The Meaning of Ps. 13:3a

13:3

Introduction

Ps. 13:3a introduces the third of four ‘until when’ questions of the Psalm, asking ‘how long' ashith etsoth benafshi. Translations differ on how to take etsoth in this context, since it is not usually paired with ‘grief’ as in the following clause here. The use of nefesh for the embodiment of the centre of mental activity is also questioned, since typically Hebrew uses lev for such a reference.

Other instances of the construction shith with the preposition bet include the following:

וַאֲנִ֤י׀ קִֽרֲבַ֥ת אֱלֹהִ֗ים לִ֫י־ט֥וֹב שַׁתִּ֤י׀ בַּאדֹנָ֣י יְהֹוִ֣ה מַחְסִ֑י לְ֝סַפֵּ֗ר כָּל־מַלְאֲכוֹתֶֽיךָ׃ Ps. 73:28

בִּשְׂפָתוֹ יִנָּכֵ֣ר שׂוֹנֵ֑א וּ֝בְקִרְבּ֗וֹ יָשִׁ֥ית מִרְמָֽה׃ Pr. 26:24

מִי־שָׁ֭ת בַּטֻּח֣וֹת חָכְמָ֑ה א֤וֹ מִֽי־נָתַ֖ן לַשֶּׂ֣כְוִי בִינָֽה Job 38:36

In the place of עֶצָה from Ps. 13:3a, here we have מַחְסֶה, מִרְמָה and חָכְמָה, while in the place of נפשׁ we have אדני, קֶרֶב , and טֻחוֹת (inward parts).

Similarly, yet outside the realm of body parts are the following:

שַׁ֭תַּנִי בְּב֣וֹר תַּחְתִּיּ֑וֹת בְּ֝מַחֲשַׁכִּ֗ים בִּמְצֹלֽוֹת׃ Ps. 88:7

וְאָנֹכִ֣י אָמַ֗רְתִּי אֵ֚יךְ אֲשִׁיתֵ֣ךְ בַּבָּנִ֔ים וְאֶתֶּן־לָךְ֙ אֶ֣רֶץ חֶמְדָּ֔ה נַחֲלַ֥ת צְבִ֖י צִבְא֣וֹת גּוֹיִ֑ם וָאֹמַ֗ר אָבִי֙ תִּקְרְאוּ־לִ֔י וּמֵאַחֲרַ֖י לֹ֥א תָשׁוּבוּ׃ Je. 3:19

A quick survey of some English translations reveals the diversity of interpretations:

take counsel in my soul (ESV, KJV)

store up anxious concerns within me (HCSB)

wrestle with my thoughts (NIV)

struggle with anguish in my soul (NLT)

bear pain in my soul (RSV)

References

13:3