Introduction

The text of Ps 117 reads as follows:


הַֽלְל֣וּ אֶת־יְ֭הוָה כָּל־גּוֹיִ֑ם	Praise YHWH, each and every nation! Give praise to him, all peoples!
שַׁ֝בְּח֗וּהוּ כָּל־הָאֻמִּֽים׃	Give praise to him, all peoples!
כִּ֥י גָ֘בַ֤ר עָלֵ֨ינוּ ׀ חַסְדּ֗וֹ	For...
וֶֽאֱמֶת־יְהוָ֥ה לְעוֹלָ֗ם הַֽלְלוּ־יָֽהּ׃	and the faithfulness of YHWH is forever.

The words כִּי גָבַר עָלֵינוּ חַסְדּוֹ have been interpreted in a number of ways, leading to different interpretations of the psalm as a whole. To begin, the relationship between v. 1 and v. 2 is clear. In v. 1 all nations and peoples are called to praise YHWH. V. 2 then provides the reason for this call to praise. The ambiguity is especially focused on the verb גָבַר, which could be read as either a stative verb or a dynamic verb.^[1]

1. Stative:

For great is his steadfast love toward us (ESV, see also NIV, NASB, NLT, CSB, ISV, KJV, NKJV, ASV, JPS, CSB, NRSV, LSG, NJB, NET, and more...)

2. Dynamic:

For his kindness overwhelms us (Alter, see also Amplified)

For his hesed has become strong over us (deClaissé-Walford, see also Allen WBC)

According to (1) the stative reading, YHWH's loyalty^[2] (חֶסֶד) is described in a state of intensity, power and superiority, without any process or increase in view. This understands the verb גבר as purely stative and describing something as "great," "strong," or "powerful," without indicating whether it has increased or crossed a threshold of some kind.

In contrast, (2) the dynamic interpretation describes YHWH's hesed in a process of increasing intensity, power, and superiority. This would be similar, for example, to the use of גבר in Exod 17:11, which says that "Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed," or Lam 1:16, "for the enemy has prevailed” (ESV), and 2 Sam 11:23, "The men overpowered us..." (NIV). In all of these cases, there is a process of increasing intensity, power and superiority.

The way one answers this question has significance for understanding the psalm as a whole. If a stative reading is followed, this flattens out the psalm to be a description of the present state of the greatness of YHWH's loyalty towards Israel. This does not exclude events that unfolded dynamically in the past, but the central focus here is the present, stative assertion "great is his loyalty to us." If a dynamic reading is followed, the psalm becomes much more dynamic and 'storied.' Israel is inviting the nations to praise YHWH as the climax of a dynamic progression of YHWH's unfolding and increasing loyalty towards them.

Argument Maps

Stative: "...great is/is great..." (preferred)


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[Stative: ...great is/is great...]: The verb גָּבַר of Ps 117 is best read as a stative verb.
  + <גבר as stative>: The verb גבר can have a stative meaning describing something as great, strong, or superior without implying any process or increase.
    <_ <Hebrew Usage>: גבר in the qal stem typically has a dynamic meaning, implying a process or increase. (e.g. Gen 7:18-20, 24; Ex 17:11; 2 Sam 11:23; Lam 1:16; Ps 65:4; Jer 9:2; Job 21:7; 1 Chr 5:2) #dispreferred 
      + [Gen 7:18-20]: "The waters prevailed (וַיִּגְבְּרוּ) and increased (וַיִּרְבּוּ) greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the face of the waters..." (see also Gen 7:19-20, 24). #dispreferred 
      + [2 Sam 11:23]: "The messenger said to David, 'The men gained an advantage over us (גָבְרוּ עָלֵינוּ) and came out against us in the field...'"  #dispreferred 
      <_ <Dynamic/Stative Fluctuation>: It is common for originally stative verbs to take on a dynamic non-stative meaning (JM 41b :G:; Dobbs-Allsopp 2000 :A:).
      <_ <Stative Precedent>: There are a few occurrences of גבר with a stative meaning.
        + [E.g. Gen 49:26]: "The blessings of your father are mighty (גָּבְרוּ) beyond the blessings of my parents..."
    + <Morphology>: At least two occurrences of גבר exhibit uniquely stative morphology (qatil pattern \[JM §41b :G:\] and yiqtal pattern \[JM §44c :G:\]).
      + [2 Sam 1:23]: “Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely! ... they were stronger than lions (מֵאֲרָיוֹת גָּבֵרוּ)."
      + [1 Sam 2:9]: "...for not by might shall a man prevail (יִגְבַּר)."
  + <Ps 103:11>: The only other place where גבר appears with חֶסֶד (loyalty) as its subject has a stative meaning. 
    + [Ps 103:11]: "For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great (גָּבַר) is his steadfast love (חַסְדֹּו) toward those who fear him;"
  + <Similar Expressions>: Reading גבר as a stative parallels similar phrases providing reasons to worship YHWH, especially with reference to loyalty (חֶסֶד). 
    + [Ps 108:4-5]: "I will give thanks to you... for your lovingkindness is great above the heavens (‏כִּֽי־גָד֣וֹל מֵֽעַל־שָׁמַ֣יִם חַסְדֶּ֑ךָ)." Compare also Pss 118:1-4; 57:10-11; 63:3-4; 86:13; 100:4.

