View source for The Meaning of שָׁם in Psalm 53:6

=Introduction=

The traditional text of Ps. 53:6 reads as follows:<ref>Text from [https://hb.openscriptures.org/read/ OSHB].</ref>

:שָׁ֤ם ׀ פָּֽחֲדוּ־פַחַד֮ לֹא־הָ֪יָה֫ פָ֥חַד 
:כִּֽי־אֱלֹהִ֗ים פִּ֭זַּר עַצְמ֣וֹת חֹנָ֑ךְ 
:הֱ֝בִשֹׁ֗תָה כִּֽי־אֱלֹהִ֥ים מְאָסָֽם׃

Modern translations render the Hebrew term שָׁם in a couple of ways:

*Locative Adverb: "'''There''' they are, in great terror, where there is no terror! For God scatters the bones of him who encamps against you; you put them to shame, for God has rejected them" (ESV; so NIV, NASB).
*Temporal Adverb: "'''Then''' they will be filled with dread — dread like no other — because God will scatter the bones of those who besiege you. You will put them to shame, for God has rejected them" (CSB; so GNT).

For reasons not entirely clear, some translations opt not to translate שָׁם (so NLT, CEV, NET).<ref>The relevant footnote in the NET reads, "The adverb שָׁם (sham, "there") is also used here for dramatic effect, as the psalmist envisions the wicked standing in fear at a spot that is this vivid in his imagination (BDB 1027 s.v.)." Although the NET interprets שָׁם as a locative ("there"), this is not reflected in the translation, perhaps nullified by the "dramatic effect" of the adverb.</ref>

=Argument Maps=

==Locative Adverb==

Most ancient and modern translations understand שָׁם as a locative adverb ("there"; so ESV, NIV, NASB, NRSV).

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[Locative Adverb]: שָׁם in v. 6 is a locative adverb; it specifies the location in which evildoers are greatly terrified.
 + <Prototypical Sense of שָׁם >: The prototypical and most frequently attested sense of שָׁם is a locative adverb (cf. HALOT 1546-1548 :L:; DCH VIII, 417-422 :L:; BDB 1027 :L:).
  + [Inscriptions]: Arad 24:20 (early 6th c. BCE): ע פן תבא אדם שמה "lest Edom enter there" (Bekins 2020, 116-118 :M:); Lachish 4:5 (early 6th c. BCE): דני על דבר בית הרפד אין שם א "my lord sent concerning the matter of Bel-Harrapid — there is not a person there" (Bekins 2020, 125-128 :M:).
  + [Hebrew Bible]: Gen 11:2: וַֽיְהִ֖י בְּנָסְעָ֣ם מִקֶּ֑דֶם וַֽיִּמְצְא֥וּ בִקְעָ֛ה בְּאֶ֥רֶץ שִׁנְעָ֖ר וַיֵּ֥שְׁבוּ שָֽׁם׃ "And as people migrated from the east they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there"; 1 Sam 7:17: וּתְשֻׁבָת֤וֹ הָרָמָ֨תָה֙ כִּֽי־שָׁ֣ם בֵּית֔וֹ וְשָׁ֖ם שָׁפָ֣ט אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיִּֽבֶן־שָׁ֥ם מִזְבֵּ֖חַ לַֽיהוָֽה׃ "Then he returned to Ramah, because his house was there, and there he judged Israel, and he built an altar to Yahweh there" (LEB).
  <_ <Unclear Referent>: There are contexts in which a clear locational referent for שָׁם is difficult to identify. When this is the case, שָׁם can be understood as a temporal adverb.
   + [Unclear Referent]: Zeph 1:14: ק֚וֹל י֣וֹם יְהוָ֔ה מַ֥ר צֹרֵ֖חַ שָׁ֥ם גִּבּֽוֹר׃ "There will be a bitter sound on the LORD’s day of judgment; at that time warriors will cry out in battle" (NET); Job 35:12: שָׁ֣ם יִ֭צְעֲקוּ וְלֹ֣א יַעֲנֶ֑ה מִ֝פְּנֵ֗י גְּא֣וֹן רָעִֽים׃ "Then they cry out—but he does not answer— because of the arrogance of the wicked" (NET).
   - <Context>: The referent of the locative שָׁם in v. 6 is later identified in v. 7 as "Zion." The place where evildoers are greatly terrified (i.e., שָׁם "there") is the place from where Israel's deliverance will come (i.e., צִּיּוֹן "Zion").
 + <Ancient Versions>: The ancient versions read שָׁם as a locative.
  + [Ancient Versions]: LXX: ἐκεῖ "there"; Syr.: ܬܡܢ "there"; TgPs.: תמן "there"; Jerome (Hebr.): ibi "there"; Jerome (Gall.) illic "there".

