The Text and Meaning of Ps 49:12: Difference between revisions

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Revision as of 18:04, 23 December 2024

Introduction

The MT of Ps 49:12 reads as follows:[1]

קִרְבָּ֤ם בָּתֵּ֨ימוֹ ׀ לְֽעוֹלָ֗ם מִ֭שְׁכְּנֹתָם לְדֹ֣ר וָדֹ֑ר קָֽרְא֥וּ בִ֝שְׁמוֹתָ֗ם עֲלֵ֣י אֲדָמֽוֹת

This verse deals with the posthumous fate of the speaker's opponents, that is the foolish, self-reliant rich, and is variously represented among modern translations. For example:

  • Their inward thought is that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names. (KJ21)
  • Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, And their dwelling-places to all generations; They call their lands after their own names. (ASV)
  • Their grave becomes their permanent residence, their eternal dwelling place. They name their lands after themselves,... (NET)
  • Their graves are their homes for ever, their dwelling places to all generations, though they named lands their own. (RSV)


These translations indicate that there are two main difficulties in the interpretation of v. 12.

  1. One difficulty is related to v. 12a, where the MT has קִרְבָּ֤ם which a number of modern translation read as "their inner thought" (KJ21, ASV, NASB; KJV; ERV; JPS 1917; "Das ist ihr Herz, daß ihre Häuser währen immerdar" [LUTH1545]; HOF; TOB; SG21; BULG; RUSV; UKR, etc.)[2] Other translations follow the LXX (οἱ τάφοι αὐτῶν), and represent v. 12a as "Their graves are their homes for ever, their dwelling places to all generations... (RSV; cf. NEB; REB; NRSV; NIV; ELT; RL).[3]
  2. Another difficulty is related to the word אדמות in v. 12b. In the MT of v. 12b, there is no suffix on אדמות (Qc, G(?), ο', εβρ, α', σ', ε', ς', S, T // assim-ctext: m G(?), θ', Hebr clav אדמותם), but the LXX reads τῶν γαιῶν αὐτῶν (“their lands”; "And their graves are their homes forever, their coverts to generation and generation. They named their lands their own"; NETS).[4]
  3. Finally, the meaning of v. 12b (lit. means “who called by their name over lands”)[5] is not straightforward, raising questions regarding a practice or practices envisaged in קָֽרְא֥וּ בִ֝שְׁמוֹתָ֗ם עֲלֵ֣י אֲדָמֽוֹת.[6]

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Conclusion

Research

Translations

Ancient

  • LXX
    • εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, σκηνώματα αὐτῶν εἰς γενεὰν καὶ γενεάν. ἐπεκαλέσαντο τὰ ὀνόματα αὐτῶν ἐπὶ τῶν γαιῶν αὐτῶν. [7]
      • And their graves are their homes forever, their coverts to generation and generation. They named their lands their own. (NETS)
  • Aquila
    • ἐν μέσωι αὐτῶν οἰκίαι αὐτῶν εἰς αἰῶνα σκηνώματα αὐτ(ῶν) εἰς γενεὰν καὶ γενεάν ἐκάλεσαν ἐν ὀ̣νόμασιν αὐτ(ῶν) ἐπι χθόνας. (καὶ) ἄν(θρωπ)ος [8]
  • Symmachus
    • εἰς αἰῶνα τὰς κατασκημώσ(εις) αὐτ(ῶν) εἰς γενεὰν καὶ γενεάν̣̣ ὀνομάσαντες ἐπ’ ὀνόμασιν αὐτ(ῶν) ταῖς γαίαις [9]
  • Peshitta
    • ܩܒܪ̈ܝܗܘܢ ܒ̈ܬܝܗܘܢ ܠܥܠܡ܂ ܘܡܥܡܪܗܘܢ ܠܕܪܕܪܝܢ܂ ܘܩܪܝܢ ܫܡ̈ܗܐ ܒܐܪܥܐ܂ [10]
      • Their graves[11] are their houses forever, their dwelling places throughout generations, even though[12] they assign names throughout the land....[13]
  • Jerome (Iuxta LXX)
    • interiora sua domus suas in saeculo tabernacula sua in generatione et generatione vocaverunt nominibus suis terras suas[14]
  • Jerome (Iuxta Hebr)
    • sepulchra eorum domus illorum in aeternum tabernacula eorum in progeniem et progeniem vocaverunt nomina sua in terris suis[15]
  • Targum
    • בבית קבורתהון ישרון לעלם ולא יקומון ממשכניהון לדרי דריא מטול דאיתרברבו/דאיתגאו#1#/ וקנו שום ביש עילוי ארעא׃ [16]
      • They shall remain in their graves for ever[17] and not rise from their dwellings to all generations, because they acted proudly[18] and acquired an evil name upon the earth.[19]

