The Text and Grammar of Psalm 45:12–13

Introduction

The Masoretic Text of Psalm 45:12–13 reads as follows:

וְיִתְאָ֣ו הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ יָפְיֵ֑ךְ

כִּי־ה֥וּא אֲ֝דֹנַ֗יִךְ וְהִשְׁתַּֽחֲוִי־לֽוֹ׃

וּבַֽת־צֹ֨ר ׀ בְּ֭מִנְחָה פָּנַ֥יִךְ יְחַלּ֗וּ

עֲשִׁ֣ירֵי עָֽם׃

There are a number of ways to understand the syntax of v. 13, some dependent on how one reads the final clause of v. 12 (וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוִי־לוֹ), as illustrated by the following translations:

• and the king will desire your beauty. Bow down to him, for he is your lord. The daughter of Tyre, the wealthy people, will seek your favor with gifts. (CSB)
• So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him. And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour. (KJV)
• and let the king be aroused by your beauty; since he is your lord, bow to him. O Tyrian lass, the wealthiest people will court your favor with gifts (JPS)
• because the king desired your beauty, because he is your lord. And daughters of Tyre will do obeisance to him with gifts; your face the rich of the people will entreat. (NETS)

The CSB interprets "the daughter of Tyre" (בַת־צֹר) and "the wealthy of people" (עֲשִׁירֵי עָם) as appositives and rearranges the order of the Hebrew verse. The KJV also probably understands these two entities as co-referential, though it provides an elided verb, shall be there in "And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift." The JPS interprets וּבַת־צֹר at the beginning of v. 13 as a vocative, "O Tyrian lass." Finally, the LXX, as represented by the NETS, reads a third-person plural *וְהִשְׁתַּחֲווּ* instead of the MT's וְהִשְׁתַּֽחֲוִי at the end of v. 12. בַת־צֹר is then interpreted as the grammatical subject.

We consider these four possibilities in the following argument maps.

Argument Maps

Apposition

Some translations understand the constituents "daughter of Tyre" and "richest of people" to be in apposition, such as the CSB: "...and the king will desire your beauty. Bow down to him, for he is your lord. The daughter of Tyre, the wealthy people, will seek your favor with gifts."

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[Apposition]: "Daughter of Tyre" and "richest of people" should be read in apposition (Böhler 2021, 815 :C:). #dispreferred
 - <Information structure>: This interpretation would require triple fronting of "and the daughter of Tyre" (וּבַת־צֹר), "with a gift" (בְּמִנְחָה) and "your face" (פָּנַיִךְ) all before we reach the finite verb יְחַלּוּ. 
  <_ <Triple fronting>: Triple fronting is not problematic and occurs elsewhere in Biblical Hebrew, especially poetry.#dispreferred
   + [Triple fronting]: E.g., Pss 4:9c; 29:11a; 56:4a; 74:6; 99:4d (Gross 2001, 23–24).#dispreferred
    <_ <Ps 45:13>: Gross (2001) does not mention this verse.
    - <Other analyses>: Ps 4:9's constituent order has motivations of poetic structure; Ps 74:6 should be read as double fronting.
     + [Ps 74:6]: פִּתּוּחֶ֣יהָ יָּ֑חַד in פִּתּוּחֶ֣יהָ יָּ֑חַד בְּכַשִּׁ֥יל וְ֝כֵֽילַפֹּ֗ת יַהֲלֹמֽוּן can be read as a single constituent.
   <_ <Poetic function>: Triple fronting is very rare and should be accounted for by poetic structures or a combination of topic/focus and a frame setter (see, e.g., Ps 56:4). The present instance cannot be accounted for in either information structure terms or explained by the poetic line patterns.
    + [Ps 56:4]: In י֥וֹם אִירָ֑א אֲ֝נִ֗י אֵלֶ֥יךָ אֶבְטָֽח׃, the first constituent (י֥וֹם אִירָ֑א) functions as a frame setter, אֲ֝נִ֗י as the sentence topic, and אֵלֶ֥יךָ as the focused constituent.
    + <Statistical studies>: Atkinson 2026 found that in 1777 fronted clauses in the Former Prophets, only one (textually controversial) example of triple fronting was present (1 Sam 20:20). 
 - <Linear separation>: While syntactically possible, it is unlikely that appositives would be so linearly separated with three intervening constituents.

Elided verb

Some translations supply a verb to interpret וּבַת־צֹר בְּמִנְחָה as a complete clause. See, e.g., KJV: "So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him. And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour."