Dynamic: "...has prevailed/overwhelmed..."

The second option is that of a dynamic action, implying a process of increasing intensity, power and superiority over another entity. Alter captures this reading well, "For his kindness overwhelms us" (Alter 2007).


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[Dynamic: "...has prevailed/overwhelmed..."...]: The verb גָּבַר of Ps 117 is best read as a dynamic verb. #dispreferred 
  + <Hebrew Usage>: גבר in the qal stem usually carries a dynamic meaning, indicating a process or growth (e.g., Gen 7:18-20, 24; Ex 17:11; 2 Sam 11:23; Lam 1:16; Ps 65:4; Jer 9:2; Job 21:7; 1 Chr 5:2). #dispreferred
    + [Gen 7:18-20]: "The waters prevailed (וַיִּגְבְּרוּ) and increased (וַיִּרְבּוּ) greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the face of the waters..." (see also Gen 7:19-20, 24). #dispreferred
    + [2 Sam 11:23]: "The messenger said to David, 'The men gained an advantage over us (גָבְרוּ עָלֵינוּ) and came out against us in the field..."  #dispreferred

Conclusion (B)

Both the dynamic and the stative readings are theoretically plausible and coherent within the context. The dynamic reading would follow the more common usage of גבר as a dynamic verb describing an increasing intensity, power, and superiority of YHWH's loyalty over Israel. However, the verb גבר is not exclusively dynamic, with some occurrences having a clearly stative meaning, providing precedent for reading גבר here as stative as well. One especially important example is Ps 103:11, the only other place where גבר is combined specifically with loyalty (חֶסֶד), and there the meaning is stative. Along with indications of specifically stative morphology, and other similar expressions, we have followed the stative reading and translated Ps 117 as:

Praise YHWH, each and every nation!
Give praise to him, all peoples!
For great is his loyalty toward us,
and the faithfulness of YHWH is forever.

Praise Yah!

Research

All 17 Occurrences of גבר in Qal

With translations from ESV

Gen. 7:18-20

‏ וַיִּגְבְּר֥וּ הַמַּ֛יִם וַיִּרְבּ֥וּ מְאֹ֖ד עַל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וַתֵּ֥לֶךְ הַתֵּבָ֖ה עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הַמָּֽיִם׃ ‎
The waters prevailed and increased greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the face of the waters.
וְהַמַּ֗יִם גָּֽבְר֛וּ מְאֹ֥ד מְאֹ֖ד עַל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיְכֻסּ֗וּ כָּל־הֶֽהָרִים֙ הַגְּבֹהִ֔ים אֲשֶׁר־תַּ֖חַת כָּל־הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃ ‎
And the waters prevailed so mightily on the earth that all the high mountains under the whole heaven were covered.
חֲמֵ֨שׁ עֶשְׂרֵ֤ה אַמָּה֙ מִלְמַ֔עְלָה גָּבְר֖וּ הַמָּ֑יִם וַיְכֻסּ֖וּ הֶהָרִֽים׃
The waters prevailed above the mountains, covering them fifteen cubits deep.

‎Gen. 7:24

‏ וַיִּגְבְּר֥וּ הַמַּ֖יִם עַל־הָאָ֑רֶץ חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים וּמְאַ֖ת יֽוֹם׃
And the waters prevailed on the earth 150 days.

‎Gen. 49:26

‏ בִּרְכֹ֣ת אָבִ֗יךָ גָּֽבְרוּ֙ עַל־בִּרְכֹ֣ת הוֹרַ֔י עַֽד־תַּאֲוַ֖ת גִּבְעֹ֣ת עוֹלָ֑ם תִּֽהְיֶ֙ין֙ לְרֹ֣אשׁ יוֹסֵ֔ף וּלְקָדְקֹ֖ד נְזִ֥יר אֶחָֽיו׃ פ
The blessings of your father are mighty beyond the blessings of my parents, up to the bounties of the everlasting hills. May they be on the head of Joseph, and on the brow of him who was set apart from his brothers.

