Revision as of 22:37, 2 December 2024

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. #dispreferred
 + <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:). #dispreferred
  + <Baruch's writing for Jeremiah>: Jer 36:2, 4, 6 uses it for the words Baruch writes for Jeremiah (Kraus 2019, 121-122 :A:). #dispreferred
   + [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) #dispreferred
  + <References in Ezekiel>: Ezek 2:9; 3:1–3 refers to a document Ezekiel eats (Kraus 2019, 121-122 :A:). #dispreferred
   + [Ezek 2:9]: I looked, and a hand was stretched out to me, and a written scroll was in it. #dispreferred
 + <The LXX Translation>: The LXX translation (κεφάλις βιβλίου) does not refer to the Torah (Krause 2019, 125-126 :A:). #dispreferred
  + <Use in Ezek 2:9>: This phrase appears in Ezek 2:9 as a reference to a scroll. #dispreferred
    + [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). #dispreferred
 + <Indefiniteness>: The lack of the article indicates this is not about a singular book (Kirkpatrick 1897, 211 :C:). #dispreferred
 - <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 (Preferred)

Some translations interpret בִּמְגִלַּת־סֵפֶר as a reference to the Torah (cf., GNT, NGÜ, etc.).


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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:). #dispreferred
  + [Baruch's writing for Jeremiah]: Jer 36:2, 4, 6 uses it for the words Baruch writes for Jeremiah (Kraus 2019, 121-122 :A:). #dispreferred
   + [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) #dispreferred
 + <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:). #dispreferred
   <_ <No connection to Deut 17:14-20>: There are no allusions to Deut 17:14-20. 
 + <Evidence from the Targum>: The Targum explicitly identifies מגלת ספר as a reference to the Torah.
  + [Targum]: Then I said, 'Behold, I have entered eternal life when I am occupied with the scroll of the book of the Law (במגילת סיפרא אוריתא), which was written for my sake (Stec 2004, 85 :M:).

About Me

Some translations interpret the prepositional phrase as a reference to the scroll's content (i.e., about the psalmist).

Then I said, "Look, I have come. As is written about me in the Scriptures: (NLT)


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[עָלָי means about me]: The prepositional phrase עָלָי identifies the subject discussed in the scroll. #dispreferred
 - <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. #dispreferred
   + [Esther 8:8]: You may write as you please with regard to the Jews (כִּתְבוּ עַל־הַיְּהוּדִים)(NRSV). #dispreferred
 - <No reference to David>: The Torah does not allude to David (Jamieson 1997, 359 :C:).
 - <Context Implies Obligation>: The psalmist focuses on his actions in v. 9.
  + [Ps 40:9]:     I delight to do your will (לַעֲשֹׂות־‬רְצֹונְךָ), O my God; your law is within my heart.” 
 + <A votive offering>: If בִּמְגִלַּת־סֵפֶר refers to a votive offering, the prepositional phrase identifies the contents of the scroll ("about me"). #dispreferred
  + <ANE Practices>: People in the ANE sometimes offered "written accounts of their narratives in place of sacrifices." (Jacobson 2014, 378-379 :C:). #dispreferred
  + <Context supports votive offering>: If YHWH does not want sacrifices, it makes sense for the psalmist to offer something different in their place (Jacobson 2014, 378-379 :C:). #dispreferred
  <_ <Sacrifices are not the whole law>: The psalmist refers to sacrifices YHWH did not ask for or require. Many aspects of the law that were unrelated to cultic sacrifices needed to be upheld.

Instructions for Me (Preferred)

Some modern translations understand the prepositional phrase as an indication of the obligations the psalmist must fulfill.

and so I answered, “Here I am; your instructions for me are in the book of the Law. (GNT)


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[עָלָי refers to instructions]: The prepositional phrase עָלָי refers to instructions the psalmist must follow.
 + <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
 + <Context Implies Obligation>: The psalmist focuses on his actions in v. 9.
  + [Ps 40:9]: I delight to do your will (לַעֲשֹׂות־‬רְצֹונְךָ), O my God; your law is within my heart.”
 + <Allusion to 1 Sam 15:22>: Ps 40:8 alludes to 1 Sam 15:22, which focuses on obedience over sacrifice.
  + [1 Sam 15:22]: And Samuel said, “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obedience to the voice of the LORD? Surely, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. (NRSV)
 - <עַל + כָּתַב as regarding>: In Esther 8:8 עַל + כָּתַב identifies the subject discussed in the writing. #dispreferred
   - [Esther 8:8]: You may write as you please with regard to the Jews (כִּתְבוּ עַל־הַיְּהוּדִים)(NRSV). #dispreferred

