Psalm 4 Speech Act

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Psalm 4/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 For the director. With stringed instruments. A psalm. By David. Superscription (v. 1) YHWH
v. 2 When I called out, the God who makes things right for me answered me. In the distress, you granted me relief. He was merciful to me and heard my prayer.
Recounting
(v. 2)
YHWH, you answered me and gave relief!
v. 3 Mortal humans, how long [will you be] heavy-hearted? Why would you love what is worthless, seek what is false? Selah.
Rebuke
(v. 3)
 People
How long will you people stubbornly worship false gods?
v. 4 But know that YHWH has set apart one who is loyal to him. YHWH hears when I call out to him.
Exhortation
(vv. 4–6)
v. 5 Tremble and do not sin! Think to yourselves on your beds and be silent! Selah. Repent and trust in YHWH!
v. 6 Sacrifice right sacrifices and trust in YHWH!
Supporting statement (v. 4)
See how YHWH blesses those who trust in him!
v. 7 Many are saying, "Who shows us good? Lift up the light of your face as a banner over us, YHWH!"
Celebration
(vv. 7-9)
 YHWH
v. 8 You have put joy in my heart since the time their grain and their new wine multiplied. Others are looking for a god to bless them. YHWH, you have blessed us and made us an example to others!
v. 9 In peace, I can both lie down and fall asleep, because you alone, YHWH, make me dwell securely.

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 לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ בִּנְגִינ֗וֹת מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד׃ For the director. With stringed instruments. A psalm. By David. Fragments Assertive Giving information about the author, genre, and performance of this psalm
2 בְּקָרְאִ֡י *עָנָנִי* ׀ אֱלֹ֘הֵ֤י צִדְקִ֗י When I called out, the God who makes things right for me answered me. Declarative Assertive Recounting how YHWH answered him when he called out Recounting YHWH's answer to prayer Others will realize how YHWH answered the psalmist and gave him relief Others will share in the psalmist's joy and thankfulness to YHWH Others will call out to YHWH when they are in distress
2a בַּ֭צָּר הִרְחַ֣בְתָּ לִּ֑י In the distress, you granted me relief. Declarative Assertive Recounting how YHWH gave him relief in the distress
2b *חַנַּנִי* He was merciful to me Declarative Assertive Recounting how YHWH was merciful to him
2c *וְשָׁמַע* תְּפִלָּתִֽי׃ and heard my prayer. Declarative Assertive Recounting how YHWH heard his prayer
3 בְּנֵ֥י אִ֡ישׁ עַד־מֶ֬ה *כִבְדֵי לֵב* Mortal humans, how long [will you be] heavy-hearted? Interrogative Expressive Expressing impatience towards people who persist in worshipping false gods Rebuking people for worshipping false gods People will realize that other gods are worthless and that it's the people of YHWH who are truly blessed, that YHWH has set apart his people for special treatment People will be ashamed of trusting in false and worthless gods People will turn from false gods and trust in YHWH • Interrogative "how long" (עַד מֶה) is a rhetorical question, implying the speaker's judgment that the situation has lasted long enough and that the addressee should stop doing what he is doing (see e.g., Exod 10:3)
3a *לָמָּה* תֶּאֱהָב֣וּן רִ֑יק Why would you love what is worthless, Interrogative Expressive Expressing contempt towards worthless gods and those who worship them • BDB: למה "with an impf., often deprecating, or introducing rhetorically, the reason why something should, or should not, be done, why should …?"• "Vanity" belongs to the lexical domain of "Fail" and the contextual domain of "Success and Failure," and "shame" is an emotion closely associated with failure (see SDBH: "to be ashamed [because one has failed]"). By describing the object of the people's love as "vanity," he wants to inspire in them feelings of shame.