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==Temporal Adverb==

A handful of modern translations understand שָׁם as a temporal adverb ("then"; so CSB, GNT).

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[Temporal Adverb]: שָׁם in v. 6 is temporal adverb; it specifies the time in which evildoers are greatly terrified.
 + <Less Typical Sense of שָׁם>: Across the world's languages, it is not uncommon for spatial deictics (i.e., "there") to extend to temporal deictics (i.e., "then"). Such an extension is motivated by the space-is-time metaphor (see Diessel 2012 :A:).
 - <Prototypical Sense of שָׁם>: The prototypical and most frequently attested sense of שָׁם is a locative adverb (cf. HALOT 1546-1548 :L:; DCH VIII, 417-422 :L:; BDB 1027 :L:).
 - <Ancient Versions>: The ancient versions read שָׁם as a locative.
  + [Ancient Versions]: LXX: ἐκεῖ "there"; Syr.: ܬܡܢ "there"; TgPs.: תמן "there"; Iuxta Hebr.: ibi "there".

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==Untranslated==

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[Main point title]: Main point.
 + <Supporting argument title>: Type supporting argument here (Author Date, Page :C:).
  + <Supporting statement title>: Type supporting statement here (Author Date, Page :G:).
   + [Supporting evidence title]: List supporting evidence here.
  <_ <Undercutting statement title>:Type undercutting statement here (Author Date, Page :C:).#dispreferred
  - <Refuting statement title>:Type refuting statement here (Author Date, Page :C:; Author Date, Page :A:).#dispreferred
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=Conclusion=

=Research=

==Translations==

===Ancient===
* LXX: ἐκεῖ φοβηθήσονται φόβον, οὗ οὐκ ἦν φόβος, ὅτι ὁ θεὸς διεσκόρπισεν ὀστᾶ ἀνθρωπαρέσκων, κατῃσχύνθησαν, ὅτι ὁ θεὸς ἐξουδένωσεν αὐτούς.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/PsalmiCumOdis/page/n168/mode/1up?view=theater Rahlfs 1931].</ref>
** "There they were in great fear, where there was no fear, because God scattered bones of men-pleasers; they were put to shame, because God despised them."<ref>[https://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/nets/edition/24-ps-nets.pdf NETS].</ref>
* Peshitta: ܬܡܢ ܕܚܠܘ ܕܚܠܬܐ܂ ܐܬܪ ܕܠܝܬ ܗܘܐ ܕܚܠܬܐ܂ ܡܛܠ ܕܐܠܗܐ ܢܒܕܪ ܓܪ̈ܡܝܗܘܢ܂ ܕܐܝܠܝܢ ܕܫܦܪܝܢ ܠܒܢ̈ܝ ܐܢܫܐ܂ ܒܗܬܘ ܡܛܠ ܕܐܠܗܐ ܐܣܠܝ ܐܢܘܢ܂<ref>[https://cal.huc.edu/showpesh.php CAL].</ref>
** "There they feared greatly, where there was nothing to fear. For God will scatter the bones of those who please human beings. They are ashamed, because God has rejected them."<ref>Taylor 2020, 207.</ref>
* Jerome: ibi timuerunt timore ubi non est timor quoniam Deus dispersit ossa circumdantium te confunderis quia Deus proiecit eos<ref>[https://archive.org/details/vulgata_weber_gryson/page/834/mode/2up?view=theater Weber-Gryson 5th edition].</ref>
* Targum: תמן דלחו דלוחא מן פסיליהון דלית בהון צרוך למדלח ארום אלהא מבדר תקוף משירית חייביא בהיתתא ‭†‬ ארום מימרא דיהוה רחיקינון׃<ref>[https://cal.huc.edu/showtargum.php CAL].</ref>
** "There they greatly fear their graven images, which there is no need to fear, because God scatters the strength of the camp of sinners; you have put to shame because the Memra of the Lord has rejected them."<ref>[https://archive.org/details/targumofpsalms0000unse Stec 2004, 110].</ref>

