Psalm 34 Discourse
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Psalm 34/Discourse
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Psalm 34
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About the Discourse Layer
Our Discourse Layer includes four additional layers of analysis:
- Participant analysis
- Macrosyntax
- Speech act analysis
- Emotional analysis
For more information on our method of analysis, click the expandable explanation button at the beginning of each layer.
Participant Analysis
Participant Analysis focuses on the characters in the psalm and asks, “Who are the main participants (or characters) in this psalm, and what are they saying or doing? It is often helpful for understanding literary structure, speaker identification, etc.
For a detailed explanation of our method, see the Participant Analysis Creator Guidelines.
There are 4 participants/characters in Psalm 34:
| David |
| "Poor man" (v. 7) |
| David's Soul |
| The Afflicted |
| "Holy ones" (v. 10) |
| "Children" (v. 12) |
| The Righteous |
| "Those who fear [YHWH]" (v. 8) |
| "The man who seeks refuge in [YHWH]" (v. 9) |
| "Those who seek YHWH" (v. 11) |
| "The person who desires life" (v. 13) |
| "The broken-hearted" (v. 19) |
| "The crushed in spirit" (v. 19) |
| "[YHWH's] servants" (v. 23) |
| The Righteous One's Body |
| "[The righteous one's] lips" (v. 14) |
| YHWH |
| YHWH's Body |
| "YHWH's face" (v. 17*) |
| "YHWH's eyes" (v. 16*) |
| "YHWH's ears" (v. 16*) |
| YHWH's Angel |
| Enemies |
| "Wicked person" (v. 22) |
| "Those who hate a righteous person" (v. 22) |
| Young lions |
| Abimelek |
- Young lions: Lions are a metaphor for those who don't fear YHWH. (See [Psalm 34 Story Behind | Story Behind]).
- Non-Agentive Participants - YHWH's Body / The Righteous One's Body: While not agentive participants per se, included in this list of participants are inanimate entities personified as performing relational actions, or entities representing a metonymy for an agentive participant.
- The Afflicted vs. the Righteous: While there is significant overlap between these two participant sets (hence their grouping as related sets), the distinction made here is between the psalmist's addressee (the Afflicted) and the hypothetical person whom the addressee is encouraged to emulated (the Righteous).
| Hebrew | Verse | English |
|---|---|---|
| לְדָוִ֗ד בְּשַׁנּוֹת֣וֹ אֶת־טַ֭עְמוֹ לִפְנֵ֣י אֲבִימֶ֑לֶךְ וַֽ֝יְגָרֲשֵׁ֗הוּ וַיֵּלַֽךְ׃ | 1 | By David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelek, and Abimelek drove him out, and he went. |
| אֲבָרֲכָ֣ה אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה בְּכָל־עֵ֑ת | 2a | I will bless YHWH at all times. |
| תָּ֝מִ֗יד תְּֽהִלָּת֥וֹ בְּפִֽי׃ | 2b | His praise will continually be in my mouth. |
| בַּ֭יהוָה תִּתְהַלֵּ֣ל נַפְשִׁ֑י | 3a | My soul boasts in YHWH. |
| יִשְׁמְע֖וּ עֲנָוִ֣ים וְיִשְׂמָֽחוּ׃ | 3b | May the afflicted hear and be glad! |
| גַּדְּל֣וּ לַיהוָ֣ה אִתִּ֑י | 4a | Extol YHWH with me, |
| וּנְרוֹמְמָ֖ה שְׁמ֣וֹ יַחְדָּֽו׃ | 4b | and let us exalt his name together! |
| דָּרַ֣שְׁתִּי אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה וְעָנָ֑נִי | 5a | I sought YHWH and he answered me |
| וּמִכָּל־מְ֝גוּרוֹתַ֗י הִצִּילָֽנִי׃ | 5b | and he rescued me from all my terrors. |
| הַבִיטו אֵלָ֣יו וּנְהָרוּ | 6a | Gaze at him and glow, |
| וּפְנֵיכֶם אַל־יֶחְפָּֽרוּ׃ | 6b | and do not let your faces be ashamed! |
| זֶ֤ה עָנִ֣י קָ֭רָא וַיהוָ֣ה שָׁמֵ֑עַ | 7a | This is a poor man who called out and YHWH heard |
| וּמִכָּל־צָ֝רוֹתָ֗יו הוֹשִׁיעֽוֹ׃ | 7b | and saved him from all his troubles. |
| חֹנֶ֤ה מַלְאַךְ־יְהוָ֓ה | 8a | YHWH’s angel encamps |
| סָ֘בִ֤יב לִֽירֵאָ֗יו וַֽיְחַלְּצֵֽם׃ | 8b | all around those who fear him and he delivers them. |
| טַעֲמ֣וּ וּ֭רְאוּ כִּי־ט֣וֹב יְהוָ֑ה | 9a | Taste and see that YHWH is good! |
| אַֽשְׁרֵ֥י הַ֝גֶּ֗בֶר יֶחֱסֶה־בּֽוֹ׃ | 9b | Happy is the man who seeks refuge in him. |
| יְר֣אוּ אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה קְדֹשָׁ֑יו | 10a | Fear YHWH, you holy ones of his! |
| כִּי־אֵ֥ין מַ֝חְס֗וֹר לִירֵאָֽיו׃ | 10b | For those who fear him have no lack. |
| כְּ֭פִירִים רָשׁ֣וּ וְרָעֵ֑בוּ | 11a | Young lions have suffered want and been hungry, |
| וְדֹרְשֵׁ֥י יְ֝הוָ֗ה לֹא־יַחְסְר֥וּ כָל־טֽוֹב׃ | 11b | but those who seek YHWH will not lack any good. |
| לְֽכוּ־בָ֭נִים שִׁמְעוּ־לִ֑י | 12a | Come, children! Listen to me! |
| יִֽרְאַ֥ת יְ֝הוָ֗ה אֲלַמֶּדְכֶֽם׃ | 12b | I will teach you the fear of YHWH. |
| מִֽי־הָ֭אִישׁ הֶחָפֵ֣ץ חַיִּ֑ים | 13a | Who is the person who desires life, |
| אֹהֵ֥ב יָ֝מִ֗ים לִרְא֥וֹת טֽוֹב׃ | 13b | wants to live a long time, [who loves] to see good? |
| נְצֹ֣ר לְשׁוֹנְךָ֣ מֵרָ֑ע | 14a | Keep your tongue from evil |
| וּ֝שְׂפָתֶ֗יךָ מִדַּבֵּ֥ר מִרְמָֽה׃ | 14b | and your lips from speaking deceit! |
| ס֣וּר מֵ֭רָע וַעֲשֵׂה־ט֑וֹב | 15a | Turn away from evil and do good! |
| בַּקֵּ֖שׁ שָׁל֣וֹם וְרָדְפֵֽהוּ׃ | 15b | Seek peace and pursue it! |
| עֵינֵ֣י יְ֭הוָה אֶל־צַדִּיקִ֑ים | 16a | YHWH’s eyes are directed towards the righteous, |
| וְ֝אָזְנָ֗יו אֶל־שַׁוְעָתָֽם׃ | 16b | and his ears are attentive to their cries for help. |
| פְּנֵ֣י יְ֭הוָה בְּעֹ֣שֵׂי רָ֑ע | 17a | YHWH’s face is against those who do evil, |
| לְהַכְרִ֖ית מֵאֶ֣רֶץ זִכְרָֽם׃ | 17b | so as to remove the memory of them from the earth. |
| צָעֲק֣וּ וַיהוָ֣ה שָׁמֵ֑עַ | 18a | They called for help, and YHWH heard, |
| וּמִכָּל־צָ֝רוֹתָ֗ם הִצִּילָֽם׃ | 18b | and he delivered them from all their troubles. |
