The Meaning of ענותו in Ps. 132:1

Note: This is a draft form of this exegetical issue. It has not been reviewed and is not ready for use.

Introduction

Psalm 132 begins with a petition for YHWH to remember, but the difficult word ענותו makes the content of this remembrance challenging to understand. The MT reads זְכוֹר־יְהוָ֥ה לְדָוִ֑ד אֵ֝ת כָּל־עֻנּוֹתֽוֹ׃: "Remember, YHWH, for David’s sake, כָּל־עֻנּוֹתֽוֹ!"

The main options for what exactly the psalmist asks YHWH to remember are as follows:

1. All David's humility or meekness (repoint the text as a noun)
2. All David's afflictions (external opposition) (MT)
3. All David's self-inflicted hardship (MT)

Argument Map(s)

Option 1: "Humility"

The first interpretive option takes the word ענותו as a noun, his humility, his meekness. This requires revocalising the MT עֻנּוֹתוֹ (pu. inf. constr.) to עַנְוָתוֹ (n. עֲנָוָה with a 3ms pronominal suffix). This reading is reflected in the Douay-Rheims Bible (itself a translation of the Vulgate): "O Lord, remember David, and all his meekness."

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[Character quality: humility or meekness]: Instead of MT pu. inf. constr., the nominal form עַנְוָתוֹ (his 'humility', 'meekness') is the correct reading.
 + <Ancient versions>: This reading is supported by the LXX and Syriac.
  + [Evidence for supporting argument]: LXX: πάσης τῆς πραΰτητος αὐτοῦ ('all his meekness'); Syr. ܡܘܟܟܗ ('self abasement').
 + <Ideological consistency>: The quality of humility is stressed throughout the Psalter, and is demonstrated here in David's determination to find an appropriate home for the ark (Johnson, 18 :M:).
 + <OT Narrative>: The sense of "humiliation" is reminiscent of David’s experience bringing the ark into Jerusalem (dancing before the ark and criticism from Michal) (2 Sa 6:16, 20–22)" (VanGemeren, 2008: 926 :C:).
  <_ <Undercutting argument>: This is an undercutting argument. #dispreferred
 - <Refuting argument>: refuting. #dispreferred
  + [Evidence for refuting argument]: This is evidence for the refuting argument. #dispreferred

Option 2: "Afflictions" (External)

The second interpretive option for this phrase understands it to refer to external opposition. This interpretation is suggested in the ESV: "Remember, O LORD, in David’s favor, all the hardships he endured."

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["Affliction" from outside sources]: The phrase כָּל־עֻנּוֹתוֹ refers to external opposition.
 + <OT Accounts>: The narratives in Samuel describe a variety of external pressures involved in bringing the ark to Jerusalem.
  + [References]: 2 Sam 5:17–25 (defeat of the Philistines); 6:1–11 (death of Uzzah), 20–23 (Michal's rebuke).
  <_ <Undercutting argument>: This is an undercutting argument. #dispreferred
 - <Refuting argument>: refuting. #dispreferred
  + [Evidence for refuting argument]: This is evidence for the refuting argument. #dispreferred

Option 3: "Self-denial"

The third interpretive option for this phrase understands it to refer to voluntary hardship or deprivation. This interpretation is reflected in the NIV: "LORD, remember David and all his self-denial."

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[Voluntary hardship]: The phrase refers to David's self-inflicted suffering.
 + <Lexical semantics>: The pu. inf. of the verb ענה connotes self-affliction (Allen)
  + [Similar uses]: Lev 23:27, 29. 
 + <Nominal form>: ANI (noun form, “affliction”) is used of David’s preparations for the temple.
  + [References]: citation.
 + <Ps 132 context>: The immediately following text (vv. 4–5) quotes a vow of self-denial, suggesting that this is the sense in v. 1.
  <_ <Undercutting argument>: This is an undercutting argument. #dispreferred
 - <Refuting argument>: refuting. #dispreferred
  + [Evidence for refuting argument]: This is evidence for the refuting argument. #dispreferred

Research

Translations

Ancient

• LXX: Μνήσθητι, κύριε, τοῦ Δαυιδ καὶ πάσης τῆς πραΰτητος αὐτοῦ
  • Brenton: Lord, remember David, and all his meekness.
  • NETS: O Lord, remember Dauid and all his meekness,
• Targum: אידכר ייי לדוד ית כל סיגופיה׃
• Syriac: ܐܬܕܟܪ ܡܪܝܐ ܠܕܘܝܕ ܘܠܟܠܗ ܡܘܟܟܗ; in Heb characters, עַנְוָתוֹ (his 'humility', 'self-abasement')
• Vul.: Memento Domine David et omnis adflictionis eius

Modern

Humility

• Douay-Rheims Bible: O Lord, remember David, and all his meekness. 

External Opposition

• KJV: LORD, remember David, and all his afflictions:
• ESV: Remember, O LORD, in David’s favor, all the hardships he endured,
• NLT: LORD, remember David and all that he suffered.
• CEB: LORD, remember David— all the ways he suffered.
• RVR60: Acuérdate, oh Jehová, de David, Y de toda su aflicción;
• NTV: Señor, acuérdate de David y de todo lo que sufrió.
• NBS: Seigneur, souviens-toi de David, de toutes ses afflictions!
• NFC: Seigneur, souviens-toi de David et de tout son tourment.
• BDS: O Eternel, souviens-toi de David et de toutes ses peines;
• PDV2017: Seigneur, souviens-toi de David et de toutes ses souffrances.
• Lutherbibel 2017: Gedenke, HERR, an David und all seine Mühsal,

Self-inflicted Hardships

• NIV: LORD, remember David and all his self-denial.
• NET: O LORD, for David's sake remember all his strenuous effort,
• Hfa: HERR, erinnere dich doch, welche Mühe David auf sich nahm!
• NGÜ: Denke an all die Mühe, HERR, die David auf sich genommen hat!
• ZB: Rechne, HERR, dem David alle seine Entbehrungen an,

Secondary Literature

"Remember, Yahweh, in David’s favor, all his painstaking effort." MT ענותו is a pual inf. const. (GKC §75aa) with a suf. and connotes self-affliction (cf. Lev 23:27, 29) and so voluntary effort; cf. 1 Chr 22:14, where David’s preparations for the temple are associated with 'affliction' (עני)." (Allen, Psalms 101–150 [Revised], vol. 21, WBC [Dallas: Word 2002], 263; emphasis added)

"The hymn begins with a striking appeal to Yahweh to remember on David's behalf 'all his humility'. This is a quality which we find stressed repeatedly in the Psalter as the characteristic attitude which Yahweh requires of all His followers, king and subjects alike; and its use in the present connexion is then explained in terms of David's reverent concern for the Ark and his untiring determination to find a suitable home for this important cultic object, which was the guarantee of Yahweh's presence with His people . . ." (Johnson, Aubrey. Sacral Kingship in Ancient Israel. P. 18)

References

132:1