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[Elided verb]: A copula or other elided verb should be supplied to read "The daughter of Tyre will be with gifts" (Radak :C:; Craigie 2004, 336 :C:).#dispreferred
 - <Accents>: The verse's strongest disjunctive accent, which typically aligns with a clausal division, is on יְחַלּ֗וּ (revia replacing atnach). This interpretation involves a misalignment between the syntax and the prosodic structure as indicated by the accents.
  + [Accents]: וּבַֽת־צֹ֨ר ׀ בְּ֭מִנְחָה פָּנַ֥יִךְ יְחַלּ֗וּ עֲשִׁ֣ירֵי עָֽם׃ 
 + <Targum Psalms>: The Targum reflects this interpretation.#dispreferred 
  + [Targum Psalms]: "And the inhabitants of the city of Tyre will come with an offering" (Stec 2004, 97).#dispreferred
 - <Verbal elision>: Verbal elision other than a copula (e.g.,  "will come" \[NASB, NIV\]) is not suggested by the surrounding co-text, either preceding or following.

Vocative

Some translations interpret וּבַת־צֹר as a vocative, such as the JPS: "and let the king be aroused by your beauty; since he is your lord, bow to him. O Tyrian lass, the wealthiest people will court your favor with gifts."

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[Vocative]: The first constituent of v. 13, וּבַת־צֹר, should be read as a vocative (Malbim :C:; Meiri :C:; Hitzig 1863, 252 :C:; Weisman 1996, 201 :C:).#dispreferred
 + <Jerome>: Jerome interpreted וּבַת־צֹר as a vocative. #dispreferred
  + [Jerome]: "And the king will desire your beauty, because he is your lord, and honor him, and, O daughter (et o filia), powerful ones with gifts will entreat your face, wealthy of the people."#dispreferred
 - <Waw>: "Apart from one insecure passage, Jer. 20:12 ... there is no instance to be found in which a vocative with ו occurs (Prov 8:5, Joel 2:23, Isa 44:21), when another vocative has not already preceded it" (Delitzch 1871, 87 :C:; cf. Böhler 2021, 818 :C:).
  <_ [Jer 20:12]: "LORD Almighty (וַיהוָה צְבָאוֹת), you who examine the righteous and probe the heart and mind, let me see your vengeance on them, for to you I have committed my cause" (NIV).#dispreferred
  + [Vocative following another]: "You who are simple (פְתָאיִם), gain prudence; you who are foolish (וּכְסִילִים), set your hearts on it" (Prov 8:5, NIV); "Do not be afraid, you wild animals (בַּהֲמוֹת שָׂדַי) ... Be glad, people of Zion (וּבְנֵי צִיּוֹן)" (Joel 2:12–13, NIV); "Remember these things, O Jacob (יַעֲקֹב), and Israel (וְיִשְׂרָאֵל), for you are my servant" (Isa 44:21, ESV).
  <_ <Delete waw>: The waw should be deleted (cf. Bratcher & Reyburn 1991, 428 :C:).#dispreferred
   + [Manuscripts]: De-Rossi codex 596 reads only בת, not ובת (Variae Lectionis, vol 4., 31).#dispreferred

Emendation

The LXX contains a slightly different text than the MT, which reflects the third person-plural "they will bow down," in place of the MT's second-person feminine singular "bow down," and "the daughter of Tyre" as the grammatical subject of this clause: "because the king desired your beauty, because he is your lord. And daughters of Tyre will do obeisance to him with gifts; your face the rich of the people will entreat." (NETS)