| קָר֣וֹב יְ֭הוָה לְנִשְׁבְּרֵי־לֵ֑ב | 19a | YHWH is near to the broken-hearted |
| וְֽאֶת־דַּכְּאֵי־ר֥וּחַ יוֹשִֽׁיעַ׃ | 19b | and he saves the crushed in spirit. |
| רַ֭בּוֹת רָע֣וֹת צַדִּ֑יק | 20a | The hardships of the righteous are many, |
| וּ֝מִכֻּלָּ֗ם יַצִּילֶ֥נּוּ יְהוָֽה׃ | 20b | but YHWH rescues him from all of them. |
| שֹׁמֵ֥ר כָּל־עַצְמוֹתָ֑יו | 21a | He protects all his bones. |
| אַחַ֥ת מֵ֝הֵ֗נָּה לֹ֣א נִשְׁבָּֽרָה׃ | 21b | Not one of them has broken. |
| תְּמוֹתֵ֣ת רָשָׁ֣ע רָעָ֑ה | 22a | Hardship finishes off a wicked person, |
| וְשֹׂנְאֵ֖י צַדִּ֣יק יֶאְשָֽׁמוּ׃ | 22b | and those who hate a righteous person bear their guilt |
| פּוֹדֶ֣ה יְ֭הוָה נֶ֣פֶשׁ עֲבָדָ֑יו | 23a | YHWH redeems his servants’ lives, |
| וְלֹ֥א יֶ֝אְשְׁמ֗וּ כָּֽל־הַחֹסִ֥ים בּֽוֹ׃ | 23b | and no one who seeks refuge in him will ever bear guilt. |
Participant Relations Diagram
The relationships among the participants may be abstracted and summarized as follows:
Participant Analysis Summary Distribution
This resource is forthcoming.
Macrosyntax
Macrosyntax Diagram
| Macrosyntax legend | |
|---|---|
| Vocatives | Vocatives are indicated by purple text. |
| Discourse marker | Discourse markers (such as כִּי, הִנֵּה, לָכֵן) are indicated by orange text. |
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The scope governed by the discourse marker is indicated by a dashed orange bracket connecting the discourse marker to its scope. |
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The preceding discourse grounding the discourse marker is indicated by a solid orange bracket encompassing the relevant clauses. |
| Subordinating conjunction | The subordinating conjunction is indicated by teal text. |
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Subordination is indicated by a solid teal bracket connecting the subordinating conjunction with the clause to which it is subordinate. |
| Coordinating conjunction | The coordinating conjunction is indicated by blue text. |
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Coordination is indicated by a solid blue line connecting the coordinating clauses. |
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Coordination without an explicit conjunction is indicated by a dashed blue line connecting the coordinated clauses. |
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Marked topic is indicated by a black dashed rounded rectangle around the marked words. |
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The scope of the activated topic is indicated by a black dashed bracket encompassing the relevant clauses. |
| Marked focus or thetic sentence | Marked focus (if one constituent) or thetic sentences[1] are indicated by bold text. |
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Frame setters[2] are indicated by a solid gray rounded rectangle around the marked words. |
| [blank line] | Discourse discontinuity is indicated by a blank line. |
| [indentation] | Syntactic subordination is indicated by indentation. |
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Direct speech is indicated by a solid black rectangle surrounding all relevant clauses. |
| (text to elucidate the meaning of the macrosyntactic structures) | Within the CBC, any text elucidating the meaning of macrosyntax is indicated in gray text inside parentheses. |
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. |
(Click diagram to enlarge)
(There are no notes on divisions for this psalm.)
- v. 2b. The adverb תָּמִיד is fronted, probably for verum focus; the psalmist is confirming what he has said in the a-line (בכל עת). At the same time, the fronting of תָּמִיד results in a chiastic structure: (a) I will bless YHWH (b) at all times, (b') continually (a') his praise will be in my mouth. At the same time, תָּמִיד may be fronted
- v. 3a. The prepositional phrase בַּיהוָה is fronted, and this fronting has two effects: (1) the second verse of the poem begins with beth and thus fits the acrostic structure; (2) the constituent בַּיהוָה is focused: "It is in YHWH (and not in myself or in any other) that my soul will boast."[3]
- v. 5b. fronted constituent: וּמִכָּל־מְגוּרוֹתַי. Phrases with כל are often fronted for marked focus:[4] "YHWH saved me (not from some, but) from all my terrors."[5] Cf. vv. 7b, 18b, 20b.
- v. 6b. The subject פְנֵיכֶם is fronted before the verb and before אל, probably for poetic reasons.[6] The current order strengthens the phonological (chiastic) correspondence between הַבִּיטוּ אֵלָיו and אַל־יֶחְפָּרוּ. (a) "Gaze" (הַבִּיטוּ) (b) "on him" (אֵלָיו) (c) "and glow", (d) "and your faces" (b' ) "may they not" (אַל) (a' ) "be ashamed" (יֶחְפָּרוּ). (Note the correspondence between אֵלָיו and אַל and between הבּ and הפּ. Note also that if the MT reading is followed, there is a further sound correspondence between נהרו and פניהם [repetition of נה]).
- v. 7aβ. In the second clause of v. 7a, the subject "YHWH" is fronted, probably for marked focus:[7] YHWH is the one who heard his cry for help and rescued him.
- v. 7b. fronted constituent: וּמִכָּל־צָרוֹתָיו. See note on v. 5b.
- v. 8a. fronted constituent: חֹנֶה. Subjects normally precede predicate-active participles, such that "the marked order is participle + subject."[8] The word order in this clause, in which the participle (חֹנֶה) precedes the subject (מַלְאַךְ־יְהוָ֓ה) is therefore marked. The marked order is probably best explained poetically: the acrostic structure required that the verse begin ח.
