The Meaning of Psalm 40:8

Introduction

The Hebrew text of Ps. 40:8 reads as follows:

אָ֣ז אָ֭מַרְתִּי הִנֵּה־בָ֑אתִי בִּמְגִלַּת־סֵ֝֗פֶר כָּת֥וּב עָלָֽי׃

There are multiple questions with the verse's final two phrases (בִּמְגִלַּת־סֵ֝֗פֶר and כָּת֥וּב עָלָֽי). The difficulty of the second half of Ps 40:8, led the translators of the NEB to omit it as a later scribal insertion.

However, most translations either interpret מְגִלַּת־סֵ֝֗פֶר as a reference to an unspecified book or the Torah.

• Then I said, “Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me: (ESV; cf., NIV, NASB, NET, Luther 2017)
• And so I answered, “Here I am; your instructions for me are in the book of the Law. (GNT; cf., HFA, NGÜ, GNB)

The verse's last two words (כָּת֥וּב עָלָֽי) are also understood differently.

• Then I said, "Here I am, I have come-- it is written about me in the scroll. (NIV; cf., NLT, ESV, NRSV)
• and so I answered, “Here I am; your instructions for me are in the book of the Law. (GNT; cf., NFC, PDV)

Argument Maps

The Scroll of the Book

Many modern translations render מגלת ספר as a "scroll" (cf., NIV, NET) or "scroll of the book" (ESV, NASB, NRSV).

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[Scroll]: מגלת ספר refers to a scroll, but not to any specific scroll.
 + <מגלת ספר is a generic reference to a piece of writing>: מגלת ספר refers to a piece of writing on a scroll (Kraus 2019, 121-122 :A:).
  + <Baruch's writing for Jeremiah>: Jer 36:2, 4, 6 uses it for the words Baruch writes for Jeremiah (Kraus 2019, 121-122 :A:).
   + [Jer 36:2]: "Take a scroll (מְגִלַּת־סֵפֶר) and write on it all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel and Judah and all the nations" (NRSV)
  + <References in Ezekiel>: Ezek 2:9; 3:1–3 refers to a document Ezekiel eats (Kraus 2019, 121-122 :A:).
   + [Ezek 2:9]: I looked, and a hand was stretched out to me, and a written scroll was in it. 
 + <The LXX Translation>: The LXX translation (κεφάλις βιβλίου) does not refer to the Torah (Krause 2019, 125-126 :A:).
  + <Use in Ezek 2:9>: This phrase appears in Ezek 2:9 as a reference to a scroll.
    + [Ezek 2:9 LXX]: And I saw and, behold, a hand stretched out to me, and in it was a scroll of a book (κεφαλὶς βιβλίου). (NETS).
 + <Indefiniteness>: The lack of the article indicates this is not about a singular book (Kirkpatrick 1897, 211 :C:).
 - <In parallel with Torah>: Since מגלת ספר is in parallel with תֹורָתְךָ (v. 9b), it must function as a synonym.
   + <General to Specific>: Hebrew poetry frequently moves from a general concept to a more specific one. Thus, a generic scroll could be further specified as the Torah in v. 9b.
  

The Book of the Law

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[A reference to the Torah]: The phrase בִּמְגִלַּת־סֵפֶר refers to the Torah.
 - <Not a reference to the Torah>: The use of מגלת does not refer to the Torah. (Kraus 2019, 121-122 :A:).
  + [Baruch's writing for Jeremiah]: Jer 36:2, 4, 6 uses it for the words Baruch writes for Jeremiah (Kraus 2019, 121-122 :A:).
   + [Jer 36:2]: "Take a scroll (מְגִלַּת־סֵפֶר) and write on it all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel and Judah and all the nations" (NRSV)
 + <סֵפֶר for Torah>: In 2 Kgs 22, סֵפֶר refers to the Torah.
  + <2 Kgs 22:10>: The priest Hilkiah has given me a book (סֵפֶר). (NRSV)
 + <Parallel with Torah>: בִּמְגִלַּת־סֵפֶר is in parallel with תוֹרָתְךָ in v. 9b (Craigie 2004, 315 :C:).
 + <Reference to the King's Law>: בִּמְגִלַּת־סֵפֶר refers specifically to the law of kings in Deut 17:14-20 (Craigie 2004, 315 :C:).
  + <Ps 40 is a royal psalm>: The speaker of the psalm is a king. Therefore, the psalm is a royal psalm.
   + [David Psalm]: The superscription identifies this as a David psalm (Craigie 20014, 315 :C:).
   + [David was a king]: David was Israel's second king.
   - <No royal themes>: There are no explicitly royal themes in Ps 40 (cf., Sweeney 2008, 235 :D:).
   <_ <No connection to Deut 17:14-20>: There are no allusions to Deut 17:14-20.

