Psalm 89 Participant Analysis
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Psalm 89/Participant Analysis
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Psalm 89
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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 6 participants/characters in Psalm 89:
Profile List
| Ethan the Ezrahite |
| "Ethan the Ezrahite" (v. 1) |
| Israel |
| "the people" (vv. 16, 20) |
| "those who know the signal" (v. 16) |
| "YHWH's servants" (v. 51) |
| Prophets |
| "YHWH's loyal ones" (v. 20) |
| YHWH |
| "YHWH" (vv. 2, 6, 7, 9, 16, 19, 47, 52, 53) |
| "YHWH, God of armies" (v. 9) |
| "Mighty Yah" (v. 9) |
| "The holy one of Israel" (v. 19) |
| "The king's father, god, and the rock who saves him" (v. 27) |
| "Lord" (vv. 58, 50, 51) |
| David |
| "David" (vv. 4, 21, 36, 50) |
| "YHWH's servant" (vv. 4, 21) |
| "YHWH's chosen one" (vv. 4, 20) |
| "warrior" (v. 20) |
| "The firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth" (v. 28) |
| David's descendant(s) |
| "David's descendants" (lit: "seed") (vv. 5, 30, 37) |
| "Israel's king" (v. 19) |
| "David's descendants" (lit: "sons") (v. 31) |
| "YHWH's anointed one" (vv. 39, 52) |
| "YHWH's servant" (v. 40) |
| Enemies |
| "Enemy" (v. 23) |
| "Unjust person" (v. 23) |
| "David's adversaries" (v. 24) |
| "Those who are hostile to David" (v. 24) |
| "All who pass by" (v. 42) |
| "The king's neighbors" (v. 42) |
| "The king's enemies" (v. 43) |
| "The king's adversaries" (v. 43) |
| "The nations" (v. 51) |
| "YHWH's enemies" (v. 52) |
| The Sea |
| "The sea" (vv. 10, 26) |
| "The sea's waves" (v. 10) |
| "The currents" (v. 26) |
| "Rahab" (the sea monster) (v. 11) |
| "YHWH's enemies" (v. 11) |
| Divine beings |
| "The sky" (v. 6) |
| "Holy ones" (vv. 6, 8) |
| "Divine beings" (v. 7) |
| "Everyone around YHWH" (v. 8) |
| "Tabor and Hermon" (v. 13) |
| Humanity |
| "People" (v. 48) |
| "Person" (v. 49) |
Profile Notes
- Ethan was a Levite, a contemporary of King David, whom David put in charge of early temple music, together with Asaph and Heman (1 Chr 6:16-32; 15:16-19). He was an "Ezrahite" in the sense that he was associated with the Judahite family of Zerah (cf. 1 Chr 2:6), not as a biological descendant, but as a sojourner (cf. Judg 17:7; 1 Sam 1:1). In addition to being a leader of worship, he was also renowned for his wisdom (cf. 1 Kgs 5:10-11). See further: The Identity of Ethan the Ezrahite in Ps 89:1.
- YHWH's heavenly court consists of lesser divine beings (cf. 1 Kgs 22:19; Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7; Ps 82). These heavenly creatures surround YHWH's throne (see v. 8b) and worship him (v. 6; cf. Ps 29). In terms of power and majesty, they do not even compare to YHWH (see vv. 7–8).