- v. 9a. The predicate complement טוב is fronted, probably for predicate focus. A person "tastes" (טעם) something to discover its quality (i.e., to find out whether it is good or bad). The question, then, is: how is YHWH? Is he good or bad? The psalmist says that YHWH is good.
- v. 11ab. The subject in v. 11a (כְּפִירִים) and the subject in v. 11b (דֹרְשֵׁי יְהוָה) are both fronted as contrasting topics:[9] "As for young lions... as for those who seek YHWH..." Here, the "tasting" results in the discovery that YHWH is (not bad, but) good.
- v. 12b. The previous imperatives ("Come...! Listen to me!") and the labeling of the addressee as "children" (> students) raises the expectation that something is about to be taught. Using a marked-focus construction, David specifies in the next line what is going to teach them: יִרְאַת יְהוָה.[10]
- v. 18a. See note on v. 7a.[11]
- v. 18b. fronted constituent: וּמִכָּל־צָרוֹתָם. See note on v. 5b.
- v. 19a. The normal word order for verbless clauses is subject + predicate complement. Here, the predicate complement קָרוֹב is fronted, probably so that the verse begins with qof, according to the acrostic pattern.
- v. 19b. The direct object וְאֶת־דַּכְּאֵי־רוּחַ is fronted, probably for the purpose of poetic binding; the syntax of v. 19 is chiastic: (a) YHWH is near (b) to the broken-hearted, (b') the crushed in spirit (a') he saves.
- v. 20a. fronted constituent: The predicate complement רַבּוֹת is fronted. It will not suffice to explain the fronting in terms of the acrostic structure, since the author could have equally achieved a verse beginning with resh by using default word order (רעות צדיק רבות). Instead, רַבּוֹת is probably fronted for predicate focus, as often elsewhere (cf. רבות in Prov. 19:21; 31:29; Lam. 1:22; רבים in Ps. 32:10; 56:3; 119:57; רב in Pss. 25:11; 31:20; 123:3; Job 5:25; 31:25; 39:11).
- v. 20b. fronted constituent: וּמִכֻּלָּם. See note on v. 5b.
- v. 21b. The subject אַחַת מֵהֵנָּה is fronted, probably for marked focus.[12] Together with the לא the fronting of אַחַת מֵהֵנָּה creates an absolute negative structure and provides a kind of counterpoint to the prevalent מכל phrase throughout the Psalm. At the same time, the fronting means that constituents in v. 21 are arranged chiastically: (a) guards (שמר) (b) all his bones, (b') one of them, (a') is not broken (שבר [which sounds like שמר]).
- v. 22a. The object (רָשָׁע) precedes subject (רָעָ֑ה), probably so that רָשָׁע corresponds with צַדִּיק in the chiastic structure (see following note on v. 22b).
- v. 22b. The subject וְשֹׂנְאֵי צַדִּיק is probably fronted for the purpose of poetic binding;[13] the constituents in v. 22 are arranged in a partial chiasm: (a) Will finish off (verb) (b) the wicked (רָשָׁע—direct object) (c) hardship (subject), (c') but those who hate (subject) (b') a righteous person (צַדִּיק—object of participle) (a') will bear their guilt (verb).
- v. 23a. fronted constituent: פּוֹדֶה. See notes on v. 8a.
- The psalm contains two vocatives:
- v. 10a. קְדֹשָׁיו. The vocative קְדֹשָׁיו ("you holy ones of his") occurs at the end of the clause, which leaves the focal nature of the imperative in no doubt.[14] The position of the vocative may also be affected by the acrostic structure.
- v. 12a. בָנִים. "The use of a kinship term as a vocative implies that speaker and addressee have a close and friendly relationship, equivalent to the ideal form of the family relationship named (parent, child, or sibling). Where there is no blood relationship, a kinship term is typically used in address where the speaker is trying to persuade the addressee to some course of action."[15] On the position of the vocative at the end of the clause, see the previous note.
(There are no notes on discourse markers for this psalm.)
- Subordinating particles and subordinated clauses are few.
- Ki clauses (v. 10b). The ki clause in v. 10b provides the grounds of the exhortation in v. 10a ("speech-act causal כי" cf. Locatell 2019): "the reason why you should fear YHWH is because those who fear YHWH have no lack."
- Asyndetic relative clauses (vv. 7a, 9b)
- Purpose/result infinitive constructs (v. 17b)
- By contrast, the coordinating conjunction waw occurs many times in this psalm. It functions (1) to coordinate clauses within a line, and (2) to coordinate lines within a verse.
- Coordinating clauses within a line: (vv. 3b, 5a, 6a, 7a, 11a, 15a, 15b; cf. v. 9a). This use of waw is most common in the a-line of a verse (vv. 5, 6, 7, 11, 15), though it occurs twice in the b-line of a verse (vv. 3, 15).
- Coordinating lines within a verse: (vv. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23)
- In this psalm, waw never coordinates verses; no verse begins with waw, which is probably due to the acrostic nature of the psalm. (Interestingly, there is no waw verse.) The lack of explicit connectors between verses (waw or otherwise) has contributed to the feeling of some commentators that "the psalm is not subdivided into thought units longer than the verse."[16]
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 | Speech Act Sections | Addressee | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David | v. 1 By David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelek, and Abimelek drove him out, and he went. | Others | ||||
| v. 2 I will bless YHWH at all times. His praise will continually be in my mouth. | TESTIMONY |
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| v. 3 My soul boasts in YHWH. May the afflicted hear and be glad! | ||||||
| v. 4 Extol YHWH with me, and let us exalt his name together! | ||||||
| v. 5 I sought YHWH and he answered me and he rescued me from all my terrors. | ||||||
| v. 6 Gaze at him and glow, and do not let your faces be ashamed! | ||||||
| v. 7 This is a poor man who called out and YHWH heard and saved him from all his troubles. | ||||||
| v. 8 YHWH’s angel encamps all around those who fear him and he delivers them. | ||||||
| v. 9 Taste and see that YHWH is good! Happy is the man who seeks refuge in him. | ||||||
| v. 10 Fear YHWH, you holy ones of his! For those who fear him have no lack. | ||||||
| v. 11 Young lions have suffered want and been hungry, but those who seek YHWH will not lack any good. | ||||||
| v. 12 Come, children! Listen to me! I will teach you the fear of YHWH. | TEACHING |
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| v. 13 Who is the person who desires life, who wants to live a long time, who loves to see good? | ||||||
| v. 14 Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit! | ||||||
| v. 15 Turn away from evil and do good! Seek peace and pursue it! | ||||||
| v. 16* YHWH’s eyes are directed towards the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cries for help. | ||||||
| v. 17* YHWH’s face is against those who do evil, so as to remove the memory of them from the earth. | ||||||
| v. 18 They called for help, and YHWH heard, and he delivered them from all their troubles. | ||||||
| v. 19 YHWH is near to the broken-hearted and he saves the crushed in spirit. | ||||||
| v. 20 The hardships of the righteous are many, but YHWH rescues him from all of them. | ||||||
| v. 21 He protects all his bones. Not one of them has broken. | ||||||
| v. 22 Hardship finishes off a wicked person, and those who hate a righteous person bear their guilt | ||||||
| v. 23 YHWH redeems his servants’ lives, and no one who seeks refuge in him will ever bear guilt. | ||||||
Speech Act Analysis Chart
The following chart is scrollable (left/right; up/down).
