Psalm 3 Speech Act

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Psalm 3/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. When he was fleeing from Absalom, his son. Superscription (v. 1) YHWH
v. 2 YHWH, how my adversaries have become many! Many are those rising against me.
Dismayed description
(vv. 2–3)
v. 3 Many are those saying about me, "There is no victory for him in God!" Selah. My enemies are many!
They say,
"There is no victory for him in God!"
v. 4 But you, YHWH, are a shield for me, my honor, and the one who lifts my head.
Profession of trust
(vv. 4–5)
v. 5 I call aloud to YHWH, and he answers me from his holy mountain. Selah. But you, YHWH, are a shield for me.
v. 6 I lay down and fell asleep. I woke up, because YHWH supports me.
Re-evaluation
(vv. 6-7)
v. 7 I will not be afraid of tens of thousands of people who have taken position against me all around. I will not be afraid!
v. 8 Rise up, YHWH! Save me, my God! For you have struck all my enemies on the jaw. You have broken wicked people's teeth.
Call for action
(v. 8)
Rise up and save me!
For
You have always helped me in the past.
v. 9 Victory is YHWH's! Your blessing is on your people. Selah.
Declaration
(v. 9)
Victory is YHWH's!

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) 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 בְּ֝בָרְח֗וֹ מִפְּנֵ֤י ׀ אַבְשָׁל֬וֹם בְּנֽוֹ׃ A psalm. By David. When he was fleeing from Absalom, his son. Fragment Assertive Giving information about the psalm's genre, author, and historical setting - There are multiple intended perlocutions for this psalm. At the most basic level, the psalmist wants YHWH to rise up and save him (v. 8). At the same time, however, it seems that the psalmist intends the psalm to work an emotional change within himself; by praying this psalm, he stirs himself up to confidence and courage. Finally, there is an additional intended perlocution for others who might read or hear this psalm. The psalmist wants them to learn from his example that victory belongs to YHWH and that they should call out to YHWH when they are in distress.
2 יְ֭הוָה מָֽה־רַבּ֣וּ צָרָ֑י YHWH, how my adversaries have become many! Declarative Expressive Expressing dismay at how many enemies he has Describing his situation and expressing his dismay - YHWH will consider the magnitude of the threat facing David - YHWH will rise up and save David
- Others will follow David's example of calling out to YHWH in their distress		 • The word מָה here "functions as an introduction to an exclamation in which a speaker usually expresses a value judgment about something" (BHRG §42.3.6).
רַ֝בִּ֗ים קָמִ֥ים עָלָֽי׃ Many are those rising against me. Assertive Describing how vast in number his opposition is
3 רַבִּים֮ אֹמְרִ֪ים לְנַ֫פְשִׁ֥י Many are those saying about me, Declarative
• "Declarative"		 Assertive
• "Assertive"		 Describing how vast in number are those claiming he has no hope
• "Claiming that God will not save the psalmist"
אֵ֤ין יְֽשׁוּעָ֓תָה לּ֬וֹ בֵֽאלֹהִ֬ים סֶֽלָה׃ "There is no victory for him in God!"" Selah.
4 וְאַתָּ֣ה יְ֭הוָה מָגֵ֣ן בַּעֲדִ֑י But you, YHWH, are a shield for me, Declarative Assertive Professing trust in YHWH for protection and the restoration of his honor Professing trust in YHWH - YHWH will consider how David trusts in him for victory - David himself will regain confidence in YHWH
כְּ֝בוֹדִ֗י וּמֵרִ֥ים רֹאשִֽׁי׃ my honor, and the one who lifts my head.
5 ק֭וֹלִי אֶל־יְהוָ֣ה אֶקְרָ֑א I call aloud to YHWH, Declarative Assertive Describing how, time and time again, he calls out to YHWH
וַיַּֽעֲנֵ֨נִי מֵהַ֖ר קָדְשׁ֣וֹ סֶֽלָה׃ and he answers me from his holy mountain. Selah. Describing how, time and time again, YHWH answers his call for help
6 אֲנִ֥י שָׁכַ֗בְתִּי וָֽאִ֫ישָׁ֥נָה I lay down and fell asleep. Declarative
Declarative		 Assertive
Assertive		 Recalling how he was able to lie down and fall asleep the previous night Re-evaluating his present situation in light of his renewed trust in YHWH • In vv. 6-7, having reoriented his perspective (vv. 4-5), David is able to re-evaluate his current situation. He looks back on the previous night and sees how YHWH has protected him (v. 6), and so he commits himself to courage in the face of the ongoing threat (v. 7).
הֱקִיצ֑וֹתִי כִּ֖י יְהוָ֣ה יִסְמְכֵֽנִי׃ I woke up, because YHWH supports me. Recalling how he woke up safely this morning
Explaining how he was able to sleep and wake up safely
7 לֹֽא־אִ֭ירָא מֵרִבְב֥וֹת עָ֑ם I will not be afraid of tens of thousands of people, Declarative Commissive Committing himself to courage even in the face of vast opposition
אֲשֶׁ֥ר סָ֝בִ֗יב שָׁ֣תוּ עָלָֽי׃ who have taken position against me all around.
8 ק֘וּמָ֤ה יְהוָ֨ה ׀ הוֹשִׁ֘יעֵ֤נִי אֱלֹהַ֗י Rise up, YHWH! Save me, my God! Imperative
Imperative		 Directive
Directive		 Calling on YHWH to rise up and save him Calling on YHWH to rise and save him • The כִּי in v. 8 is a speech-act causal כִּי (see Locatell 2017, 162; cf. Locatell 2019). The psalmist grounds his request for YHWH to save (v. 8a) in the recollection of YHWH's past acts of salvation (v. 8bc).
כִּֽי־הִכִּ֣יתָ אֶת־כָּל־אֹיְבַ֣י לֶ֑חִי For you have struck all my enemies on the jaw. Declarative Assertive Recalling how YHWH has saved him in the past, thus giving a reason for his request for YHWH to save him now
שִׁנֵּ֖י רְשָׁעִ֣ים שִׁבַּֽרְתָּ׃ You have broken wicked people's teeth. Declarative Assertive Recalling how YHWH has saved him in the past, thus giving a reason for his request for YHWH to save him now
9 לַיהוָ֥ה הַיְשׁוּעָ֑ה Victory is YHWH's! Declarative Asssertive Declaring that victory is YHWH's (and no one elses) Declaring the unique ability of YHWH to save and the unique privilege of his people to receive his blessing - Others will know that victory is YHWH's - Others will feel confident in YHWH's ability to save
עַֽל־עַמְּךָ֖ בִרְכָתֶ֣ךָ סֶּֽלָה׃ Your blessing is on your people. Selah. Assertive Declaring that YHWH's people (and not the enemy) are the ones who experience his blessing