Psalm 20 Poetic Features
May YHWH answer you!
Psalm 20
Guardian: Mari Strube
Poetic Features
In poetic features, we identify and describe the “Top 3 Poetic Features” for each Psalm. Poetic features might include intricate patterns (e.g., chiasms), long range correspondences across the psalm, evocative uses of imagery, sound-plays, allusions to other parts of the Bible, and various other features or combinations of features. For each poetic feature, we describe both the formal aspects of the feature and the poetic effect of the feature. We assume that there is no one-to-one correspondence between a feature’s formal aspects and its effect, and that similar forms might have very different effects depending on their contexts. The effect of a poetic feature is best determined (subjectively) by a thoughtful examination of the feature against the background of the psalm’s overall message and purpose.
YHWH Answer
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. |
Feature
Psalm 20 begins (v. 2) and ends (v. 10) with very similar language:
- v. 2 יַֽעַנְךָ֣ יְ֭הוָה בְּי֣וֹם צָרָ֑ה May YHWH answer you on the day of trouble!
- v. 10 יַעֲנֵ֥נוּ בְיוֹם־קָרְאֵֽנוּ׃ May he answer us on the day of our calling!
The same verb from vv. 2, 10 ("to answer") appears again in v. 7.
- v. 7 יַ֭עֲנֵהוּ He will answer him!
Effect
The repetition forms an inclusio that binds the psalm together into a whole (a closed figure) and gives prominence to its message: YHWH answers.
In addition to the similarities between the psalm's beginning (v. 2) and its end (v. 10), there are also meaningful differences. The prayer that God would answer "you" (v. 2) becomes a prayer that God would answer "us" (v. 10). Moreover, "the day of trouble," is now, "the day of our calling".[1] The effect is that the people join together with the anointed in his need and express a prayer in solidarity. The anointed does not face his trouble alone, and through the community's dependence upon YHWH, their victory is assured.
Dependence on YHWH
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. |
Feature
There are two features which characterise vv. 3-6b and vv. 8-9 respectively:
- 1. vv. 3-6b are characterized by chiastic structures and synonymous parallelism:
- v. 3: (A) May he send you help (B) from the sanctuary, (B') and from Zion (A') sustain you.
- v. 4: (A) May he remember (B) every offering of yours, (B') and your burnt offering (A') may he accept.
- v. 5: (A) May he give you (B) that which is according to your heart’s desire, (B') and your whole plan (A') may he fulfill.
- v. 6: (A) May we shout for joy (B) over your victory, (B') and in the name of our God (A') may we array ourselves with banners!
- v. 5b and 6c have similar endings:
- v. 5b וְֽכָל־עֲצָתְךָ֥ יְמַלֵּֽא (and may he fulfill your whole plan)
- v. 6c יְמַלֵּ֥א יְ֝הוָ֗ה כָּל־מִשְׁאֲלוֹתֶֽיךָ (may he fulfill all your requests)
- 2. vv. 8-9 are characterized by an alternating ABAB structure and antithetical parallelism:
- v. 8a mentions those who boast in chariotry and horses.
- v. 8b mentions those who boast in YHWH.
- v. 9a mentions the defeat of those who boast in chariotry and horses.
- v. 9b mentions the victory of those who boast in YHWH.
Effect
The theme of dependence upon YHWH is portrayed by two different kinds of parallelism: synonymous (structured as ABBA) and antithetical (structured as ABAB). This poetic device creates two distinct units of structure within the psalm (vv. 2-6, vv. 8-9, see poetic structure).
The first unit (vv. 3-6) communicates the ways in which the addressee (the king) is dependent upon God. For instance, he depends upon God for help, sustenance, etc. The chiastic structure concludes in v. 6b, and all of the requests are summarized in v. 6c, "May YHWH fulfill all your requests." The poetry suggests that in everything one should depend on YHWH who answers prayer.
The other unit (vv. 8-9) communicates the results of dependence upon YHWH. Those who do not depend upon YHWH, but trust instead in their own might or armaments, will suffer defeat. Meanwhile, those who depend upon YHWH will experience victory.
Confidence at the Core
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. |
Feature
There are a number of features that cluster in v. 7:
- Verses 6 and 7 are the only tricola in the psalm.
- Verses 6 and 7 present the repetition of the verb root ישע
- These two verses are the only place in the psalm where YHWH's name appears back to back in adjacent lines.
- Verse 7 is characterized by the repetition of similar sounds (ש - מ). Notice how v. 6 starts introducing some of these letters (ש - מ).
- Verse 7 contains the only occurrence of a 1st singular verb in the psalm (יָדַ֗עְתִּי - I know). Notice how v. 6 introduces the first occurrence of a 1st plural verb (נְרַנְּנָ֤ה - May we shout for joy).
- Verse 7a is the longest line in the psalm (6 words).
- Verse 7 begins with the discourse marker עַתָּ֤ה (now), and it introduces the shift from a series of modal verbs (vv. 2-6) to indicative statements (vv. 7-9).
- The three words "Now I know that" represent the middle words of the psalm (28 prosodic words before and 28 prosodic words after).
- The verse also introduces a shift in addressee: from 2ms (vv. 2-6) to 3ms pronoun suffix (מְשִׁ֫יח֥וֹ, קָדְשׁ֑וֹ, יְמִינֽוֹ).
Effect
The prominence of v. 7 captures the emotional tone of the psalm which is confidence in YHWH. The psalm has moved from hopeful requests (vv. 2–6, using modal verbs) to an expression of confidence that YHWH will answer those who seek him (v. 7, introducing indicative verbs). This confidence is reinforced by the centrality of the three words "now I know" (v. 7a) as the middle point of the psalm.
Repeated Roots
The repeated roots table is intended to identify the roots which are repeated in the psalm.
| Repeated Roots legend | |
|---|---|
| Divine name | The divine name is indicated by bold purple text. |
| Roots bounding a section | Roots bounding a section, appearing in the first and last verse of a section, are indicated by bold red text. |
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Roots occurring primarily in the first section are indicated in a yellow box. |
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Roots occurring primarily in the third section are indicated in a blue box. |
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Roots connected across sections are indicated by a vertical gray line connecting the roots. |
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Section boundaries are indicated by a horizontal black line across the chart. |
- ↑ Cf. Jacobson and Tanner 2014, 219.