| 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 | לְדָוִ֗ד בְּשַׁנּוֹת֣וֹ אֶת־טַ֭עְמוֹ לִפְנֵ֣י אֲבִימֶ֑לֶךְ וַֽ֝יְגָרֲשֵׁ֗הוּ וַיֵּלַֽךְ׃ | By David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelek, and Abimelek drove him out, and he went. | Superscription | ||||||||
| 2 | אֲבָרֲכָ֣ה אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה בְּכָל־עֵ֑ת | I will bless YHWH at all times. | Imperative | Commissive | Resolving to praise YHWH continually. | Resolving to praise YHWH continually. | Encouraging the afflicted to trust in YHWH. | Listeners will realize what YHWH did for David and recognize YHWH's praiseworthiness. | Listeners will praise YHWH. | ||
| תָּ֝מִ֗יד תְּֽהִלָּת֥וֹ בְּפִֽי׃ | His praise will continually be in my mouth. | Declarative | Commissive | Resolving to praise YHWH continually. | • v. 2b. The clause "His praise will continually be in my mouth" is declarative—in Hebrew, a verbless clause (תָּ֝מִ֗יד תְּֽהִלָּת֥וֹ בְּפִֽי׃). Following the cohortative (אֲבָרֲכָה) in the first half of the verse, which has a commissive function, this clause is probably also commissive. The psalmist is committing himself to praising YHWH (not just occasionally, but) continually. | ||||||
| 3 | בַּ֭יהוָה תִּתְהַלֵּ֣ל נַפְשִׁ֑י | My soul boasts in YHWH. | Declarative | Expressive | Boasting in YHWH. | Boasting in YHWH. | |||||
| יִשְׁמְע֖וּ עֲנָוִ֣ים וְיִשְׂמָֽחוּ׃ | May the afflicted hear and be glad! | Imperative | Directive | Summoning the afflicted to hear and (as a result of their hearing) to be glad. | Summoning the afflicted to hear and (as a result of their hearing) to be glad. | Listeners will be glad. | Listeners will pay attention to the psalmist's words. | ||||
| 4 | גַּדְּל֣וּ לַיהוָ֣ה אִתִּ֑י | Extol YHWH with me, | Imperative | Directive | Exhorting the afflicted to join him in exalting YHWH. | Exhorting the afflicted to join him in exalting YHWH. | Listeners will recognize YHWH's greatness. | Listeners will extol YHWH. | |||
| וּנְרוֹמְמָ֖ה שְׁמ֣וֹ יַחְדָּֽו׃ | and let us exalt his name together! | Imperative | Directive | Exhorting the afflicted to join him in exalting YHWH. | |||||||
| 5 | דָּרַ֣שְׁתִּי אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה וְעָנָ֑נִי | I sought YHWH and he answered me | Declarative | Assertive | Narrating how he sought YHWH and YHWH heard. | Narrating how YHWH rescued him. | Listeners will realize what YHWH did for David. | Listeners will be confident in YHWH's ability to rescue them just like he rescued David. | Listeners will seek YHWH. | ||
| וּמִכָּל־מְ֝גוּרוֹתַ֗י הִצִּילָֽנִי׃ | and he rescued me from all my terrors. | Declarative | Assertive | Narrating how YHWH rescued him. | |||||||
| 6 | *הַבִּיטוּ* אֵלָ֣יו *וּנְהָרוּ* | Gaze at him and glow, | Imperative | Directive | Exhorting the afflicted to trust in YHWH. | Exhorting the afflicted to trust in YHWH. | Listeners will be confident in YHWH's ability to deliever them from shame. | Listeners will trust YHWH. | |||
| *וּפְנֵיכֶם* אַל־יֶחְפָּֽרוּ׃ | and do not let your faces be ashamed! | Imperative | Directive | Exhorting the afflicted to trust in YHWH. | |||||||
| 7 | זֶ֤ה עָנִ֣י קָ֭רָא וַיהוָ֣ה שָׁמֵ֑עַ | This is a poor man who called out and YHWH heard | Declarative | Assertive | Narrating how he called out to YHWH and YHWH heard | Narrating how YHWH rescued him. | Listeners will realize what YHWH did for David. | Listeners will be confident in YHWH's ability to rescue them just like he rescued David. | Listeners will call out to YHWH when they are in trouble. | ||
| וּמִכָּל־צָ֝רוֹתָ֗יו הוֹשִׁיעֽוֹ׃ | and saved him from all his troubles. | Declarative | Assertive | Narrating how YHWH rescued him. | |||||||
| 8 | חֹנֶ֤ה מַלְאַךְ־יְהוָ֓ה | YHWH’s angel encamps | Declarative | Assertive | Asserting that YHWH protects those who fear him. | Asserting that YHWH protects those who fear him. | Listeners will recognize YHWH's current protection of his people. | Listeners will be confident in YHWH's ability to rescue them. | Listeners will trust YHWH. | ||
| סָ֘בִ֤יב לִֽירֵאָ֗יו וַֽיְחַלְּצֵֽם׃ | all around those who fear him and he delivers them. | Declarative | Assertive | Asserting that YHWH delivers those who fear him. | |||||||
| 9 | טַעֲמ֣וּ וּ֭רְאוּ כִּי־ט֣וֹב יְהוָ֑ה | Taste and see that YHWH is good! | Imperative | Directive | Exhorting the afflicted to trust in YHWH. | Exhorting the afflicted to trust in YHWH. | Listeners will recognize that YHWH is good, and that he is a source of protection. | Listeners will be confident in YHWH's goodness and protection. | Listeners will trust YHWH. | ||
| אַֽשְׁרֵ֥י הַ֝גֶּ֗בֶר יֶחֱסֶה־בּֽוֹ׃ | Happy is the man who seeks refuge in him. | fragment | Expressive | Celebrating the person who trusts in YHWH. | Celebrating the person who trusts in YHWH. | ||||||
| 10 | יְר֣אוּ אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה קְדֹשָׁ֑יו | Fear YHWH, you holy ones of his! | Imperative | Directive | Exhorting YHWH's people to fear YHWH. | Exhorting YHWH's people to fear YHWH. | Listeners will realize the benefits of fearing YHWH. | Listeners will be confident in YHWH's provision and fear YHWH. | Listeners will seek YHWH. | ||
| כִּי־אֵ֥ין מַ֝חְס֗וֹר לִירֵאָֽיו׃ | For those who fear him have no lack. | Declarative | Assertive | Giving a reason for why YHWH's people should fear him. | |||||||
| 11 | כְּ֭פִירִים רָשׁ֣וּ וְרָעֵ֑בוּ | Young lions have suffered want and been hungry, | Declarative | Assertive | Asserting that even the most capable of predators has gone hungry. | ||||||