Conclusion (B)

While the text of Ps 40:8b is uncontested, its meaning is ambiguous, as illustrated by the various modern translations. The GNT offers the most probable interpretation:

And so I answered, “Here I am; your instructions for me are in the book of the Law. (GNT)

Although מגלת ספר is not a common way to refer to the Torah, (1) the phrase functions as a synonym to תֹורָתְךָ in v. 9b, and (2) the psalmist's focus immediately shifts to his delight in doing what pleases YHWH (v. 9a). Additionally, while ספר can refer to a generic book, it can also clearly refer to the Torah even if used without a definite article (cf., 2 Kgs 22:10). Finally, the Targum offers an interpretive tradition that understood the phrase as a reference to the Torah.

The prepositional phrase (עָלָי) likely indicates the obligations placed on the psalmist by the contents of the scroll (מגלת ספר). Two pieces of evidence support this position. First, the phrase is used similarly in 2 Kgs 22:13. Second, Ps 40:8 alludes to 1 Sam 15:22 where Samuel rebukes Samuel for relying on sacrifices rather than obedience.

Research

Craigie, Peter C. 1983. Psalms 1–50. WBC 19. Waco, TX: Word.
DeClaissé-Walford, Nancy L., Rolf A. Jacobson, and Beth LaNeel Tanner. 2014. The Book of Psalms. The New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
Delitzsch, Franz. 1883. Biblical Commentary on the Psalms: Vol. 1. Translated by Eaton David. Vol. 1. New York: Funk and Wagnalls.
Jamieson, Robert. n.d. A Commentary Critical, Practical and Explanatory, on the Old and New Testaments. New York: F. H. Revell.
Kirkpatrick, Alexander Francis. 1897. The Book of Psalms. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Kraus, Wolfgang. 2019. “Psalm 40(39):7–9 in the Hebrew Bible and in the Septuagint, with Its Reception in the New Testament (Heb 10:5–10).” In XVI Congress of the International Organization for Septuagint and Cognate Studies, edited by Wolfgang Kraus, Gideon R. Kotzé, and Michaël N. van der Meer, 119–32. Stellenbosch, 2016. Society of Biblical Literature.

Translations

Ancient

LXX: τότε εἶπον Ἰδοὺ ἥκω, ἐν κεφαλίδι βιβλίου γέγραπται περὶ ἐμοῦ,^[1]
- "Then I said, 'Look! I have come; in a scroll of a book it is written of me.'"^[2]
Aquila: ἐν εἰλήματι βιβλίου^[3]
Symmachus: ἐν τῷ τεύχει τοῦ ὁρισμοῦ σου^[4]
Quinta: ἐν τόμῳ βιβλίου^[5]
Peshitta: ܗܝܕܝܢ ܐܡܪܬ ܕܗܐ ܐܬܝܬ܂ ܕܒܪܝܫ ܟܬ̈ܒܐ ܟܬܝܒ ܥܠܝ܂^[6]
- "Then I said, ‘Look, I have come. In the beginning of the books it is written concerning me.'" ^[7]
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׃ ^[8]
- "Then I said, 'Behold, I have entered eternal life when I am occupied with the scroll of the book of the Law, which was written for my sake.'"^[9]

Modern

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)

Secondary Literature

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

References

40:8

[1] Rahlfs 1931.

[2] NETS

[3] Göttingen Hexapla Database.

[4] Göttingen Hexapla Database.

[5] Göttingen Hexapla Database.

[6] CAL.

[7] Taylor 2020, 155.

[8] CAL.

[9] Stec 2004, 85.

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@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 =Argument Maps=
-==The Scroll of the Book (Preferred)==
+==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).
 <argdown>
@@ Line 55: / Line 55: @@
 </argdown>
-==The Book of the Law==
+==The Book of the Law (Preferred)==
 Some translations interpret בִּמְגִלַּת־סֵפֶר as a reference to the Torah (cf., GNT, NGÜ, etc.).
 <argdown>

The Meaning of Psalm 40:8: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 22:37, 2 December 2024

Introduction

Argument Maps

The Scroll of the Book

The Book of the Law (Preferred)

About Me

Instructions for Me (Preferred)

Conclusion (B)

Research

Translations

Ancient

Modern

Omits Ps 40:8b

Follows the LXX

Scroll of the Book

Book of the Law

About Me

Instructions for Me

Secondary Literature

References

Contentsto top