| Hebrew | Line | English |
|---|---|---|
| מַ֝שְׂכִּ֗יל לְאֵיתָ֥ן הָֽאֶזְרָחִֽי׃ | 1 | A maskil. By Ethan the Ezrahite. |
| חַֽסְדֵ֣י יְ֭הוָה עוֹלָ֣ם אָשִׁ֑ירָה | 2a | I will sing forever about YHWH's acts of loyalty. |
| לְדֹ֥ר וָדֹ֓ר ׀ אוֹדִ֖יעַ אֱמוּנָתְךָ֣ בְּפִֽי׃ | 2b | I will make your reliability known with my mouth for generations to come. |
| כִּֽי־אָמַ֗רְתִּי ע֭וֹלָם חֶ֣סֶד יִבָּנֶ֑ה | 3a | For I said, Loyalty will be built up forever. |
| שָׁמַ֓יִם ׀ תִכֹן אֱמוּנָתְךָ֣ בָהֶֽם׃ | 3b | sky—your reliability will be established in it." |
| כָּרַ֣תִּֽי בְ֭רִית לִבְחִירִ֑י | 4a | I have made a covenant with my chosen one. |
| נִ֝שְׁבַּ֗עְתִּי לְדָוִ֥ד עַבְדִּֽי׃ | 4b | I have sworn an oath to David, my servant: |
| עַד־ע֭וֹלָם אָכִ֣ין זַרְעֶ֑ךָ | 5a | I will establish your descendants forever, |
| וּבָנִ֨יתִי לְדֹר־וָד֖וֹר כִּסְאֲךָ֣ סֶֽלָה׃ | 5b | and I will build your throne for generations to come.'" Selah. |
| וְי֘וֹד֤וּ שָׁמַ֣יִם פִּלְאֲךָ֣ יְהוָ֑ה | 6a | So let the sky praise your wonders, YHWH! |
| אַף־אֱ֝מֽוּנָתְךָ֗ בִּקְהַ֥ל קְדֹשִֽׁים׃ | 6b | your reliability, too, in the assembly of holy ones! |
| כִּ֤י מִ֣י בַ֭שַּׁחַק יַעֲרֹ֣ךְ לַיהוָ֑ה | 7a | For who in heaven can compare to YHWH? |
| יִדְמֶ֥ה לַ֝יהוָ֗ה בִּבְנֵ֥י אֵלִים׃ | 7b | among the divine beings is like YHWH? |
| אֵ֣ל נַ֭עֲרָץ בְּסוֹד־קְדֹשִׁ֣ים | 8a | a god who is terrifying in the council of holy ones, |
| רַבָּ֑ה וְ֝נוֹרָ֗א עַל־כָּל־סְבִיבָֽיו׃ | 8b | great and fearful above everyone around him. |
| יְהוָ֤ה ׀ אֱלֹ֘הֵ֤י צְבָא֗וֹת מִֽי־כָֽמ֖וֹךָ | 9a | YHWH, God of armies, who is like you? |
| חֲסִ֥ין ׀ יָ֑הּ וֶ֝אֱמֽוּנָתְךָ֗ סְבִיבוֹתֶֽיךָ׃ | 9b | Mighty Yah, [who is like you] with your reliability around you? |
| אַתָּ֣ה מ֭וֹשֵׁל בְּגֵא֣וּת הַיָּ֑ם | 10a | You rule over the swelling of the sea. |
| בְּשׂ֥וֹא גַ֝לָּ֗יו אַתָּ֥ה תְשַׁבְּחֵֽם׃ | 10b | When its waves rise up, you control them. |
| אַתָּ֤ה דִכִּ֣אתָ כֶחָלָ֣ל רָ֑הַב | 11a | You crushed Rahab like those who are slain. |
| בִּזְר֥וֹעַ עֻ֝זְּךָ֗ פִּזַּ֥רְתָּ אוֹיְבֶֽיךָ׃ | 11b | With your strong arm you scattered your enemies. |
| לְךָ֣ שָׁ֭מַיִם אַף־לְךָ֥ אָ֑רֶץ | 12a | The sky is yours; the earth also is yours. |
| תֵּבֵ֥ל וּ֝מְלֹאָ֗הּ אַתָּ֥ה יְסַדְתָּֽם׃ | 12b | The world and all that is in it—you founded them. |
| צָפ֣וֹן וְ֭יָמִין אַתָּ֣ה בְרָאתָ֑ם | 13a | North and south—you created them. |
| תָּב֥וֹר וְ֝חֶרְמ֗וֹן בְּשִׁמְךָ֥ יְרַנֵּֽנוּ׃ | 13b | Tabor and Hermon rejoice at your name. |
| לְךָ֣ זְ֭רוֹעַ עִם־גְּבוּרָ֑ה | 14a | You have a strong arm, together with might. |
| תָּעֹ֥ז יָ֝דְךָ֗ תָּר֥וּם יְמִינֶֽךָ׃ | 14b | Your hand is powerful, your right hand exalted. |
| צֶ֣דֶק וּ֭מִשְׁפָּט מְכ֣וֹן כִּסְאֶ֑ךָ | 15a | base of your throne is righteousness and justice. |
| חֶ֥סֶד וֶ֝אֱמֶ֗ת יְֽקַדְּמ֥וּ פָנֶֽיךָ׃ | 15b | Loyalty and faithfulness stand in front of your presence. |