| וְדֹרְשֵׁ֥י יְ֝הוָ֗ה לֹא־יַחְסְר֥וּ כָל־טֽוֹב׃ | but those who seek YHWH will not lack any good. | Declarative | Assertive | Asserting that YHWH's people are better off than even young lions. | |||||||
| 12 | לְֽכוּ־בָ֭נִים שִׁמְעוּ־לִ֑י | Come, children! Listen to me! | Imperative | Directive | Summoning an audience to listen to his teaching. | Summoning an audience to listen to his teaching. | Teaching (למּד) the fear of YHWH. | Listeners will understand the value of fearing YHWH. | Listeners will be in reverent fear of YHWH. | Listeners will turn from evil and do good. | |
| יִֽרְאַ֥ת יְ֝הוָ֗ה אֲלַמֶּדְכֶֽם׃ | I will teach you the fear of YHWH. | Declarative | Assertive | Presenting the topic of his lecture. | Presenting the topic of his lecture. | ||||||
| 13 | מִֽי־הָ֭אִישׁ הֶחָפֵ֣ץ חַיִּ֑ים | Who is the person who desires life, | Interrogative | Assertive | Getting the attention of his audience. | Getting the attention of his audience. | • v. 13a. The NET does an excellent job of translating the pragmatic force of this question into English: "Do you want to really live? Would you love to live a long, happy life?" (NET). As they, note, "The rhetorical question is used to grab the audience’s attention" (NET note). The technique is similar to that used today in advertisements (e.g., "Do you want to make more money?" "Do you want to lose twenty pounds in a week?" "Are you tired of X?"). When Peter quotes this verse in the NT (1 Pet. 3:10-11), he changes the form but maintains the pragmatic force: “Whoever would love life (ὁ γὰρ θέλων ζωὴν ἀγαπᾶν)... let him restrain (παυσάτω)... let him turn from (ἐκκλινάτω)... let him seek (ζητησάτω)." | ||||
| אֹהֵ֥ב יָ֝מִ֗ים לִרְא֥וֹת טֽוֹב׃ | who wants to live a long time, who loves to see good? | ||||||||||
| 14 | נְצֹ֣ר לְשׁוֹנְךָ֣ מֵרָ֑ע | Keep your tongue from evil | Imperative | Directive | Exhorting his audience. | Teaching his audience what it means to fear YHWH and exhorting them to live accordingly. | |||||
| וּ֝שְׂפָתֶ֗יךָ מִדַּבֵּ֥ר מִרְמָֽה׃ | and your lips from speaking deceit! | Imperative | Directive | Exhorting his audience. | |||||||
| 15 | ס֣וּר מֵ֭רָע וַעֲשֵׂה־ט֑וֹב | Turn away from evil and do good! | Imperative | Directive | Exhorting his audience. | ||||||
| בַּקֵּ֖שׁ שָׁל֣וֹם וְרָדְפֵֽהוּ׃ | Seek peace and pursue it! | Imperative | Directive | Exhorting his audience. | |||||||
| 17* | פְּנֵ֣י יְ֭הוָה בְּעֹ֣שֵׂי רָ֑ע | YHWH’s face is against those who do evil, | Declarative | Assertive | Asserting that YHWH opposes the wicked. | Teaching his audience that YHWH protects and provides for the righteous (those who fear YHWH), and not for the wicked. | Listeners will recognize how YHWH deals with the righteous and the wicked. | Listeners will be in reverent fear of YHWH. Listeners will be confident in YHWH's ability to rescue them. | Listeners will turn from evil and do good. Listeners will trust YHWH. | ||
| לְהַכְרִ֖ית מֵאֶ֣רֶץ זִכְרָֽם׃ | so as to remove the memory of them from the earth. | ||||||||||
| 16* | עֵינֵ֣י יְ֭הוָה אֶל־צַדִּיקִ֑ים | YHWH’s eyes are directed towards the righteous, | Declarative | Assertive | Asserting that YHWH sees the righteous. | ||||||
| וְ֝אָזְנָ֗יו אֶל־שַׁוְעָתָֽם׃ | and his ears are attentive to their cries for help. | Declarative | Assertive | Asserting that YHWH stands ready to hear the righteous. | |||||||
| 18 | צָעֲק֣וּ וַיהוָ֣ה שָׁמֵ֑עַ | They called for help, and YHWH heard, | Declarative | Assertive | Narrating a time (as characteristic) when the righteous called for help and YHWH heard. | ||||||
| וּמִכָּל־צָ֝רוֹתָ֗ם הִצִּילָֽם׃ | and he delivered them from all their troubles. | Declarative | Assertive | Narrating a time (as characteristic) when YHWH delivered the righeous. | |||||||
| 19 | קָר֣וֹב יְ֭הוָה לְנִשְׁבְּרֵי־לֵ֑ב | YHWH is near to the broken-hearted | Declarative | Assertive | Asserting that YHWH hears and rescues the afflicted. | ||||||
| וְֽאֶת־דַּכְּאֵי־ר֥וּחַ יוֹשִֽׁיעַ׃ | and he saves the crushed in spirit. | Declarative | Assertive | Asserting that YHWH hears and rescues the afflicted. | |||||||
| 20 | רַ֭בּוֹת רָע֣וֹת צַדִּ֑יק | The hardships of the righteous are many, | Declarative | Assertive | Acknowledging that the righteous face hardships. | ||||||
| וּ֝מִכֻּלָּ֗ם יַצִּילֶ֥נּוּ יְהוָֽה׃ | but YHWH rescues him from all of them. | Declarative | Assertive | Asserting that YHWH protects the righteous. | |||||||
| 21 | שֹׁמֵ֥ר כָּל־עַצְמוֹתָ֑יו | He protects all his bones. | Declarative | Assertive | Asserting that YHWH protects the righteous. | ||||||
| אַחַ֥ת מֵ֝הֵ֗נָּה לֹ֣א נִשְׁבָּֽרָה׃ | Not one of them has broken. | Declarative | Assertive | Asserting that YHWH protects the righteous. | |||||||
| 22 | תְּמוֹתֵ֣ת רָשָׁ֣ע רָעָ֑ה | Hardship finishes off a wicked person, | Declarative | Assertive | Asserting that hardship finishes off a wicked person. | ||||||
| וְשֹׂנְאֵ֖י צַדִּ֣יק יֶאְשָֽׁמוּ׃ | and those who hate a righteous person bear their guilt | Declarative | Assertive | Asserting that the wicked will bear their guilt. | |||||||
| 23 | פּוֹדֶ֣ה יְ֭הוָה נֶ֣פֶשׁ עֲבָדָ֑יו | YHWH redeems his servants’ lives, | Declarative | Assertive | Asserting that YHWH redeems his servants' lives. | ||||||
| וְלֹ֥א יֶ֝אְשְׁמ֗וּ כָּֽל־הַחֹסִ֥ים בּֽוֹ׃ | and no one who seeks refuge in him will ever bear guilt. | Declarative | Assertive | Asserting that no one who seeks refuge in YHWH will bear guilt. | |||||||
Emotional Analysis
This layer explores the emotional dimension of the biblical text and seeks to uncover the clues within the text itself that are part of the communicative intent of its author. The goal of this analysis is to chart the basic emotional tone and/or progression of the psalm.