Modern

"inner thought" or similar

  • Sie bilden sich ein, dass ihre Häuser für die Ewigkeit gebaut sind und alle Generationen überdauern. Aber es hilft ihnen nichts, selbst wenn sie ganze Länder besessen haben.[20] (HFA)
  • Sie bilden sich ein, ihre Häuser seien für die Ewigkeit gebaut und ihre Wohnsitze blieben auch in allen künftigen Generationen erhalten.[21] Große Ländereien haben sie erworben und nach sich selbst benannt. (NGÜ)
  • [22]Ihr Gedanke ⟨ist⟩, ⟨dass⟩ ihre Häuser in Ewigkeit ⟨stehen⟩, ihre Wohnung von Generation zu Generation[23]; sie hatten Ländereien nach ihren Namen benannt. (ELB)
  • Sie meinen, ihre Häuser bestehen auf ewig, / ihre Wohnungen von Geschlecht zu Geschlecht, nannten sie auch Länder nach ihrem Namen.[24] (EÜ)
  • Su íntimo pensamiento es que sus casas serán eternas, y sus habitaciones para generación y generación. ¡Dan sus nombres a sus tierras! (RVR95)
  • Su íntima aspiración es que sus casas serán eternas, Sus moradas, de generación en generación, Y a sus tierras han puesto sus nombres. (BTX4)
  • [25]Ils s'imaginent que leurs maisons subsisteront toujours, et leurs demeures de génération en génération, eux qui avaient donné leurs noms à des terres. (NBS)
  • Ils s'imaginent[26] que leurs maisons subsisteront toujours, Et leurs demeures de génération en génération, Eux qui avaient donné leurs noms à des terres.[27] (NVSR)
  • Cependant, ils s’imaginent ╵que leurs maisons vont durer ╵jusque dans l’éternité[28] et que leurs demeures ╵seront à l’abri du temps ╵pendant des générations, eux qui voulaient que leurs terres ╵soient appelées de leur nom. (BDS)
  • Ils s’imaginent que leurs maisons seront éternelles, que leurs résidences dureront toujours, eux qui avaient donné leur propre nom à leurs terres. (S21)

"graves"

  • Their graves are their homes forever, their dwelling places to all generations, though they called lands by their own names. (ESV)
  • Their tombs will remain their houses forever, their dwellings for endless generations, though they had named lands after themselves. (NIV)
  • Their grave becomes their permanent residence, their eternal dwelling place. They name their lands after themselves, ... (NET)
  • The grave will be their home forever and ever, although they once had land of their own. (CEV)
  • Their graves are their homes forever; there they stay for all time, though they once had lands of their own.

(GNT)

  • The grave is their eternal home, where they will stay forever. They may name their estates after themselves,...

(NLT)

  • Their grave is their eternal home, their dwelling for all time to come; they may give their own names to estates,... (NEB)
  • Though they give their names to estates, the grave is their eternal home, their dwelling for all time to come. (REB)
  • Their graves[29] are their homes forever, their dwelling places to all generations, though they named lands their own. (NRSV)
  • Their grave[30] is their eternal home, the dwelling-place for all generations of those once famous on earth. (JPS 1985)
  • Forever no home but their tombs,[31] their dwelling place from age to age, though they gave their name to whole territories,...(NJB)
  • Gräber sind ihre Häuser immerdar, ihre Wohnungen für und für, wenn sie auch ihre Namen ausrufen über Länder. (Luther 2017)
  • Für immer wird das enge Grab ihre Wohnung,[32] auch wenn sie ganze Länder ihr Eigen nannten. (GNB)
  • Gräber sind ihre Behausung auf ewig,[33] ihre Wohnstatt von Generation zu Generation, wenn sie auch Länder nach ihren Namen benannten. (ZÜR)
  • Aunque tuvieron tierras a su nombre, sus tumbas serán[34] su hogar eterno, su morada por todas las generaciones. (NVI)
  • Aunque dieron su nombre a sus tierras, el sepulcro[35] será su hogar eterno; ¡allí se quedarán para siempre! (DHH)
  • Ils pensent posséder leurs champs pour toujours. Mais leur tombe, voilà leur habitation pour toujours, leur maison pour tous les temps. (PDV)
  • Même s'ils ont donné leur nom à leurs terres, la tombe [36] est leur habitation pour l'éternité, leur demeure pour tous les temps. (NFC)

with the suffix "their"

without the suffix "their"

....

