Psalm 20 Poetic Structure
May YHWH answer you!
Psalm 20
Guardian: Mari Strube
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
Psalm 20 consists of two sections (vv. 2-6 // vv. 7-10). These sections are of similar lengths (28 prosodic words // 31 prosodic words).
- First section of Ps 20 (vv. 2-6)
- The first section is bound together by the repetition of 2ms suffix (11x) to refer to YHWH's anointed (i.e., the king).
- Another structural pattern that binds together vv. 2-6 is the proliferation of the piel verb stem. This stem occurs only in vv. 2-6 while the hiphil occurs only in vv. 7-10.
- The repetition of the words יְ֭הוָה and שֵׁ֤ם אֱלֹהֵ֬י in vv. 2 and 6 also mark the beginning and end of this first section.
- vv. 3-6b are bound together by chiastic structures formed by 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)
- Second section of Ps 20 (vv. 7-10)
- The discourse marker עַתָּ֤ה (now) indicates the beginning of a new section.
- vv. 7-9: The verb forms shift from modal verbs (vv. 2-6) to indicative verbs (vv. 7-9). Besides sharing similar syntax, these verses also share similar content (confidence in YHWH's victory).
- Verses 7-9 are similarly bound together into a unit by the similar sounds with which v. 7 begins and v. 9 ends: עַתָּ֤ה יָדַ֗עְתִּי and וַנִּתְעוֹדָֽד.
- v. 8a: has an instance of verb-gapping ('boast') which link the two lines of the verse.
- vv. 8-9 are bound together as a unit by the occurrence of 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.
- vv. 7-10: inclusio delimits the bounds of this section:
- v. 7a - הוֹשִׁ֥יעַ ׀ יְהוָ֗ה מְשִׁ֫יח֥וֹ YHWH has granted victory to his anointed
- v. 10a - יְהוָ֥ה הוֹשִׁ֑יעָה הַ֝מֶּ֗לֶךְ YHWH, grant victory to the king!
The repetition of the following terms form a seam binding together different sections of the psalm:
The two sections are bound together as a unit by an inclusion. Verse 10 concludes with a final petition "May he answer us on the day of our calling!" (יַעֲנֵ֥נוּ בְיוֹם־קָרְאֵֽנוּ׃) that corresponds to the introductory petition in verse 2 "May he answer you on the day of trouble" (יַֽעַנְךָ֣ יְ֭הוָה בְּי֣וֹם צָרָ֑ה). Additionally, semantic similarity between the verbs to protect (שׂגב) in v. 2 and to save (ישׁע) in v. 10 bind both sections (cf. Ps 69:30).
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. |