| אַשְׁרֵ֣י הָ֭עָם יוֹדְעֵ֣י תְרוּעָ֑ה | 16a | Happy are the people, those who know the signal, |
| יְ֝הוָ֗ה בְּֽאוֹר־פָּנֶ֥יךָ יְהַלֵּכֽוּן׃ | 16b | YHWH, who go about in the light of your presence! |
| בְּ֭שִׁמְךָ יְגִיל֣וּן כָּל־הַיּ֑וֹם | 17a | They are always glad because of your name, |
| וּבְצִדְקָתְךָ֥ יָרֽוּמוּ׃ | 17b | and exalted because of your righteousness. |
| כִּֽי־תִפְאֶ֣רֶת עֻזָּ֣מוֹ אָ֑תָּה | 18a | For you are the strength in which they glory, |
| וּ֝בִרְצֹנְךָ֗ תָּר֥וּם קַרְנֵֽנוּ׃ | 18b | and our horn will be exalted because of your favor. |
| כִּ֣י לַֽ֭יהוָה מָֽגִנֵּ֑נוּ | 19a | For our shield belongs to YHWH, |
| וְלִקְד֖וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל מַלְכֵּֽנוּ׃ | 19b | and our king belongs to the holy one of Israel. |
| אָ֤ז דִּבַּ֥רְתָּֽ־בְחָ֡זוֹן לַֽחֲסִידֶ֗יךָ וַתֹּ֗אמֶר | 20a | Long ago, you spoke in a vision to your loyal ones and said, |
| שִׁוִּ֣יתִי עֵ֭זֶר עַל־גִּבּ֑וֹר | 20b | I have granted help to a warrior |
| הֲרִימ֖וֹתִי בָח֣וּר מֵעָֽם׃ | 20c | I have exalted someone chosen from the people. |
| מָ֭צָאתִי דָּוִ֣ד עַבְדִּ֑י | 21a | I have found David, my servant; |
| בְּשֶׁ֖מֶן קָדְשִׁ֣י מְשַׁחְתִּֽיו׃ | 21b | I have anointed him with my holy oil; |
| אֲשֶׁ֣ר יָ֭דִי תִּכּ֣וֹן עִמּ֑וֹ | 22a | My hand will always be with him; |
| אַף־זְרוֹעִ֥י תְאַמְּצֶֽנּוּ׃ | 22b | my arm will also strengthen him. |
| לֹֽא־יַשִּׁ֣א אוֹיֵ֣ב בּ֑וֹ | 23a | No enemy will exact tribute from him, |
| וּבֶן־עַ֝וְלָ֗ה לֹ֣א יְעַנֶּֽנּוּ׃ | 23b | and no unjust person will afflict him. |
| וְכַתּוֹתִ֣י מִפָּנָ֣יו צָרָ֑יו | 24a | But I will crush his adversaries from before him, |
| וּמְשַׂנְאָ֥יו אֶגּֽוֹף׃ | 24b | and strike down those who are hostile to him. |
| וֶֽאֶֽמוּנָתִ֣י וְחַסְדִּ֣י עִמּ֑וֹ | 25a | And my reliability and my loyalty will be with him, |
| וּ֝בִשְׁמִ֗י תָּר֥וּם קַרְנֽוֹ׃ | 25b | and his horn will be exalted because of my name. |
| וְשַׂמְתִּ֣י בַיָּ֣ם יָד֑וֹ | 26a | And I will put his hand on the sea |
| וּֽבַנְּהָר֥וֹת יְמִינֽוֹ׃ | 26b | and his right hand on the currents. |
| ה֣וּא יִ֭קְרָאֵנִי אָ֣בִי אָ֑תָּה | 27a | He will call out to me, You are my father, |
| אֵ֝לִ֗י וְצ֣וּר יְשׁוּעָתִֽי׃ | 27b | my god and the rock who saves me." |
| אַף־אָ֭נִי בְּכ֣וֹר אֶתְּנֵ֑הוּ | 28a | What's more, I will make him the firstborn, |
| עֶ֝לְי֗וֹן לְמַלְכֵי־אָֽרֶץ׃ | 28b | highest of the kings of the earth. |
| לְ֭עוֹלָ֗ם אֶשְׁמָר־ל֣וֹ חַסְדִּ֑י | 29a | I will keep my loyalty for him forever, |
| וּ֝בְרִיתִ֗י נֶאֱמֶ֥נֶת לֽוֹ׃ | 29b | and my covenant will be enduring for him. |
| וְשַׂמְתִּ֣י לָעַ֣ד זַרְע֑וֹ | 30a | I will establish his descendants forever |
| וְ֝כִסְא֗וֹ כִּימֵ֥י שָׁמָֽיִם׃ | 30b | and his throne as long as the sky endures. |
| אִם־יַֽעַזְב֣וּ בָ֭נָיו תּוֹרָתִ֑י | 31a | If his descendants reject my instruction |