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[Emendation]: Instead of the MT's וְהִשְׁתַּֽחֲוִי, we should read וְהִשְׁתַּחֲווּ and interpret "the daughter of Tyre" as the grammatical subject of this verb.
 + <LXX>: The Septuagint represents this text and interpretation (cf. the Peshitta).
  + [LXX]: "because the king desired your beauty, because he is your lord. And daughters of Tyre will do obeisance to him with gifts (καὶ προσκυνήσουσιν αὐτῷ θυγατέρες Τύρου ἐν δώροις); your face the rich of the people will entreat" (NETS).
  + [Peshitta]: "so that the king may earnestly desire your beauty. Reverence him, for he is your lord. The daughter of Tyre will reverence him; with offerings the rich of the people will seek your face" (Taylor 2020, 177).
 + <Hebrew manuscripts>: Kennicott manuscripts 97, 133 and probably 74 contain the reading והשתחוו (VTH vol. 4, 344).
 - <MT>: The Masoretic Text indicates a verse break after וְהִשְׁתַּֽחֲוִי־לֽוֹ and contains the 2fs form וְהִשְׁתַּֽחֲוִי and the letter waw on וּבַֽת־צֹ֨ר ׀. #dispreferred
  <_ <Textual difficulties>: "But there are considerable difficulties with the Hebrew text as it now stands" (Bratcher & Reyburn 1991, 428 :C:; see preceding argument maps).
   + <Word order>: The word order of the MT is interpreted only with much difficulty (see argument map above).
    <_ <Discourse boundary>: These strange patterns may indicate the end of the poetic section, transitioning from vv. 11–13 to 14–16. #dispreferred
   + <Line division and accents>: The line division and accents of the MT are quite unnatural (see above).
    <_ <Discourse boundary>: These strange patterns may indicate the end of the poetic section, transitioning from vv. 11–13 to 14–16. #dispreferred
   + <3fs imperative>: Reverting to the 2fs imperative does not flow following "and let him desire your beauty, because (כִּי) he is your husband."
    - <Cataphoric כִּי>: The "because" (כִּי) should be understood cataphorically, to read "Because he is your husband, bow down to him" (cf. CSB). #dispreferred
      - <Intervening waw>: Cataphoric כִּי is never followed by an intervening waw, as in וְהִשְׁתַּֽחֲוִי (for possible exceptions, see Judg 1:15; Ps 91:14).
  <_ <Secondary>: The MT's reading can be explained as a secondary development. וְהִשְׁתַּחֲווּ בַת־צֹר was misread as וְהִשְׁתַּחֲווּ וּבַת־צֹר (dittography), and the waw in וְהִשְׁתַּחֲווּ was misread as a yod (= MT וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוִי) in light of the preceding 2fs imperatives.
   + [Preceding imperatives (v. 11)]: Listen (שִׁמְעִי), daughter, and look (וּרְאִי) and incline (וְהַטִּי) your ear, and forget (וְשִׁכְחִי) your people and your father’s household.
 + <Discourse context>: According to this interpretation, the development of the discourse flows nicely between the imperatives towards the bride (v. 11), the jussive directed towards the king's reaction (v. 12), and the result of the nation of Tyre seeking the favor of both the king and bride (v. 13). 
 + <Verbal semantics>: It makes sense that a weqatal (וְהִשְׁתַּחֲווּ) would follow the waw + yiqtol jussive וְיִתְאָו at the beginning of v. 12. 
 + <Line balance>: This interpretation results in a balance of 4-4 lines for v. 13, rather than 4-2 of the MT.

Conclusion (B-)

In Psalm 45:12–13, "there are considerable difficulties with the Hebrew text as it now stands." While these are not insurmountable, they are many and varied, involving syntax, line division and accents, with modern translations divided among a number of interpretations of the MT. It is thus worthwhile considering the ancient tradition of the Old Greek, with its distinct line division, clause division and syntax. We find improvement in the line balance of the verse, a more suitable development of the verbal forms and the discourse development from advice to the bride to a jussive verb concerning the king and the resultant blessing. Therefore, we find the LXX the most plausible solution of this textual difficulty. Reflecting a translation similar to that of the NETS, our CBC says, "and the people of Tyre will bow down to him with a gift; the richest of people will seek your favor."

Research

Translations

Ancient

• LXX: ὅτι ἐπεθύμησεν ὁ βασιλεὺς τοῦ κάλλους σου, ὅτι αὐτός ἐστιν ὁ κύριός σου.† καὶ προσκυνήσουσιν αὐτῷ θυγατέρες Τύρου ἐν δώροις, τὸ πρόσωπόν σου λιτανεύσουσιν οἱ πλούσιοι τοῦ λαοῦ
  • "because the king desired your beauty, because he is your lord. And daughters of Tyre will do obeisance to him with gifts; your face the rich of the people will entreat."
• Aquila: καὶ προσκύνησον αὐτῷ καὶ θυγάτηρ Σόρ ἐν δώροις...
  • "And bow down to him and the daughter of Tyre with gifts..."
• Symmachus: καὶ προσκύνει αὐτῷ ἡ δὲ θυγάτηρ ἡ κραταιὰ δῶρα οἴσει
  • "And bow down to him, but the mighty daughter will bring gifts."
• Theodotion: καὶ προσκύνησον αὐτῷ θυγάτηρ Τύρου...
  • "And bow down to him; the daughter of Tyre..."
• Jerome (Hebr.): et concupiscet rex decorem tuum quia ipse est dominus tuus et adora eum † et o filia fortissimi in muneribus faciem tuam deprecabuntur divites populi
  • "And the king will desire your beauty, because he is your lord, and honor him, and, O daughter, powerful ones with gifts will entreat your face, wealthy of the people."
• Peshitta: ܕܢܬܪܓܪܓ ܡܠܟܐ ܠܫܘܦܪܟܝ ܡܛܠ ܕܗܘܝܘ ܡܪܟܝ ܣܓܘܕܝ ܠܗ ܘܒܪܬ ܨܘܪ ܬܣܓܘܕ ܠܗ ܒܩܘܪ̈ܒܢܐ ܐ̈ܦܝܟܝ ܢܒܥܘܢ ܥܬܝܪ̈ܘܗܝ ܕܥܡܐܢ
  • "so that the king may earnestly desire your beauty. Reverence him, for he is your lord. The daughter of Tyre will reverence him; with offerings the rich of the people will seek your face."
• Targum: ובכן ירגג מלכא שופרייך ארום הוא ריבונייך ותסגדין ליה׃ ויתבי כרכא דצור בתקרובתא ייתון ואפיך ישחרון לבית מקדשייך עתירי עממיא׃
  • "And then, the king will desire your beauty; for he is your lord, and you shall bow down to him. And the inhabitants of the city of Tyre will come with an offering, and the rich ones of the nations will seek your face at the house of your sanctuary."