‎Ex. 17:11

‏ וְהָיָ֗ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר יָרִ֥ים מֹשֶׁ֛ה יָד֖וֹ וְגָבַ֣ר יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְכַאֲשֶׁ֥ר יָנִ֛יחַ יָד֖וֹ וְגָבַ֥ר עֲמָלֵֽק׃
Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed.

‎1Sam. 2:9

‏ רַגְלֵ֤י חסידו [חֲסִידָיו֙] יִשְׁמֹ֔ר וּרְשָׁעִ֖ים בַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְ יִדָּ֑מּוּ כִּֽי־לֹ֥א בְכֹ֖חַ יִגְבַּר־אִֽישׁ׃
“He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness, for not by might shall a man prevail.

‎2Sam. 1:23

‏ שָׁא֣וּל וִיהוֹנָתָ֗ן הַנֶּאֱהָבִ֤ים וְהַנְּעִימִם֙ בְּחַיֵּיהֶ֔ם וּבְמוֹתָ֖ם לֹ֣א נִפְרָ֑דוּ מִנְּשָׁרִ֣ים קַ֔לּוּ מֵאֲרָי֖וֹת גָּבֵֽרוּ׃
“Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely! In life and in death they were not divided; they were swifter than eagles; they were stronger than lions.

‎2Sam. 11:23

‏ וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמַּלְאָךְ֙ אֶל־דָּוִ֔ד כִּֽי־גָבְר֤וּ עָלֵ֨ינוּ֙ הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים וַיֵּצְא֥וּ אֵלֵ֖ינוּ הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה וַנִּהְיֶ֥ה עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם עַד־פֶּ֥תַח הַשָּֽׁעַר׃
The messenger said to David, “The men gained an advantage over us and came out against us in the field, but we drove them back to the entrance of the gate.

‎Jer. 9:2

‏ וַֽיַּדְרְכ֤וּ אֶת־לְשׁוֹנָם֙ קַשְׁתָּ֣ם שֶׁ֔קֶר וְלֹ֥א לֶאֱמוּנָ֖ה גָּבְר֣וּ בָאָ֑רֶץ כִּי֩ מֵרָעָ֨ה אֶל־רָעָ֧ה ׀ יָצָ֛אוּ וְאֹתִ֥י לֹֽא־יָדָ֖עוּ נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃ ס
They bend their tongue like a bow; falsehood and not truth has grown strong in the land; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not know me, declares the LORD.

‎Psa. 65:4

‏ דִּבְרֵ֣י עֲ֭וֹנֹת גָּ֣בְרוּ מֶ֑נִּי פְּ֝שָׁעֵ֗ינוּ אַתָּ֥ה תְכַפְּרֵֽם׃
When iniquities prevail against me, you atone for our transgressions.

‎Psa. 103:11

‏ כִּ֤י כִגְבֹ֣הַּ שָׁ֭מַיִם עַל־הָאָ֑רֶץ גָּבַ֥ר חַ֝סְדּ֗וֹ עַל־יְרֵאָֽיו׃
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;

‎Psa. 117:2

‏ כִּ֥י גָ֘בַ֤ר עָלֵ֨ינוּ ׀ חַסְדּ֗וֹ וֶֽאֱמֶת־יְהוָ֥ה לְעוֹלָ֗ם הַֽלְלוּ־יָֽהּ׃
(see above)

‎Job 21:7

‏ מַדּ֣וּעַ רְשָׁעִ֣ים יִחְי֑וּ עָ֝תְק֗וּ גַּם־גָּ֥בְרוּ חָֽיִל׃
Why do the wicked live, reach old age, and grow mighty in power?

‎Lam. 1:16

‏ עַל־אֵ֣לֶּה ׀ אֲנִ֣י בוֹכִיָּ֗ה עֵינִ֤י ׀ עֵינִי֙ יֹ֣רְדָה מַּ֔יִם כִּֽי־רָחַ֥ק מִמֶּ֛נִּי מְנַחֵ֖ם מֵשִׁ֣יב נַפְשִׁ֑י הָי֤וּ בָנַי֙ שֽׁוֹמֵמִ֔ים כִּ֥י גָבַ֖ר אוֹיֵֽב׃ ס
"For these things I weep; my eyes flow with tears; for a comforter is far from me, one to revive my spirit; my children are desolate, for the enemy has prevailed.”

