' structure. It repeats the divine name "YHWH" in v. 7a and v. 8a (AA'), and uses temporal adverbs in v, 7b and v. 8b (BB').
- The second sub-section (vv. 9–11) is bound by an inclusio: "rejoice" (v. 9) // "joy" (v. 11) (root: שׂמח). It is also bound by the repetition of similar semantic domains: life, joy well-being. This section has 29 words, the same number of words as the corresponding section in the first half of the psalm (vv. 2–4).
- These two sub-sections have similar beginnings (body-part terms): "my kidneys" (v. 7) // "my heart... my body" (v. 9)
- These two sub-sections also have similar endings: "right side" (v. 8b) // "right hand" (v. 11c).
- The first main section (vv. 2–6) divides into two sub-sections: vv. 2–4 and vv. 5–6.
Line Divisions
Line division divides the poem into lines and line groupings. We determine line divisions based on a combination of external evidence (Masoretic accents, pausal forms, manuscripts) and internal evidence (syntax, prosodic word counting and patterned relation to other lines). Moreover, we indicate line-groupings by using additional spacing.
When line divisions are uncertain, we consult some of the many psalms manuscripts which lay out the text in lines. Then, if a division attested in one of these manuscripts/versions influences our decision to divide the text at a certain point, we place a green symbol (G, DSS, or MT) to the left of the line in question.
| Poetic line division legend | |
|---|---|
| Pausal form | Pausal forms are highlighted in yellow. |
| Accent which typically corresponds to line division | Accents which typically correspond to line divisions are indicated by red text. |
| | | Clause boundaries are indicated by a light gray vertical line in between clauses. |
| G | Line divisions that follow Greek manuscripts are indicated by a bold green G. |
| DSS | Line divisions that follow the Dead Sea Scrolls are indicated by a bold green DSS. |
| M | Line divisions that follow Masoretic manuscripts are indicated by a bold green M. |
| Number of prosodic words | The number of prosodic words are indicated in blue text. |
| Prosodic words greater than 5 | The number of prosodic words if greater than 5 is indicated by bold blue text. |
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. |
Notes
- Our proposed line divisions for this psalm follow the Masoretic accents as interpreted by de Hoop and Sanders.[2] They also agree with the line divisions of the Septuagint according to Rahlfs (1931) in every instance except for two: vv. 4a, 9a. Note, however, that even in these verses, some ancient Septuagint manuscripts agree with the division suggested by the accents.