===Modern===
====Locative====
* But there they are, overwhelmed with dread, where there was nothing to dread. God scattered the bones of those who attacked you; you put them to shame, for God despised them. (NIV)
* There they are, in great terror, where there is no terror! For God scatters the bones of him who encamps against you; you put them to shame, for God has rejected them. (ESV)
* There they will be seized with fright — never was there such a fright — for God has scattered the bones of your besiegers; you have put them to shame, for God has rejected them. (JPS85)

====Temporal====
* But then they will become terrified, as they have never been before, for God will scatter the bones of the enemies of his people. God has rejected them, and so Israel will totally defeat them. (GNT)
* Then they will be filled with dread — dread like no other — because God will scatter the bones of those who besiege you. You will put them to shame, for God has rejected them. (CSB)


====Untranslated====
* Terror will grip them, terror like they have never known before. God will scatter the bones of your enemies. You will put them to shame, for God has rejected them. (NLT)
* They are absolutely terrified, even by things that do not normally cause fear. For God annihilates those who attack you. You are able to humiliate them because God has rejected them. (NET)
* But you will be terrified worse than ever before. God will scatter the bones of his enemies, and you will be ashamed when God rejects you. (CEV)
* They will be in dire alarm when God scatters the bones of the godless, confounded when God rejects them. (REB)
* They will be gripped with fear, just where there is no need for fear, for God scatters the bones of him who besieges you; they are mocked because God rejects them. (NJB)

====Not Yet Grouped====
* Da erschrecken sie sehr, wo kein Schrecken ist; doch Gott zerstreut die Gebeine derer, die dich bedrängen. Du machst sie zuschanden, denn Gott hat sie verworfen. (LUT)
** They are terrified where there is no terror, but God scatters the bones of those who oppress you. You put them to shame, for God has rejected them.
* Aber schon bald werden sie in Angst und Schrecken fallen, wie sie es vorher noch nie erlebt haben. Denn Gott wird die Feinde seines Volkes vollkommen vernichten, und ihre Gebeine werden achtlos liegen bleiben. Gott hat sie verworfen und wird sie darum scheitern lassen. (HFA)
** But soon they will fall in fear and terror as they have never experienced before. For God will utterly destroy the enemies of his people, and their bones will lie heedless. God has rejected them and will therefore let them fail.
* Doch der Tag wird kommen, an dem sie von Schrecken gepackt werden, obwohl es keinen Grund dafür gibt. Israel, Gott vernichtet deine Feinde und Belagerer, ihre Leichen liegen verstreut auf den Feldern. Du, Israel, stürzt deine Feinde in Schande, denn Gott selbst hat sie verstoßen. (NGÜ)
** But the day will come when they will be gripped by terror, even though there is no reason for it. Israel, God destroys your enemies and besiegers; their corpses lie scattered in the fields. You, Israel, put your enemies to shame, for God himself has rejected them.
* Da überfiel sie Schrecken, ohne dass ein Schrecken da war; denn Gott hat zerstreut die Gebeine dessen, der dich bedrängt. Du hast sie zuschanden werden lassen, denn Gott hat sie verworfen. (ELB)
** Then terror overtook them without terror, for God has scattered the bones of him who oppresses you. You have put them to shame, for God has rejected them.
* Dort trifft sie ein gewaltiger Schrecken, ohne dass Erschreckendes da ist, / denn Gott zerstreut die Knochen deines Bedrängers. Du machst sie zuschanden, denn Gott hat sie verworfen. (EÜ)
** There a mighty terror strikes them without fright, for God scatters the bones of your oppressor. You put them to shame, for God has rejected them.
* Ganz plötzlich werden sie erschrecken, obwohl es keinen sichtbaren Grund dafür gibt. Denn Gott zerstreut die Gebeine derer, die sein Volk bedrängen. Gott hat sie verworfen, darum werden sie vor den Seinen zuschanden. (GNB)
** All of a sudden they will be terrified, although there is no visible reason for this. For God scatters the bones of those who afflict his people. God has rejected them, so they will be put to shame before his own.
* Da trifft sie gewaltiger Schrecken, wie es noch nie einen Schrecken gab, denn Gott zerstreut die Gebeine dessen, der dich bedrängt. Du machst sie zuschanden, denn Gott hat sie verworfen. (ZÜR)
** Then they are struck with a terror like no terror they have ever known, for God scatters the bones of those who oppress you. You put them to shame, for God has rejected them.