3b תְּבַקְשׁ֖וּ כָזָ֣ב סֶֽלָה׃ seek what is false? Selah. Interrogative Expressive Expressing contempt towards false gods and those who worship them
4 וּדְע֗וּ כִּֽי־הִפְלָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה חָסִ֣יד ל֑וֹ But know that YHWH has set apart one who is loyal to him. Imperative Directive Exhorting people to recognize YHWH's special treatment of his people Exhorting people to repent and trust in YHWH People will be afraid when they realize that they have been rejecting YHWH, the true God
4a יְהוָ֥ה יִ֝שְׁמַ֗ע בְּקָרְאִ֥י אֵלָֽיו׃ YHWH hears when I call out to him. Declarative Assertive Describing the special relationship that he has with YHWH
5 רִגְז֗וּ Tremble Imperative Directive Exhorting people to tremble in fear "Trembling" implies fear (see e.g., Exod 15:14 [with חיל]; Deut 2:25 [with פחד, ירא and חיל]; etc.)
5a וְֽאַל־תֶּ֫חֱטָ֥אוּ and do not sin! Imperative Directive Exhorting people to stop sinning
5b אִמְר֣וּ בִ֭לְבַבְכֶם עַֽל־מִשְׁכַּבְכֶ֗ם Think to yourselves on your beds Imperative Directive Exhorting people to stop wailing on their beds to foreign gods and, instead, to reflect quietly to themselves
5c וְדֹ֣מּוּ סֶֽלָה׃ and be silent! Selah. Imperative Directive Exhorting people to stop wailing on their beds to foreign gods and, instead, to reflect quietly to themselves
6 זִבְח֥וּ זִבְחֵי־צֶ֑דֶק Sacrifice right sacrifices Imperative Directive Exhorting people to offer right sacrifices People will have confidence in YHWH and in his ability and willingness to bless them if they turn to him
6a וּ֝בִטְח֗וּ אֶל־יְהוָֽה׃ and trust in YHWH! Imperative Directive Exhorting people to trust in YHWH
7 רַבִּ֥ים אֹמְרִים֮ מִֽי־יַרְאֵ֪נ֫וּ ט֥וֹב Many are saying, "Who shows us good? Declarative• "Interrogative" Assertive• "Directive" Describing the celebration of the many who trust in YHWH• "Asking (liturgically) who shows them good, who is the source of their blessing." Celebrating the blessings of trust in YHWH Others will see how YHWH has blessed his people Others will share in the psalmist's joy and thankfulness for YHWH's special blessings on them Others will celebrate YHWH's special blessing on his people and trust in YHWH • The "who" (מִי) question might be expressing a sincere, wholesome desire for YHWH to bless them with good (so Briggs 1906, 31; Waltke 2010, 158; on the use of מי to express a wish, cf. GKC §151a). But elsewhere, מי appears to be used to express "an unreal wish" (HALOT), implying doubt about the fulfillment of the wish. E.g., Num 11:4—מִ֥י יַאֲכִלֵ֖נוּ בָּשָֽׂר. It makes more sense, then, to interpret the מִי as indicating a real question (albeit a liturgical question to which the speaker knows the answer) instead of indicating a wish.
7a *נְסֵה*־עָ֭לֵינוּ א֨וֹר פָּנֶ֬יךָ יְהוָֽה׃ Lift up the light of your face as a banner over us, YHWH!" • "Declarative • "Assertive" • "Answering the question "Who shows us good?" by calling on YHWH for blessing, portraying YHWH's blessing on them as a "banner" that identifies them and shows the way for others to find good."
8 נָתַ֣תָּה שִׂמְחָ֣ה בְלִבִּ֑י מֵעֵ֬ת דְּגָנָ֖ם וְתִֽירוֹשָׁ֣ם רָֽבּוּ׃ You have put joy in my heart since the time their grain and their new wine multiplied. Declarative Assertive Describing how YHWH has filled him with joy by (answering his prayer and) giving Israel an abundant harvest
8a
9 בְּשָׁל֣וֹם יַחְדָּו֮ אֶשְׁכְּבָ֪ה וְאִ֫ישָׁ֥ן In peace, I can both lie down and fall asleep, Declarative Assertive Describing his peaceful state, how he can fall asleep as soon as he lies down
9a כִּֽי־אַתָּ֣ה יְהוָ֣ה לְבָדָ֑ד לָ֝בֶ֗טַח תּוֹשִׁיבֵֽנִי׃ because you alone, YHWH, make me dwell securely. Declarative Assertive Attributing his state of peace and security to YHWH (and YHWH alone)