For a detailed explanation of our method, see the Emotional Analysis Creator Guidelines.
Emotional Analysis Chart
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) | Proposition (Emotional Analysis) | The Psalmist Feels | Emotional Analysis Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | לְדָוִ֗ד בְּשַׁנּוֹת֣וֹ אֶת־טַ֭עְמוֹ לִפְנֵ֣י אֲבִימֶ֑לֶךְ וַֽ֝יְגָרֲשֵׁ֗הוּ וַיֵּלַֽךְ׃ | By David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelek, and Abimelek drove him out, and he went. | |||
| 2 | אֲבָרֲכָ֣ה אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה בְּכָל־עֵ֑ת | I will bless YHWH at all times. | David blesses YHWH. | • strong desire to praise YHWH | • cohortative: "The cohortative express the will or strong desire of the speaker" (IBHS 34.5.1). • SDBH on "praise" — "action by which humans express their appreciation, admiration, respect, and/or gratitude to deities about who they are and what they do" |
| תָּ֝מִ֗יד תְּֽהִלָּת֥וֹ בְּפִֽי׃ | His praise will continually be in my mouth. | David praises YHWH. | • gratefulness/appreciation • admiration/respect | ||
| 3 | בַּ֭יהוָה תִּתְהַלֵּ֣ל נַפְשִׁ֑י | My soul boasts in YHWH. | David boasts in YHWH. | • pride/confidence (intense) • satisfaction (intense) |
• SDBH on "boast" — "action by which humans express their pride and satisfaction about themselves, their actions, certain circumstances they find themselves in, or a deity that they consider responsible for those circumstances" • "Nepesh is frequently used in connection with the emotional states of joy and bliss" (TWOT). • The use of נפש indicates intensity of emotion. |
| יִשְׁמְע֖וּ עֲנָוִ֣ים וְיִשְׂמָֽחוּ׃ | May the afflicted hear and be glad! | The afflicted hear and are glad. | • joy (שׂמח) | • Presumably, the psalmist's call for the afflicted to "be glad" (שמח) reflects his own emotional state. • SDBH on "glad" — "state in which humans and deities feel and show great joy" | |
| 4 | גַּדְּל֣וּ לַיהוָ֣ה אִתִּ֑י | Extol YHWH with me, | David and the afflicted praise YHWH. | • admiration/respect • joy • satisfaction • confidence • strong desire to praise YHWH | |
| וּנְרוֹמְמָ֖ה שְׁמ֣וֹ יַחְדָּֽו׃ | and let us exalt his name together! | • admiration/respect • joy • satisfaction • confidence • strong desire to praise YHWH |
• "in first person plural [cohortatives], the speakers usually seek to instigate or encourage each other to some action" (IBHS 34.5.1). | ||
| 5 | דָּרַ֣שְׁתִּי אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה וְעָנָ֑נִי | I sought YHWH and he answered me | David seeks YHWH. YHWH answers David. | • relief • gratefulness | |
| וּמִכָּל־מְ֝גוּרוֹתַ֗י הִצִּילָֽנִי׃ | and he rescued me from all my terrors. | YHWH rescues David. | • relief • gratefulness |
• Instead of feeling "terror" (מגורה), David now feels the relief of one who has been rescued from all terrors. | |
| 6 | *הַבִּיטוּ* אֵלָ֣יו *וּנְהָרוּ* | Gaze at him and glow, | The afflicted trust in YHWH. The afflicted are joyful. | • confidence • joy |
• Gazing at YHWH implies confidence: "to look with confidence towards Is 22:8 51:1f Jon 2:5 Zech 12:10 Ps 34:6" (HALOT) • "Glowing" implies joyful amazement. Isa. 60:5, "Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy (וְנָהַרְתְּ); the wealth on the seas will be brought to you, to you the riches of the nations will come" (NIV). |
| *וּפְנֵיכֶם* אַל־יֶחְפָּֽרוּ׃ | and do not let your faces be ashamed! | The afflicted are ashamed. | • confidence • joy | ||
| 7 | זֶ֤ה עָנִ֣י קָ֭רָא וַיהוָ֣ה שָׁמֵ֑עַ | This is a poor man who called out and YHWH heard | David called out.YHWH heard. | • relief • gratefulness | |
| וּמִכָּל־צָ֝רוֹתָ֗יו הוֹשִׁיעֽוֹ׃ | and saved him from all his troubles. | YHWH saved David. | • relief • gratefulness |
• "Troubles" lead to "severe anxiety" (SDBH). Presumably, declaring his freedom from all troubles, the psalmist feels the opposite of severe anxiety. | |
| 8 | חֹנֶ֤ה מַלְאַךְ־יְהוָ֓ה | YHWH’s angel encamps | YHWH's angel protects those who fear YHWH. | • confidence • joy | |
| סָ֘בִ֤יב לִֽירֵאָ֗יו וַֽיְחַלְּצֵֽם׃ | all around those who fear him and he delivers them. | YHWH's angel delivers them. | • confidence • joy | ||
| 9 | טַעֲמ֣וּ וּ֭רְאוּ כִּי־ט֣וֹב יְהוָ֑ה | Taste and see that YHWH is good! | The afflicted discover that YHWH is good. | • confidence • joy • admiration | |
| אַֽשְׁרֵ֥י הַ֝גֶּ֗בֶר יֶחֱסֶה־בּֽוֹ׃ | Happy is the man who seeks refuge in him. | A man is protected by YHWH. | • confidence • joy • admiration |
• a pronouncement of "blessing" is typically "accompanied by an attitude of admiration" (SDBH) | |
| 10 | יְר֣אוּ אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה קְדֹשָׁ֑יו | Fear YHWH, you holy ones of his! | YHWH's people fear YHWH. | • confidence • joy • admiration | |
| כִּי־אֵ֥ין מַ֝חְס֗וֹר לִירֵאָֽיו׃ | For those who fear him have no lack. | Those who fear YHWH lack. | • confidence • joy • admiration | ||
| 11 | כְּ֭פִירִים רָשׁ֣וּ וְרָעֵ֑בוּ | Young lions have suffered want and been hungry, | Others suffer want and are hungry. | • confidence in YHWH's provision | |
