Psalm 23 Speech Act

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Psalm 23/Speech Act
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Speech Act Analysis

What is Speech Act Analysis?

The Speech Act layer presents the text in terms of what it does, following the findings of Speech Act Theory. It builds on the recognition that there is more to communication than the exchange of propositions. Speech act analysis is particularly important when communicating cross-culturally, and lack of understanding can lead to serious misunderstandings, since the ways languages and cultures perform speech acts varies widely.

For a detailed explanation of our method, see the Speech Act Analysis Creator Guidelines.

Summary Visual

Speaker Verses Macro Speech Acts Addressee
David v. 1 A psalm by David. YHWH is my shepherd; I will never lack [anything].
Profession of Confidence
(vv. 1–6)
 YHWH
v. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me to water where I can rest. I lack nothing!
v. 3 He restores my life. He leads me in paths of righteousness for the sake of his name.
v. 4 Even when I walk in a valley of darkness, I will not fear harm, because you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Supporting Statements
YHWH is with me, providing for me and protecting me.
v. 5 You arrange a table before me in the presence of my adversaries. You have anointed my head with oil. My cup is overflowing.
v. 6 Surely goodness and loyalty will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in YHWH’s house for as long as I live.

Speech Act Analysis Chart

The following chart is scrollable (left/right; up/down).

  Legend

Verse Hebrew CBC Sentence type Illocution (general) Illocution with context Macro speech act Intended perlocution (Think) Intended perlocution (Feel) Intended perlocution (Do)
Verse number and poetic line Hebrew text English translation Declarative, Imperative, or Interrogative

Indirect Speech Act: Mismatch between sentence type and illocution type		 Assertive, Directive, Expressive, Commissive, or Declaratory

Indirect Speech Act: Mismatch between sentence type and illocution type		 More specific illocution type with paraphrased context Illocutionary intent (i.e. communicative purpose) of larger sections of discourse

These align with the "Speech Act Summary" headings		 What the speaker intends for the address to think What the speaker intends for the address to feel What the speaker intends for the address to do



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 Close-but-clear translation (CBC) exists to provide a window into the Hebrew text according to how we understand its syntax and word-to-phrase-level semantics. It is designed to be "close" to the Hebrew, while still being "clear." Specifically, the CBC encapsulates and reflects the following layers of analysis: grammar, lexical semantics, phrase-level semantics, and verbal semantics. It does not reflect our analysis of the discourse or of poetics. It is not intended to be used as a stand-alone translation or base text, but as a supplement to Layer-by-Layer materials to help users make full use of these resources. Sentence type Illocution (general) Illocution with context Macro speech act Intended perlocution (Think) Intended perlocution (Feel) Intended perlocution (Do) Speech Act Notes
1 מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִ֑ד A psalm by David. Superscription
יְהוָ֥ה רֹ֝עִ֗י YHWH is my shepherd; Declarative Assertive Describing YHWH as his personal shepherd who provides for all of his needs. Describing YHWH as his shepherd who provides for all of his needs. Professing confidence in YHWH's presence, provision, and protection. YHWH will recognize how much David trusts YHWH to be the one who protects him and provides for his needs. YHWH will feel pleased with David's confident profession and will continue to feel committed to protecting David and providing for all of his needs. YHWH will continue to protect David and provide for all of his needs.
לֹ֣א אֶחְסָֽר׃ I will never lack [anything]. Declarative Assertive Stating that he never lacks with the implied reason that YHWH is his shepherd.
2 בִּנְא֣וֹת דֶּ֭שֶׁא יַרְבִּיצֵ֑נִי He makes me lie down in green pastures. Declarative Assertive Describing the ways in which YHWH shepherds him; i.e., through leading him to places where he can graze and rest.
עַל־מֵ֖י מְנֻח֣וֹת יְנַהֲלֵֽנִי׃ He leads me to water where I can rest. Declarative Assertive Describing the ways in which YHWH shepherds him; i.e., YHWH leads him to a place where he can drink water and rest.
3 נַפְשִׁ֥י יְשׁוֹבֵ֑ב He restores my life. Declarative Assertive Describing the effect of the shepherd's provision in his life; i.e., it restores his life.
יַֽנְחֵ֥נִי בְמַעְגְּלֵי־צֶ֝֗דֶק לְמַ֣עַן שְׁמֽוֹ׃ He leads me in paths of righteousness for the sake of his name. Declarative Assertive Describing the ways in which YHWH shepherds him; i.e., YHWH leads the psalmist to walk in safe paths guiding him to a righteous life.
4 גַּ֤ם כִּֽי־אֵלֵ֨ךְ בְּגֵ֪יא צַלְמָ֡וֶת Even when I walk in a valley of darkness, Declarative Expressive Expressing his absence of fear even when he may find himself in a dark and dangerous valley because YHWH is with him, providing and protecting him through all dangers. Professing confidence in YHWH's presence and protection even though dangers threaten. Even when David may find himself in a dark and dangerous valley, he will not fear harm because YHWH is with him, providing and protecting him through all dangers.
לֹא־אִ֘ירָ֤א רָ֗ע I will not fear harm,
כִּי־אַתָּ֥ה עִמָּדִ֑י because you are with me.
שִׁבְטְךָ֥ וּ֝מִשְׁעַנְתֶּ֗ךָ הֵ֣מָּה יְנַֽחֲמֻֽנִי׃ Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Declarative Expressive Expressing his source of comfort; i.e., YHWH's rod and staff which symbolize YHWH's presence, protection, and guidance.
5 תַּעֲרֹ֬ךְ לְפָנַ֨י ׀ שֻׁלְחָ֗ן נֶ֥גֶד צֹרְרָ֑י You arrange a table before me in the presence of my adversaries. Declarative Assertive Describing YHWH as his host by depicting gestures of hospitality; i.e., preparation of a feast and protection from enemies. Professing confidence in YHWH's provision of food and protection (there is an implied custom for the host to provide protection to his guest from all enemies). • David's adversaries will see YHWH's abundant provision for David. They cannot harm David for he is under YHWH's care.
דִּשַּׁ֖נְתָּ בַשֶּׁ֥מֶן רֹ֝אשִׁ֗י You have anointed my head with oil. Declarative Assertive Describing YHWH's hospitable treatment of him through the customary anointing of an honored guest. Professing confidence in being treated honorably by YHWH.
כּוֹסִ֥י רְוָיָֽה׃ My cup is overflowing. Declarative Assertive Acknowledging YHWH's abundant provision in his life.
6 אַ֤ךְ ׀ ט֤וֹב וָחֶ֣סֶד יִ֭רְדְּפוּנִי כָּל־יְמֵ֣י חַיָּ֑י Surely goodness and loyalty will pursue me all the days of my life, Declarative Assertive Professing confidence that YHWH's goodness and loyalty will pursue him all the days of his life. Professing confidence that YHWH's goodness and loyalty pursue David instead of harm (contrary to the typical sense of "to pursue," which is often used with hostile purpose, with a sense of causing harm).
*וְשִבְתִּי* בְּבֵית־יְ֝הוָ֗ה לְאֹ֣רֶךְ יָמִֽים׃ and I will dwell in YHWH’s house for as long as I live. Declarative Assertive Asserting that he will dwell in YHWH's house for as long as he lives. Professing confidence that he will experience YHWH's presence and provision for as long as he lives. 2 Sam 7:8-9: "Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. And I have been with you wherever you went . . ." (ESV).