About Me

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[עָלָי means about me]: The prepositional phrase עָלָי identifies the subject discussed in the scroll.
 - <The phrase implies obligation>: The preposition עַל + כָּתַב refers to the obligation one has to obey what is written (Keil and Delitzsch 1996, 302 :C:).
  + [2 Kgs 22:13]: "to do according to all that is written concerning us (כְּכָל־הַכָּתוּב עָלֵינוּ).” (NRSV)  (Keil and Delitzsch 1996, 302 :C:)
  + [Job 13:26]: "For you write bitter things against me"(NRSV);  כִּי־תִכְתֹּב עָלַי מְרֹרֹות
  <_ <עַל + כָּתַב as regarding>: In Esther 8:8 עַל + כָּתַב identifies the subject discussed in the writing.
    + [Esther 8:8]: You may write as you please with regard to the Jews (כִּתְבוּ עַל־הַיְּהוּדִים)(NRSV).
 - <No reference to David>: The Torah does not allude to David (Jamieson 1997, 359 :C:).
 + <

Instructions for Me

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[Main point title]: Main point.
 + <Meaning of the Prepositional Phrase with >: עָלָי refers to the idea of an obligation (Alexander 1864, 188 :C:)
  + [2 Kgs 22:13]: "all that is written concerning us.” (NRSV)כְּכָל־הַכָּת֥וּב עָלֵֽינוּ

Research

Translations

Omits Ps 40:8b

• I would have said, “Here I am” (NEB)

Follows the LXX

• Entonces dije: He aqui, vengo! En la cabecilla del rollo esta escrito acerca de mi: (S21)

Scroll of the Book

• Then I said, "Here I am, I have come-- it is written about me in the scroll. (NIV)
• Then I said, “Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me: (ESV)
• Then I said, "Behold, I come; In the scroll of the book it is written of me. (NASB)
• Then I say, "Look! I come! What is written in the scroll pertains to me. (NET)
• Then I said, “Here I am; in the scroll of the book it is written of me. (NRSV)
• Then I said,“See, I will bring a scroll recounting what befell me.” (JPS 1985)
• Da sprach ich: Siehe, ich komme; im Buch ist von mir geschrieben: (Luther 2017)
• Da sprach ich: Siehe, ich komme; in der Rolle des Buches steht über mich geschrieben. (ELB)
• Da habe ich gesagt: Siehe, ich komme. In der Buchrolle steht es über mich geschrieben. (EÜ)
• Da sprach ich: Sieh, ich bin gekommen, in der Schriftrolle steht geschrieben, was für mich gilt. (ZÜR)
• Alors j'ai dit : Je viens avec le livre-rouleau écrit pour moi. (NBS)
• Alors je dis : Voici je viens Avec le rouleau du livre écrit pour moi (NVSR)
• Alors j’ai dit : Voici, je viens, dans le rouleau du livre, il est question de moi. (BDS)
• Alors j’ai dit : « Me voici, je viens à toi. Dans le rouleau d’un livre , je trouve écrit ce que je dois faire. » (PDV)
• Alors j'ai dit : « Je viens moi-même à toi. Dans le livre je trouve écrit ce que je dois faire. » (NFC)
• Alors j’ai dit: «Me voici, je viens – dans le rouleau du livre il est écrit à mon sujet – (S21)
• Entonces dije: «He aquí, vengo; en el rollo del libro está escrito de mí; (RVR)
• Por eso dije: «Aquí me tienes —como el libro dice de mí—. (NVI)
• Por eso he dicho: Aquí estoy, tal como el libro dice de mí. (DHH)

Book of the Law

• Then I said, "Look, I have come. As is written about me in the Scriptures: (NLT)
• And so I answered, “Here I am; your instructions for me are in the book of the Law. (GNT)
• Da habe ich gesagt: »Hier bin ich! Im Buch des Gesetzes ist von mir die Rede. (NGÜ)
• Darum sage ich: Mein Gott, ich bin bereit, zu tun, was du von mir erwartest, so wie es für mich aufgeschrieben ist im Buch des Gesetzes. (GNB)