| וּ֝בְמִשְׁפָּטַ֗י לֹ֣א יֵלֵכֽוּן׃ | 31b | and do not walk according to my rules; |
| אִם־חֻקֹּתַ֥י יְחַלֵּ֑לוּ | 32a | if they dishonor my decrees |
| וּ֝מִצְוֺתַ֗י לֹ֣א יִשְׁמֹֽרוּ׃ | 32b | and do not keep my commands, |
| וּפָקַדְתִּ֣י בְשֵׁ֣בֶט פִּשְׁעָ֑ם | 33a | then I will punish their rebellion with a rod |
| וּבִנְגָעִ֥ים עֲוֺנָֽם׃ | 33b | and their iniquity with wounds. |
| וְ֭חַסְדִּי לֹֽא־אָפִ֣יר מֵֽעִמּ֑וֹ | 34a | But I will not annul my loyalty from being with him, |
| וְלֹֽא־אֲ֝שַׁקֵּ֗ר בֶּאֱמוּנָתִֽי׃ | 34b | and I will not deal falsely with my reliability. |
| לֹא־אֲחַלֵּ֥ל בְּרִיתִ֑י | 35a | I will not dishonor my covenant |
| וּמוֹצָ֥א שְׂ֝פָתַ֗י לֹ֣א אֲשַׁנֶּֽה׃ | 35b | or change what has come from my lips. |
| אַ֭חַת נִשְׁבַּ֣עְתִּי בְקָדְשִׁ֑י | 36a | Once and for all I swear an oath by my holiness: |
| אִֽם־לְדָוִ֥ד אֲכַזֵּֽב׃ | 36b | I will not lie to David. |
| זַ֭רְעוֹ לְעוֹלָ֣ם יִהְיֶ֑ה | 37a | His descendants will be forever, |
| וְכִסְא֖וֹ כַשֶּׁ֣מֶשׁ נֶגְדִּֽי׃ | 37b | and his throne [will be] like the sun before me. |
| כְּ֭יָרֵחַ יִכּ֣וֹן עוֹלָ֑ם | 38a | Like the moon it will be established forever, |
| וְעֵ֥ד בַּ֝שַּׁ֗חַק נֶאֱמָ֥ן סֶֽלָה׃ | 38b | and [like] the witness in heaven [it will be] enduring.'" Selah. |
| וְאַתָּ֣ה זָ֭נַחְתָּ וַתִּמְאָ֑ס | 39a | But you have rejected and refused! |
| הִ֝תְעַבַּ֗רְתָּ עִם־מְשִׁיחֶֽךָ׃ | 39b | You have become furious with your anointed one. |
| נֵ֭אַרְתָּה בְּרִ֣ית עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ | 40a | You have renounced the covenant with your servant. |
| חִלַּ֖לְתָּ לָאָ֣רֶץ נִזְרֽוֹ׃ | 40b | You have thrown his crown down to the ground as something profane. |
| פָּרַ֥צְתָּ כָל־גְּדֵרֹתָ֑יו | 41a | You have breached all of his walls. |
| שַׂ֖מְתָּ מִבְצָרָ֣יו מְחִתָּה׃ | 41b | You have made his strongholds a ruin. |
| שַׁ֭סֻּהוּ כָּל־עֹ֣בְרֵי דָ֑רֶךְ | 42a | All who pass by have plundered him. |
| הָיָ֥ה חֶ֝רְפָּ֗ה לִשְׁכֵנָֽיו׃ | 42b | He has become an object of scorn to his neighbors. |
| הֲ֭רִימוֹתָ יְמִ֣ין צָרָ֑יו | 43a | You have exalted the right hand of his adversaries. |
| הִ֝שְׂמַ֗חְתָּ כָּל־אוֹיְבָֽיו׃ | 43b | You have caused all of his enemies to rejoice. |
| אַף־תָּ֭שִׁיב צ֣וּר חַרְבּ֑וֹ | 44a | What's worse, you turn back his sharp sword, |
| וְלֹ֥א הֲ֝קֵימֹת֗וֹ בַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃ | 44b | and you did not help him up in the battle. |
| הִשְׁבַּ֥תָּ מִטְּהָר֑וֹ | 45a | You have put an end to his splendor |
| וְ֝כִסְא֗וֹ לָאָ֥רֶץ מִגַּֽרְתָּה׃ | 45b | and hurled his throne down to the ground. |
| הִ֭קְצַרְתָּ יְמֵ֣י עֲלוּמָ֑יו | 46a | You have cut short the days of his youth. |
| הֶֽעֱטִ֨יתָ עָלָ֖יו בּוּשָׁ֣ה סֶֽלָה׃ | 46b | You have covered him with shame. Selah. |
| עַד־מָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה תִּסָּתֵ֣ר לָנֶ֑צַח | 47a | How long, YHWH? Will you hide yourself forever? |