  • Sie bilden sich ein, ihre Häuser seien für die Ewigkeit gebaut und ihre Wohnsitze blieben auch in allen künftigen Generationen erhalten.[37] Große Ländereien haben sie erworben und nach sich selbst benannt. (NGÜ)

Secondary Literature

Barthélemy, Dominique. 2005. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament. vol. 4: Psaumes. Fribourg, Switzerland: Academic Press.
Briggs, Charles Augustus and Emilie Grace Briggs. 1906. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Book of Psalms. vol. 2. ICC. Edinburgh: T&T Clark.
Clifford, Richard. 2002. Psalm 1-72. Abingdon Old Testament commentaries Nashville, TN: Abington Press.
Craigie, Peter C., and Marvin E. Tate. 1983. 2nd ed. Psalms 1–50. vol. 19. WBC. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
Dahood, Mitchell. 1966. Psalms. Vol. 1. Anchor Bible Commentary. New York: Doubleday.
DeClaissé-Walford, Nancy, Rolf A. Jacobson, and Beth LaNeel Tanner. 2014. The Book of Psalms. NICOT. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
Delitzsch, Franz. 1883. Biblical Commentary on the Psalms. vol. 1. Translated by Eaton David. New York, NY: Funk and Wagnalls.
Dobbs-Allsopp, F. W. 2015. On Biblical Poetry. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Ewald, Heinrich. 1866. Die Dichter des Alten Bundes. Göttingen : Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht.
Fohrer, G. 1993. Psalmen. Berlin: De Gruyter.
Goldingay, John. 2007. Psalms 42–89. vol. 2. BCOT. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.
Goulder, Michael D. 1982. The Psalms of the Sons of Korah. Sheffield: JSOT Press.
Gross, H. 1972. “Self-oder Fremderlösung.” Pages 65–70 in Wort, Lied und Gottesspruch: Beiträge zu Psalmen und Propheten.ed. J. Schreiner. (J. Ziegler FS). Würzburg: Echter.
Hengstenberg, Ernst Wilhelm. 1863. Commentary on the Psalms. vol. 2. Edinburgh: T&T Clark.
Hitzig, Ferdinand. 1863-1865. Die Psalmen, 2 vols. Leipzig: C.F. Winter.
Kissane, Edward. 1953. The Book of Psalms. vol. 1, Westminster, MD: The Newman Press.
Koehler, Ludwig, Walter Baumgartner, and Johann J. Stamm. 2001. The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament. 2 vols. Translated and edited under the supervision of Mervyn E. J. Richardson. Leiden: Brill.
Kraus, Hans-Joachim. 1972. Psalmen 1–63. BKT XV/1. Neukirchen-Vluyn: Neukirchener Verlag.
Muraoka, J. 1985. Emphatic Words and Structures in Biblical Hebrew. Leiden: Brill.
Sundermeier, Th. 1993. “Erlösung oder Versöhnung: Religionsgeschichtliche Anstöße.” EvT 53: 124-146.
Taylor, Richard A. trans., 2020. The Syriac Peshitta Bible with English Translation: Psalms. ed. by George A. Kiraz and Joseph Bali. The Antioch Bible/ṢṢurath Kthobh. Piscataway, NJ: Gorgias.
VanGemeren, Willem A. 1997. New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis. 5 vols. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
Volz, Paul. 1937. “Psalm 49.” ZAW 55: 235–64.
Weiser, Artur. 1962. The Psalms. OTL. Trans. by Herbert Hartwell. Philadelphia, PA: Westminster Press.
Witte, Markus. 2000. "‘Aber Gott wird meine Seele erlösen.’: Tod und Leben nach Psalm XLIX.” VT 50: 540–60.