====French====
* Et là où ils se sont mis à trembler, il n'y avait pas de quoi trembler, car Dieu a éparpillé les os de tes assiégeants. Tu les as bafoués, car Dieu les a repoussés. (TOB)
** And where they began to tremble, there was nothing to tremble about, for God scattered the bones of your besiegers. You scorned them, for God repelled them.
* C'est là qu'ils seront saisis de frayeur, sans motif de frayeur ; Dieu dispersera les ossements de celui qui dresse son camp contre toi ; tu les rendras honteux, car Dieu les a rejetés. (NBS)
** God will scatter the bones of him who pitches his camp against you; you will put them to shame, for God has rejected them.
* Ils sont saisis d'épouvante, quand il n'y a rien à craindre, car Dieu disperse les os de ceux qui t'attaquent, tu les couvriras de honte, 'car Dieu les a rejetés. (BDS)
** They are seized with terror, when there is nothing to fear, for God scatters the bones of those who attack you, you will cover them with shame, 'for God has rejected them.
* Alors ils vont trembler de peur, eux qui ne connaissent pas la peur. Oui, Dieu va écraser complètement les ennemis de son peuple. Ils seront couverts de honte, car Dieu les a chassés loin de lui. (PDV2017)
** Then they will tremble with fear, they who know no fear. Yes, God will utterly crush the enemies of his people. They will be ashamed, for God has driven them from him.
* Les voilà qui s'affolent, eux qui ignoraient la peur car Dieu dispersera les ossements de ceux qui oppriment son peuple ; ils seront humiliés d'avoir été rejetés par Dieu. (NFC)
** Here they are, panicking, they who were unaware of fear, for God will scatter the bones of those who oppress his people; they will be humiliated to have been rejected by God.
* Alors ils trembleront d'épouvante sans qu'il y ait de raison d'avoir peur. Dieu dispersera les os de ceux qui t'assiègent; tu les couvriras de honte, car Dieu les a rejetés. (S21)
** Then they will tremble with fear, and there will be no reason to be afraid. God will scatter the bones of those who besiege you; you will put them to shame, for God has rejected them.
* C'est là qu'ils trembleront de peur, Sans motif de peur ; Dieu dispersera les os de celui qui t'assiège ; Tu (les) rendras honteux, car Dieu les a rejetés. (NVS78P)
** There they will tremble with fear, Without cause for fear; God will scatter the bones of him who besieges you; You (will) make them ashamed, For God has rejected them.

====Spanish====
* Allí se sobresaltaron de pavor donde no había miedo, porque Dios esparció los huesos del que puso asedio contra ti. Los avergonzaste porque Dios los desechó. (RVR95)
** There they were startled with dread where there was no fear, because God scattered the bones of him who laid siege against you. You put them to shame because God cast them away.
* Allí los tienen, sobrecogidos de miedo, cuando no hay nada que temer. Dios dispersó los huesos de quienes te atacaban; tú los avergonzaste, porque Dios los rechazó. (NVI)
** There you have them, overwhelmed with fear, when there is nothing to fear. God scattered the bones of those who attacked you; you put them to shame, because God rejected them.
* Aunque no haya razón para temblar, ellos temblarán de miedo, porque Dios esparce los huesos del enemigo. Quedarán en ridículo, porque Dios los rechaza. (DHH94I)
** Although there is no reason to tremble, they will tremble with fear, because God scatters the bones of the enemy. They will be ridiculed, because God rejects them.
* Allí, donde no había nada que temer, se sobresaltaron de terror, Porque Elohim esparció los huesos del que puso asedio contra ti, Los avergonzaste, porque Elohim los desechó. (BTX4)
** There, where there was nothing to fear, they were startled with terror, Because Elohim scattered the bones of him who laid siege against you, You put them to shame, because Elohim cast them away.

==Secondary Literature==

=References=

[[Category:Argument maps]]

[[Chapter::53]]:[[Verse::6]]
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