| תִּבְעַ֖ר כְּמוֹ־אֵ֣שׁ חֲמָתֶֽךָ׃ | 47b | Will your wrath rage like a fire |
| זְכָר־אֲדֹנָי מֶה־חָ֑לֶד | 48a | Remember, Lord, what a lifespan |
| עַל־מַה־שָּׁ֝֗וְא בָּרָ֥אתָ כָל־בְּנֵי־אָדָֽם׃ | 48b | for what futility you created all people! |
| מִ֤י גֶ֣בֶר יִֽ֭חְיֶה וְלֹ֣א יִרְאֶה־מָּ֑וֶת | 49a | What person can live and not see death, |
| יְמַלֵּ֨ט נַפְשׁ֖וֹ מִיַּד־שְׁא֣וֹל סֶֽלָה׃ | 49b | can rescue his life from the power of Sheol? Selah. |
| אַיֵּ֤ה ׀ חֲסָדֶ֖יךָ הָרִאשֹׁנִ֥ים ׀ אֲדֹנָ֑י | 50a | Where are your former acts of loyalty, Lord, |
| נִשְׁבַּ֥עְתָּ לְ֝דָוִ֗ד בֶּאֱמוּנָתֶֽךָ׃ | 50b | you swore to David in your reliability? |
| זְכֹ֣ר אֲ֭דֹנָי חֶרְפַּ֣ת עֲבָדֶ֑יךָ | 51a | Remember, Lord, how your servants are scorned, |
| שְׂאֵתִ֥י בְ֝חֵיקִ֗י כָּל־רִבֵי מֵעַמִים׃ | 51b | I carry in my bosom all the insults of the peoples! |
| אֲשֶׁ֤ר חֵרְפ֖וּ אוֹיְבֶ֥יךָ ׀ יְהוָ֑ה | 52a | that your enemies have scorned, YHWH, |
| אֲשֶׁ֥ר חֵ֝רְפ֗וּ עִקְּב֥וֹת מְשִׁיחֶֽךָ׃ | 52b | that they have scorned the footsteps of your anointed one! |
| בָּר֖וּךְ יְהוָ֥ה לְ֝עוֹלָ֗ם אָ֘מֵ֥ן ׀ וְאָמֵֽן׃ | 53 | Blessed be YHWH forever! Amen and Amen. |
- Speaker in vv. 4–5
- The change in speaker from vv. 2–3 to vv. 4–5 is unmarked. The content makes it unmistakably clear, however, that YHWH is the one speaking in vv. 4–5. Modern translations often add a quotative frame for clarity. E.g., ESV: "You have said" (cf. NIV, NLT, CSB, CEV, GNT, NET).
- Addressee in vv. 4–5, 20–38
- YHWH's speech in v. 20 is addressed to his "loyal ones." The phrase probably refers to his "prophets" (so Rashi, Radak) and specifically to Nathan the prophet. (The plural "loyal ones" might be a figure of speech: whole for part.) Cf. 2 Sam 7:4—"That night, YHWH's word came to Nathan."
- (Alternatively, the plural indicates an address to the whole people.)[1]
- Although the addressee in vv. 4–5 is not specified, we might assume that the speech here, which effectively summarizes vv. 20–38, is also addressed to YHWH's "loyal ones", i.e., prophets.
- v. 13. The mountains "Tabor" and "Hermon" were strongly associated with divine beings (see lexical semantics note)
- Note also that in the direct speech in v. 27, "David" is first person and YHWH is second person.
- v. 39. On the change in speaker in v. 39ff, The Identity of Ethan the Ezrahite in Ps 89:1.
- In light of the parallelism ("your servants"), the first-person singular in v. 51b probably refers collectively to the entire nation, personified as an individual carrying a heavy burden. (Cf. the use of first person singular and the personification of the nation in Lamentations 3.)
Participant Relations Diagram
The relationships among the participants may be abstracted and summarized as follows:
Participant Analysis Summary Distribution
- ↑ Cf. Baethgen 1904, 276.