| וְדֹרְשֵׁ֥י יְ֝הוָ֗ה לֹא־יַחְסְר֥וּ כָל־טֽוֹב׃ | but those who seek YHWH will not lack any good. | Those who seek YHHW lack good. | • confidence in YHWH's provision | ||
| 12 | לְֽכוּ־בָ֭נִים שִׁמְעוּ־לִ֑י | Come, children! Listen to me! | People come. People listen. | • affectionate • solemn/serious • confident |
• SDBH on "children" — "title used to address a person (male if in singular) who is regarded with some degree of affection" • "The use of a kinship term as a vocative implies that speaker and addressee have a close and friendly relationship, equivalent to the ideal form of the family relationship named (parent, child, or sibling). Where there is no blood relationship, a kinship term is typically used in address where the speaker is trying to persuade the addressee to some course of action" (Revell 1996:329). • The summons to "come" and "listen", together with the subject matter "the fear of YHWH", implies a relatively sober/solemn/serious mood—a lower level of activation than as in vv. 2-11. |
| יִֽרְאַ֥ת יְ֝הוָ֗ה אֲלַמֶּדְכֶֽם׃ | I will teach you the fear of YHWH. | David teaches people the fear of YHWH. | • affectionate • solemn/serious • confident | ||
| 13 | מִֽי־הָ֭אִישׁ הֶחָפֵ֣ץ חַיִּ֑ים | Who is the person who desires life, | Someone desires life, loves days and loves to see good. | • affectionate • solemn/serious • confident |
• "The rhetorical question is used to grab the audience’s attention" (NET note). |
| אֹהֵ֥ב יָ֝מִ֗ים לִרְא֥וֹת טֽוֹב׃ | who wants to live a long time, who loves to see good? | • affectionate • solemn/serious • confident | |||
| 14 | נְצֹ֣ר לְשׁוֹנְךָ֣ מֵרָ֑ע | Keep your tongue from evil | Someone refrains from speaking evil and deceit. | • affectionate • solemn/serious • confident | |
| וּ֝שְׂפָתֶ֗יךָ מִדַּבֵּ֥ר מִרְמָֽה׃ | and your lips from speaking deceit! | • affectionate • solemn/serious • confident | |||
| 15 | ס֣וּר מֵ֭רָע וַעֲשֵׂה־ט֑וֹב | Turn away from evil and do good! | Someone rejects evil and does good. | • affectionate • solemn/serious • confident | |
| בַּקֵּ֖שׁ שָׁל֣וֹם וְרָדְפֵֽהוּ׃ | Seek peace and pursue it! | Someone seeks peace. | • affectionate • solemn/serious • confident | ||
| 17* | פְּנֵ֣י יְ֭הוָה בְּעֹ֣שֵׂי רָ֑ע | YHWH’s face is against those who do evil, | YHWH opposes those who do evil. | • affectionate • solemn/serious • confident | |
| לְהַכְרִ֖ית מֵאֶ֣רֶץ זִכְרָֽם׃ | so as to remove the memory of them from the earth. | The evildoers are not remembered. | • affectionate • solemn/serious • confident | ||
| 16* | עֵינֵ֣י יְ֭הוָה אֶל־צַדִּיקִ֑ים | YHWH’s eyes are directed towards the righteous, | YHWH sees the righteous. | • affectionate • solemn/serious • confident | |
| וְ֝אָזְנָ֗יו אֶל־שַׁוְעָתָֽם׃ | and his ears are attentive to their cries for help. | YHWH hears the righteous. | • affectionate • solemn/serious • confident | ||
| 18 | צָעֲק֣וּ וַיהוָ֣ה שָׁמֵ֑עַ | They called for help, and YHWH heard, | The righteous call for help. YHWH hears. | • affectionate • solemn/serious • confident | |
| וּמִכָּל־צָ֝רוֹתָ֗ם הִצִּילָֽם׃ | and he delivered them from all their troubles. | YHWH delivers the righteous. | • affectionate • solemn/serious • confident | ||
| 19 | קָר֣וֹב יְ֭הוָה לְנִשְׁבְּרֵי־לֵ֑ב | YHWH is near to the broken-hearted | YHWH stands ready to hear the afflicted. | • affectionate • solemn/serious • confident | |
| וְֽאֶת־דַּכְּאֵי־ר֥וּחַ יוֹשִֽׁיעַ׃ | and he saves the crushed in spirit. | YHWH saves the afflicted. | • affectionate • solemn/serious • confident | ||
| 20 | רַ֭בּוֹת רָע֣וֹת צַדִּ֑יק | The hardships of the righteous are many, | The righteous experience many hardships. | • affectionate • solemn/serious • confident | |
| וּ֝מִכֻּלָּ֗ם יַצִּילֶ֥נּוּ יְהוָֽה׃ | but YHWH rescues him from all of them. | YHWH rescues the righteous from his hardships. | • affectionate • solemn/serious • confident | ||
| 21 | שֹׁמֵ֥ר כָּל־עַצְמוֹתָ֑יו | He protects all his bones. | YHWH protects the righteous. | • affectionate • solemn/serious • confident | |
| אַחַ֥ת מֵ֝הֵ֗נָּה לֹ֣א נִשְׁבָּֽרָה׃ | Not one of them has broken. | • affectionate • solemn/serious • confident | |||
| 22 | תְּמוֹתֵ֣ת רָשָׁ֣ע רָעָ֑ה | Hardship finishes off a wicked person, | Hardship results in the death of the wicked. | • affectionate • solemn/serious • confident | |
| וְשֹׂנְאֵ֖י צַדִּ֣יק יֶאְשָֽׁמוּ׃ | and those who hate a righteous person bear their guilt | The wicked bear their guilt. | • affectionate • solemn/serious • confident | ||
| 23 | פּוֹדֶ֣ה יְ֭הוָה נֶ֣פֶשׁ עֲבָדָ֑יו | YHWH redeems his servants’ lives, | YHWH redeems his servants' lives. | • affectionate • solemn/serious • confident | |
| וְלֹ֥א יֶ֝אְשְׁמ֗וּ כָּֽל־הַחֹסִ֥ים בּֽוֹ׃ | and no one who seeks refuge in him will ever bear guilt. | Those protected by YHWH bear guilt. | • affectionate • solemn/serious • confident |
Summary Visual
(Click visual to enlarge).
Bibliography
- Allegro, John Marco. 1955.“Uses of the Semitic Demonstrative Element Z in Hebrew.” Vetus Testamentum, vol. 5, no. 3 July: pp. 309–12.
- Baethgen, Friedrich. 1904. Die Psalmen. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck und Ruprecht.