‎1Chr. 5:2

‏ כִּ֤י יְהוּדָה֙ גָּבַ֣ר בְּאֶחָ֔יו וּלְנָגִ֖יד מִמֶּ֑נּוּ וְהַבְּכֹרָ֖ה לְיוֹסֵֽף׃ ס
though Judah became strong among his brothers and a chief came from him, yet the birthright belonged to Joseph),

Translations

Ancient

LXX: ὅτι ἐκραταιώθη τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ ἐφ̓ ἡμᾶς, ^[3]
- because his mercy became strong toward us,^[4]
Jerome (iuxta Hebr.): quia confortata est super nos misericordia eius
- For His mercy has been strengthened over us
Peshitta: ܡܛܠ ܕܥܫܢܬ ܥܠܝܢ ܛܝܒܘܬܗ܂^[5]
- For his graciousness to us is great;^[6]
Targum: ארום אגבר עלנא טוביה׃^[7]
- For he has made great his goodness to us;^[8]

Modern

Stative

For great is his love toward us (NIV)
For great is his steadfast love toward us (ESV)
For His mercy toward us is great (NASB)
For his unfailing love for us is powerful (NLT)
For his faithful love to us is great (CSB)
For great is his gracious love toward us (ISV)
For his merciful kindness is great toward us (KJV/NKJV)
For his lovingkindness is great toward us (ASV)
For His mercy is great toward us (JPS 1917)
for great is His steadfast love toward us (JPS 1985)
For his faithful love to us is great (CSB)
or great is his steadfast love toward us (NRSV)
Car sa bonté pour nous est grande (LSG)
Car sa fidélité envers nous est puissante (NBS)
Car sa bienveillance pour nous est efficace (NVS78P)
Car son amour pour nous est immense (BDS)
Oui, son amour envers nous est le plus fort (PDV2017)
car sa bonté est grande envers nous (S21)
for his faithful love is strong (NJB)
For his goodness is mighty over us (Terrien)
For mighty is his kindness toward us (Dahood)
For his loyal love towers over us (NET)
Denn seine Gnade und Wahrheit waltet über uns (Luther)
Denn seine Liebe zu uns ist stark (Hoffnung für alle)
Denn seine Güte zu uns ist übergroß (Gute Nachricht Bibel 2018)
¡Grande es su amor por nosotros! (NVI)
pues su amor por nosotros es muy grande (DHH95I)

Dynamic

For his lovingkindness prevails over us (Amplified)
For his kindness overwhelms us (Alter)
Denn überwältigend ist seine Gnade, die er uns erweist (Neue Genfer Übersetzung)

Accomplishment

For his hesed has become strong over us (deClaissé-Walford NICOT)
because his loyal love has towered over us (Allen WBC)
porque sobre nosotros ha engrandecido su misericordia (RVR95)

Secondary Literature

Dobbs-Allsopp, F.W., 2000. "Biblical Hebrew Statives and Situation Aspect," in Journal of Semitic Studies XLV/1 Spring 2000:21-53.

Sato, Jun, 2021. Semantic Ambiguity of So-Called “Stative Verbs” in Biblical Hebrew: Beyond Active vs. Stative Binary Opposition for the Qatal and Qatil Forms in the Qal Stem. PhD, Wycliffe College, Toronto, Canada.

References

Choose a PsalmNavigate Psalm 19

117:2

↑ The categorization of Hebrew verbs into dynamic and stative verbs is a much-discussed issue (for a recent bibliography see Sato 2021). Stative verbs are verbs that describe a condition or state of being, often overlapping in meaning with adjectives-for example "to be big/small/strong/old." In contrast, dynamic verbs (also called fientive, active, eventive), describe actions, processes, or events that unfold over time like "to walk/write/eat/conquer."
↑ The Hebrew term חֶסֶד hesed is variously translated among English versions. It most commonly denotes "loyalty" or "faithfulness," in the sense of commitment to fulfilling relational obligations or responsibilities. For more on this term, see SDBH.
↑ Rahlfs 1931.
↑ NETS.
↑ CAL.
↑ Taylor 2020, 489.
↑ CAL.
↑ Stec 2004, 208.

[1] The categorization of Hebrew verbs into dynamic and stative verbs is a much-discussed issue (for a recent bibliography see Sato 2021). Stative verbs are verbs that describe a condition or state of being, often overlapping in meaning with adjectives-for example "to be big/small/strong/old." In contrast, dynamic verbs (also called fientive, active, eventive), describe actions, processes, or events that unfold over time like "to walk/write/eat/conquer."

[2] The Hebrew term חֶסֶד hesed is variously translated among English versions. It most commonly denotes "loyalty" or "faithfulness," in the sense of commitment to fulfilling relational obligations or responsibilities. For more on this term, see SDBH.

[3] Rahlfs 1931.

[4] NETS.

[5] CAL.

[6] Taylor 2020, 489.

[7] CAL.

[8] Stec 2004, 208.

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The Meaning of גָבַר עָלֵינוּ חַסְדּוֹ in Ps 117:2

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