Psalm 45 Poetic Features
The Divine King's Majesty
Psalm 45
Poetic Features
In poetic features, we identify and describe the “Top 3 Poetic Features” for each Psalm. Poetic features might include intricate patterns (e.g., chiasms), long range correspondences across the psalm, evocative uses of imagery, sound-plays, allusions to other parts of the Bible, and various other features or combinations of features. For each poetic feature, we describe both the formal aspects of the feature and the poetic effect of the feature. We assume that there is no one-to-one correspondence between a feature’s formal aspects and its effect, and that similar forms might have very different effects depending on their contexts. The effect of a poetic feature is best determined (subjectively) by a thoughtful examination of the feature against the background of the psalm’s overall message and purpose.
A Perfect Match
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. |
Feature
The psalmist uses a number of repeated verbal roots, lexemes, and associated ideas and images to describe both the king and his bride.
Key roots include: יפה (BEAUTY, vv. 3, 12) and שׂמח (JOY, vv. 9, 16). Key associated ideas and images include: gladness (vv. 8, 16); fine clothing (vv. 9, 14–15); and wealth (vv. 10, 14), in particular, gold (vv. 10, 14).
Furthermore, both the king and his bride are addressed by a series of exhortations followed by a result (vv. 4–6; 11–13).
Effect
Although the main focus of Psalm 45 is the king himself, his new bride also plays an important role in the psalm. By describing the bride with the same language used for the king, the psalm highlights the appropriateness of the marriage. They are an attractive, joyful, and wealthy royal pair. The bride is the ideal match for the ideal king.
Engaging the Senses
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. |
File:Ps 45 - Poetic Feature 2.jpg
Feature
Psalm 45 contains an unusually high number of references to physical senses, in particular sight, sound, and smell. The middle verse of the psalm, v. 9, features all three of these senses. All these sensual experiences are described in highly positive terms.
Effect
The repetition of these sensory descriptions highlights the wealth of the king, the uniqueness of the occasion and the luxury of the royal wedding. The audience is drawn in to the description both of the king and his wedding preparations, as well as the new bride and her wedding preparations.
King Forever and Everywhere
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. |
Feature
Psalm 45 is the only psalm in the Psalter that is addressed to the human king. The psalm uses an array of loanwords from distinct geographical origins, lexemes indicating international reach, as well as temporal adverbs, to describe the king's reign.
- As discussed in the poetic macrostructure, the first "forever" (v. 3c) provides an inclusio with that of v. 7a. Further, the entire section of vv. 2–8 finds its correspondence in the final two verses, indicated by "forever and ever" in v. 18b.
- A number of references indicate the international reach of the king's reign, such as the prepositional phrase "over all the earth" (v. 17), the noun "people[s]" (vv. 6, 13, 18), "ivory" (v. 9), which was of foreign origin, and the gold of Ophir (v. 10)
- Other nouns denoting objects of foreign origin are indeed loanwords, such as Ethiopian/Arabian "aloes and cassia" (v. 9)[1] as well as the Akkadian-origin שֵׁגַל for the queen mother (v. 10).
Effect
Psalm 45's repeated use of foreign words or words denoting foreign goods, as well as the temporal adverbs, stresses the geographic extent and temporal endurance of the king's reign.
Not only will peoples fall under his dominion (v. 6), but, indeed, peoples will praise him forever and ever (v. 18). Even the main event of the psalm—the king's wedding—is of international nature, with the richest of people paying homage to both him and his bride, with the result that their offspring will spread his dominion and righteous rule throughout the earth.
Repeated Roots
The repeated roots table is intended to identify the roots which are repeated in the psalm.
| Repeated Roots legend | |
|---|---|
| Divine name | The divine name is indicated by bold purple text. |
| Roots bounding a section | Roots bounding a section, appearing in the first and last verse of a section, are indicated by bold red text. |
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Roots occurring primarily in the first section are indicated in a yellow box. |
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Roots occurring primarily in the third section are indicated in a blue box. |
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Roots connected across sections are indicated by a vertical gray line connecting the roots. |
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Section boundaries are indicated by a horizontal black line across the chart. |
=Notes
- By far the most commonly occurring root in Ps 45 is מלךְ, occurring 8x. This is not surprising, given that the king and his dynasty is praised throughout the poem.
- Near repetition occurs 4 times (spanning two verses).
- ↑ Noonan 2019.