References

49:12

  1. ↑ The Hebrew text comes from OSHB.
  2. ↑ In v. 12a, the MT has קִרְבָּם (so, "Their inner thought is that their houses shall be forever, their dwelling-places to all generations"; Perowne, Psalms, 1:399; εβρ, α', σ', ε', ς', Hebr קִרְבָּם; cf. NASB; KJV; ERV; JPS 1917; "Das ist ihr Herz, daß ihre Häuser währen immerdar" [LUTH1545]; HOF; TOB; SG21; BULG; RUSV; UKR, etc).
  3. ↑ Pesh. (ܩܒܪ̈ܝܗܘܢ; this variant would have been produced due to metathesis of rīsh and bēth; Taylor 2020:189), and Targ. (קבורתהון) all read “their grave(s).” Hence, Barthélemy (cf. BHS) understands this variant as highly probable with a certain margin of doubt (2005, 292-95; ). Although the more difficult MT can make sense, reading "their graves" with the LXX, Pesh. and Targ. (BHS) is preferable on contextual grounds.... (close in idea/meaning contextually; but not entirely synonymous) are paired up here to form an emphatic point in the teacher's instruction. Additionally, inner- and extra-biblical evidence shows that graves were thought of as deceased's final and "eternal" dwelling places, houses. E.g., Qoh 12:5 describes the deceased going to their eternal home (בית עולמו). On “eternal home” as a reference to the grave in extra-biblical sources, see Crenshaw 1986, 9; Seow 1999, 224–26. Goldingay notes that “their inward thought” (MT)/“their grave” (LXX) is "the subject of both cola, which give parallel content to it or offer parallel descriptions of it" (Goldingay 2007, 103). Here, משכנתם is taken as in apposition to בתימו.
  4. ↑ Noting that it is impossible to account for the decision to add a suffix of the 3rd person masculine plural, Barthélemy (cf. BHS) understands the MT as highly probable (2005, 295).
  5. ↑ See NJPS for an unusual rendering, “those once famous on earth”.
  6. ↑ In the MT, the clause in v. 12b, The phrase, "to call by name" usually means "to give a name" or "to call/summon by name." M.S. Smith, however, argued that v. 12b refers to the practice of calling on deceased ancestors (1993, 105–07).
  7. ↑ Rahlfs 1931.
  8. ↑ Göttingen Hexapla Database.
  9. ↑ Göttingen Hexapla Database.
  10. ↑ CAL.
  11. ↑ Translation note: "For MT קרבם "their inward parts" P has ܩܒ�ܝܗܘܢ "their graves" (cf. LXX, οἱ τάφοι αὐτῶν). The difference is due to metathesis of rīsh and bēth. The reading of P and LXX is to be preferred here over that of MT." (Taylor 2020, 189)
  12. ↑ Translation note: "The words "even though" are not in the Syriac text. They have been supplied in the English translation for clarity." (Taylor 2020, 189).
  13. ↑ Taylor 2020, 189.
  14. ↑ Weber-Gryson 5th edition.
  15. ↑ Weber-Gryson 5th edition.
  16. ↑ CAL.
  17. ↑ l(lm; $ m ely. (Stec 2004, 102).
  18. ↑ y tg 3n; B ytrbrbw.
  19. ↑ sdyqy3 for MT 3hrym, “others.” On the theme of punishment for the wicked and reward for the righteous in TgPss see Introduction, III, 6. (Stec 2004, 102).
  20. ↑ Translation note: "Oder nach der griechischen Übersetzung: (Vers 12) Gräber sind auf ewig ihre Behausung, ihre Wohnung für alle Generationen, auch wenn sie ganze Länder besessen haben."
  21. ↑ Translation note: "Der hebräische Text in Vers 12 ist bis hierher sehr schwierig zu deuten. Andere übersetzen mit leicht verändertem Anfangswort: 'Ihre Gräber sind ihre Häuser in Ewigkeit, ihre Wohnungen von Generation zu Generation'. So lautet der Text auch in der Septuaginta und in anderen alten Übersetzungen."
  22. ↑ Translation note: "Diese Üs. ist ein Versuch, den schwierigen Mas. T. wiederzugeben. Bei Umstellung zweier Konsonanten: Gräber sind ihre Häuser in Ewigkeit, ihre Wohnung von Generation zu Generation. So LXX und andere alte Üs."
  23. ↑ Translation note: "Diese Üs. ist ein Versuch, den schwierigen Mas. T. wiederzugeben. Bei Umstellung zweier Konsonanten: Gräber sind ihre Häuser in Ewigkeit, ihre Wohnung von Generation zu Generation. So LXX und andere alte Üs."
  24. ↑ Translation note: "sie meinen, wörtlich: ihr Inneres: H; ihre Gräber: G, Vg."
  25. ↑ Translation note:
  26. ↑ Translation note:
  27. ↑ Translation note:
  28. ↑ Translation note:
  29. ↑ Translation note: "49.11 Gk Syr Compare Tg: Heb their inward (thought)."
  30. ↑ Translation note: "Taken with ancient versions and medieval commentators as the equivalent of qibram."
  31. ↑ Translation note:"'tombs' versions; 'inside' Hebr."
  32. ↑ Translation note: "'Grab:' mit alten Übersetzungen; H 'Ihr Inneres (ist) ihre Wohnung für immer.'"
  33. ↑ Translation note: "Der Massoretische Text wurde korrigiert; er lautet übersetzt: 'Ihr Inneres ist ihre Behausung ...'"
  34. ↑ Translation note: "sus tumbas serán (LXX y Siríaca); su interior será (TM)."
  35. ↑ Translation note: "49.11(12) El sepulcro: según la versión griega (LXX) y otras versiones antiguas. Heb. sus íntimos pensamientos."
  36. ↑ Translation note:
  37. ↑ Translation note: "Der hebräische Text in Vers 12 ist bis hierher sehr schwierig zu deuten. Andere übersetzen mit leicht verändertem Anfangswort: 'Ihre Gräber sind ihre Häuser in Ewigkeit, ihre Wohnungen von Generation zu Generation'. So lautet der Text auch in der Septuaginta und in anderen alten Übersetzungen."