About Me

• Then I said, "Here I am, I have come-- it is written about me in the scroll. (NIV)
• Then I said, "Look, I have come. As is written about me in the Scriptures: (NLT)
• Then I said, “Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me: (ESV)
• Then I said, "Behold, I come; In the scroll of the book it is written of me. (NASB)
• Then I said, “Here I am; in the scroll of the book it is written of me. (NRSV)
• Then I said,“See, I will bring a scroll recounting what befell me.” (JPS 1985)
• Da sprach ich: Siehe, ich komme; im Buch ist von mir geschrieben: (Luther2017)
• Da habe ich gesagt: »Hier bin ich! Im Buch des Gesetzes ist von mir die Rede. (NGÜ)
• Da sprach ich: Siehe, ich komme; in der Rolle des Buches steht über mich geschrieben. (ELB)
• Da habe ich gesagt: Siehe, ich komme. In der Buchrolle steht es über mich geschrieben. (EÜ)
• Da sprach ich: Sieh, ich bin gekommen, in der Schriftrolle steht geschrieben, was für mich gilt. (ZÜR)
• Alors j'ai dit : Je viens avec le livre-rouleau écrit pour moi. (NBS)
• Alors je dis : Voici je viens Avec le rouleau du livre écrit pour moi (NVSR)
• Alors j’ai dit : Voici, je viens, dans le rouleau du livre, il est question de moi. (BDS)
• Alors j’ai dit: «Me voici, je viens – dans le rouleau du livre il est écrit à mon sujet – (S21)
• Entonces dije: «He aquí, vengo; en el rollo del libro está escrito de mí; (RVR)
• Por eso dije: «Aquí me tienes —como el libro dice de mí—. (NVI)
• Por eso he dicho: Aquí estoy, tal como el libro dice de mí. (DHH)
• Entonces dije: He aqui, vengo! En la cabecilla del rollo esta escrito acerca de mi: (S21)

Instructions for Me

• Then I say, "Look! I come! What is written in the scroll pertains to me. (NET)
• And so I answered, “Here I am; your instructions for me are in the book of the Law. (GNT)
• Deshalb antworte ich: »Herr, hier bin ich! Was im Buch des Gesetzes steht, das gilt mir. (HFA)
• Darum sage ich: Mein Gott, ich bin bereit, zu tun, was du von mir erwartest, so wie es für mich aufgeschrieben ist im Buch des Gesetzes. (GNB)
• Alors j’ai dit : « Me voici, je viens à toi. Dans le rouleau d’un livre , je trouve écrit ce que je dois faire. » (PDV)
• Alors j'ai dit : « Je viens moi-même à toi. Dans le livre je trouve écrit ce que je dois faire. » (NFC)

Ancient

• LXX: τότε εἶπον Ἰδοὺ ἥκω, ἐν κεφαλίδι βιβλίου γέγραπται περὶ ἐμοῦ,
  • "Then I said, 'Look! I have come; in a scroll of a book it is written of me.'"
• Aquila: ἐν εἰλήματι βιβλίου
• Symmachus: ἐν τῷ τεύχει τοῦ ὁρισμοῦ σου
• Quinta: ἐν τόμῳ βιβλίου
• Peshitta: ܗܝܕܝܢ ܐܡܪܬ ܕܗܐ ܐܬܝܬ܂ ܕܒܪܝܫ ܟܬ̈ܒܐ ܟܬܝܒ ܥܠܝ܂
  • "Then I said, ‘Look, I have come. In the beginning of the books it is written concerning me.'" 
• Jerome (iuxta LXX): tunc dixi ecce venio in capite libri scriptum est de me
• Jerome (iuxta Hebr.): tunc dixi ecce venio in volumine libre scriptum est de me
• Targum:הידין אמרית הא עלית לחיי עלמא כד אעסוק במגילת סיפרא אוריתא דאכתיב אמטולתי׃
  • "Then I said, 'Behold, I have entered eternal life when I am occupied with the scroll of the book of the Lw, which was written for my sake.'"

Secondary Literature

NETS of Ezekiel https://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/nets/edition/38-iezekiel-nets.pdf

References

40:8