- Bratcher, Robert G., and William D. Reyburn. 1991. A Handbook on Psalms. UBS Handbook Series. New York: United Bible Societies.
- Ceresko, Anthony. 1985. “The ABCs of Wisdom in Psalm Xxxiv.” VT 35: 99–104.
- Craigie, Peter C. 2004. Psalms 1–50. WBC 19. Waco, TX: Word.
- Delitzsch, Franz. Biblical Commentary on the Psalms: Vol. 1. Translated by Eaton David. Vol. 1. New York: Funk and Wagnalls, 1883.
- Eriksson, Lars Olov. 1991. “Come, Children, Listen to Me!”: Psalm 34 in the Hebrew Bible and in Early Christian Writings. Coniectanea Biblica 32. Stockholm: Almquist & Wiksell.
- Fokkelman, J.P. 2003. Major Poems of the Hebrew Bible: At the Interface of Prosody and Structural Analysis (Vol 3: The Remaining 65 Psalms). Vol. 3. Studia Semitica Neerlandica. Van Gorcum.
- Freedman, David Noel. 1992. "Patterns in Psalms 25 and 34", in Priests, Prophets, and Scribes JSOT 149, Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press.
- Gentry, Peter. 2013. "The Meaning of 'Holy' in the Old Testament." Bibliotheca Sacra 170, no. 677-680: 400-417.
- Goldingay, John. 2006. Psalms: Psalms 1–41. Vol. 1. BCOT. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2006.
- Gunkel, Hermann. Die Psalmen. 4th ed. Göttinger Handkommentar Zum Alten Testament 2. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1926.
- Hossfeld, Frank-Lothar, and Erich Zenger. 1993. Die Psalmen I: Psalm 1–50. Neue Echter Bibel. Würzburg: Echter.
- Hupfeld, Hermann. 1868. Die Psalmen. Vol. 2. Gotha: Friedrich Andreas Perthes.
- Jenni, Ernst. 1992. Die Hebräischen Präpositionen Band 1: Die Präposition Beth. Stuttgart: W. Kohlhammer.
- ___. 2000. Die Hebräischen Präpositionen Band 3: Die Präposition Lamed. Stuttgart: Verlag W. Kohlhammer.
- Kimhi, David. 1900. The Book of Psalms, with commentary. Berlin, Schocken.
- Krohn, Rachel. 2021. “A Syntactic Description of Biblical Hebrew Poetry: The Revised and Extended Hebrew Verse Structure Model.” Doctoral thesis.
- Locatell, Christian S. 2017. “Grammatical Polysemy in the Hebrew Bible: A Cognitive Linguistic Approach to כי.” PhD Dissertation, University of Stellenbosch.
- López, René A. 2010. "Identifying the 'Angel of the Lord' in the Book of Judges." Bulletin for Biblical Research 20 (1):1-18.
- Lugt, Pieter van der. 2006. Cantos and Strophes in Biblical Hebrew Poetry: With Special Reference to the First Book of the Psalter. Vol. 1. 3 vols. Oudtestamentische Studiën 53. Leiden: Brill.
- Lunn, Nicholas P. 2006. Word-Order Variation in Biblical Hebrew Poetry: Differentiating Pragmatics and Poetics. Paternoster Biblical Monographs. Milton Keynes: Paternoster.
- Malone, Andrew S. 2011. "Distinguishing the Angel of the Lord." Bulletin for Biblical Research 21 (3): 297-314.
- Milgrom, Jacob. 1991. Leviticus 1–16. New York: Doubleday.
- Miller, Cynthia L. 2010. “Vocative Syntax in Biblical Hebrew Prose and Poetry: A Preliminary Analysis.” Semitic Studies 55, no. 1: 347–64.
- Revell, E.J. 1996. The Designation of the Individual: Expressive Usage in Biblical Narrative. (Contributions to Biblical Exegesis and Theology 14.) Kampen: Kok Pharos.
- Roberts, J. J. M. 1973. “The Young Lions of Psalm 34, 11.” Biblica 54, no. 2: 265–67.
- Rogland, Max. 2003. Alleged Non-Past Uses of Qatal in Classical Hebrew. Assen, The Netherlands: Royal van Gorcum.
- Sanders, Paul. Forthcoming. "A Long Life as a Blessing in the Old Testament and the Ancient Levant."
- Skehan, Patrick William. 1951. “Structure of the Song of Moses in Deuteronomy (Deut 32:1-43).” The Catholic Biblical Quarterly 13, no. 2 (April 1951).
- Strawn, Brent A. 2005. What is Stronger than a Lion? Leonine Image and Metaphor in the Hebrew Bible and the Ancient Near East. Fribourg, Switzerland: Academic Press Fribourg.
Footnotes
- ↑ When the entire utterance is new/unexpected, it is a thetic sentence (often called "sentence focus"). See our Creator Guidelines for more information on topic and focus.
- ↑ Frame setters are any orientational constituent – typically, but not limited to, spatio-temporal adverbials – function to "limit the applicability of the main predication to a certain restricted domain" and "indicate the general type of information that can be given" in the clause nucleus (Krifka & Musan 2012: 31-32). In previous scholarship, they have been referred to as contextualizing constituents (see, e.g., Buth (1994), “Contextualizing Constituents as Topic, Non-Sequential Background and Dramatic Pause: Hebrew and Aramaic evidence,” in E. Engberg-Pedersen, L. Falster Jakobsen and L. Schack Rasmussen (eds.) Function and expression in Functional Grammar. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter, 215-231; Buth (2023), “Functional Grammar and the Pragmatics of Information Structure for Biblical Languages,” in W. A. Ross & E. Robar (eds.) Linguistic Theory and the Biblical Text. Cambridge: Open Book Publishers, 67-116), but this has been conflated with the function of topic. In brief: sentence topics, belonging to the clause nucleus, are the entity or event about which the clause provides a new predication; frame setters do not belong in the clause nucleus and rather provide a contextual orientation by which to understand the following clause.
- ↑ Cf. Lunn 2006, 303 "MKD"
- ↑ cf. Lunn 2006, 198, e.g., Pss. 31:12; 39:9; 54:9; 119:99, 101
- ↑ So Lunn 2006, 303 "MKD".
- ↑ Cf. Lunn 2006, 303 "DEF".
- ↑ Cf. Lunn 2006:303 "MKD"
- ↑ BHRG 46.2.2.1-2.
- ↑ Cf. Lunn 2006, 303 "MKD"
- ↑ Cf. Lunn 2006, 303 "MKD".
- ↑ Cf. Lunn 2006, 303 "MKD".
- ↑ Cf. Lunn "MKD" 2006, 303.
- ↑ Cf. Lunn 2006, 303 "DEF".
- ↑ Cf. Miller 2010, 357.
- ↑ Revell 1996, 329.
- ↑ Craigie 2004, 278.