Modern

Apposition

• and the king will desire your beauty. Bow down to him, for he is your lord. The daughter of Tyre, the wealthy people, will seek your favor with gifts. (CSB; cf. CEB, CJB, NET)
• Que le roi désire ta beauté! Maintenant, il est ton maître, mets-toi à genoux devant lui. Alors, les gens de Tyr, les peuples les plus riches, essaieront de te plaire en t’offrant des cadeaux. (PDV; cf. NBS?, NFC, SG21)

Verbless clause

• So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him. And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour. (KJV; cf. NASB, NIV)
• ...The daughter of Tyre is here with gifts, the richest of people seek your favor (ESV alternative)
• que el rey desea poseer tu hermosura; él es tu señor, y le debes obediencia. Gente de Tiro vendrá a ti con presentes; los ricos del pueblo implorarán tu favor. (RVC)
• Den König verlangt nach deiner Schönheit; denn er ist dein Herr, und du sollst ihm huldigen. Die Tochter Tyrus kommt mit Geschenken; die Reichen im Volk suchen deine Gunst. (LUT 2017; cf. ELB, EÜ, ZÜR)

Vocative

• and let the king be aroused by your beauty; since he is your lord, bow to him. O Tyrian lass, the wealthiest people will court your favor with gifts (JPS)
• that the king might desire your beauty. He is your lord; honor him, daughter of Tyre. Then the richest of the people will seek your favor with gifts. (NABRE)
• let the king desire your beauty, for he is your lord. Do him obeisance, daughter of Tyre. The richest in the land will court you with gifts. (REB)
• pues el rey desea tu belleza; él es tu señor, y debes obedecerlo. Princesa de Tiro, los más ricos del pueblo procuran con regalos ganarse tu favor. (DHH)
• que le roi s'éprenne de ta beauté! C'est lui ton seigneur, prosterne-toi devant lui. Alors, fille de Tyr, les plus riches du peuple te flatteront avec des présents. (TOB; cf. NBS?)

Secondary Literature

Atkinson, Ian. 2026. Word Order in Biblical Hebrew: The Economy and Iconicity of Fronted Constructions. University Park, PA: Eisenbrauns.

Böhler, Dieter. 2021. Psalmen 1-50. Freiburg, Basel, Wien: Herder Verlag.

Bratcher, Robert G. & Reyburn, William D. 1991. A Translator’s Handbook on the Book of Psalms, UBS Handbook Series. New York: United Bible Societies.

Craigie, Peter C. 2004. Psalms 1–50. Nashville, TN: Nelson.

Delitzsch, Franz. 1871. Biblical Commentary on the Psalms: Vol. 2. Edinburgh: T&T Clark.

Dorival, Gilles. 2024. Les Psaumes. Livre 2: Psaumes 41–71. La Bible d'Alexandrie. Paris: Cerf.

Gross, Walter. 2001. Doppelt besetzes Vorfeld. Syntaktische, pragmatische und übersetzungstechnische Studien zum althebräischen Verbalsatz (Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft, 305). Berlin: Walter de Gruyter.

Hitzig, Ferdinand. 1863. Die Psalmen: übersetzt und ausgelegt. Leipzig und Heidelberg: C. F. Winterische Verlagshandlung.

Malbim. Malbim on Psalms.

Meiri, Menachem. On Psalms.

Radak. Radak on Psalms.

Weisman, Zeev. 1996. "(Chapter 45)" (Hebrew; פרק מה). Pages 197–202 in Psalms: Volume 1. Olam HaTaNaKh (Hebrew; תהלים א׳ עולם התנ׳׳ך). Tel Aviv: דודזון–עתי.

References

45:13