If an emendation or revocalization is preferred, that emendation or revocalization will be marked in the Hebrew text of all the visuals.
Emendations/Revocalizations legend
*Emended text*
Emended text, text in which the consonants differ from the consonants of the Masoretic text, is indicated by blue asterisks on either side of the emendation.
*Revocalized text*
Revocalized text, text in which only the vowels differ from the vowels of the Masoretic text, is indicated by purple asterisks on either side of the revocalization.
Diagram (Grammar/Lexical)
The grammar layer visually represents the grammar and syntax of each clause. It also displays alternative interpretations of the grammar. (For more information, click "Grammar Legend" below.)
Visualization
Description
The clause is represented by a horizontal line with a vertical line crossing through it, separating the subject and the verb.
The object is indicated by a vertical line that does not cross the horizontal line of the clause. Infinitives and participles may also have objects. If the direct object marker (d.o.m.) is present in the text, it appears in the diagram immediately before the object. If the grammar includes a secondary object, the secondary object will appear after the object, separated by another vertical line that does not cross the horizontal line of the clause.
The subject complement follows the verb (often omitted in Hebrew) separated with a line leaning toward the right. It can be a noun, a whole prepositional phrase or an adjective. The later two appear modifying the complement slot.
When a noun further describes or renames the object, it is an object complement. The object complement follows the object separated by a line leaning toward the right.
In a construct chain, the noun in the absolute form modifies the noun in the construct form.
Participles are indicated in whatever position in the clause they are in with a curved line before the participle. Participles can occur as nominal, where they take the place of a noun, predicate, where they take the place of a verb, or attributive, where they modify a noun or a verb similar to adjectives or adverbs.
Infinitives are indicated by two parallel lines before the infinitive that cross the horizontal line. Infinitive constructs can appear as the verb in an embedded clause. Infinitive absolutes typically appear as an adverbial.
The subject of the infinitive often appears in construct to it. In this situation, the infinitive and subject are diagrammed as a construct chain.
The object of the infinitive is indicated by a vertical line that does not cross the horizontal line of the infinitival clause.
Modifiers are represented by a solid diagonal line from the word they modify. They can attach to verbs, adjectives, or nouns. If modifying a verb or adjective, it is an adverb, but if modifying a noun, it is an adjective, a quantifier, or a definite article. If an adverb is modifying a modifier, it is connected to the modifier by a small dashed horizontal line.
Adverbials are indicated by a dashed diagonal line extending to a horizontal line. These are nouns or infinitives that function adverbially (modifying either a verb or a participle), but are not connected by a preposition.
Prepositional phrases are indicated by a solid diagonal line extending to a horizontal line. The preposition is to the left of the diagonal line and the dependent of the preposition is on the horizontal line. They can modify verbs (adverbial) or nouns (adjectival).
Embedded clauses are indicated by a "stand" that looks like an upside-down Y. The stand rests in the grammatical position that the clause fulfills. Extending from the top of the stand is a horizontal line for the clause. If introduced by a complementizer, for example כִּי, the complementizer appears before the stand. Embedded clauses can stand in the place of any noun.
When clauses are joined by a conjunction, they are compound clauses. These clauses are connected by a vertical dotted line. The conjunction is placed next to the dotted line.
Within a clause, if two or more parts of speech are compound, these are represented by angled lines reaching to the two compound elements connected by a solid vertical line. If a conjunction is used, the conjunction appears to the left of the vertical line. Almost all parts of speech can be compound.
Subordinate clauses are indicated by a dashed line coming from the line dividing the subject from the predicate in the independent clause and leading to the horizontal line of the subordinate clause. The subordinating conjunction appears next to the dashed line.
Relative clauses also have a dashed line, but the line connects the antecedent to the horizontal line of the relative clause. The relative particle appears next to the dashed line.
Sentence fragments are represented by a horizontal line with no vertical lines. They are most frequently used in superscriptions to psalms. They are visually similar to discourse particles and vocatives, but most often consist of a noun phrase (that does not refer to a person or people group) or a prepositional phrase.
In the body of the psalm, a horizontal line by itself (with no modifiers or vertical lines) can indicate either a discourse particle or a vocative (if the word is a noun referring to a person or people group). A discourse particle is a conjunction or particle that functions at the discourse level, not at the grammatical level. Vocatives can appear either before or after the clause addressed to them, depending on the word order of the Hebrew.
Apposition is indicated by an equal sign equating the two noun phrases. This can occur with a noun in any function in a sentence.
Hebrew text colors
Default preferred text
The default preferred reading is represented by a black line. The text of the MT is represented in bold black text.
Dispreferred reading
The dispreferred reading is an alternative interpretation of the grammar, represented by a pink line. The text of the MT is represented in bold pink text, while emendations and revocalizations retain their corresponding colors (see below).
Emended text
Emended text, text in which the consonants differ from the consonants of the Masoretic text, is represented by bold blue text, whether that reading is preferred or dispreferred.
Revocalized text
Revocalized text, text in which only the vowels differ from the vowels of the Masoretic text, is represented by bold purple text, whether that reading is preferred or dispreferred.
(Supplied elided element)
Any element that is elided in the Hebrew text is represented by bold gray text in parentheses.
( )
The position of a non-supplied elided element is represented by empty black parentheses. For example, this would be used in the place of the noun when an adjective functions substantivally or in the place of the antecedent when a relative clause has an implied antecedent.
Gloss text colors
Gloss used in the CBC
The gloss used in the Close-but-Clear translation is represented by bold blue text.
Literal gloss >> derived meaning
A gloss that shows the more literal meaning as well as the derived figurative meaning is represented in blue text with arrows pointing towards the more figurative meaning. The gloss used in the CBC will be bolded.
Supplied elided element
The gloss for a supplied elided element is represented in bold gray text.
Venn diagrams (Lexical)
(For more information, click "Venn Diagram Legend" below.)
Abbreviations:
Parts of Speech
n.
noun
vb.
verb
adj.
adjective
syn.
synonym
ant.
antonym
Hebrew Stems
qal
Qal
ni.
Niphal
pi.
Piel
pu.
Pual
hit.
Hithpael
hi.
Hiphil
ho.
Hophal
Repeated roots (Lexical)
The repeated roots legend will be provided on a psalm-by-psalm basis by the Guardian, so this cannot be a template. The example below is from Psalm 19.
The repeated roots table is intended to identify the roots which are repeated in the psalm.
(For more information, click "Repeated Roots Legend" below.)
Repeated Roots legend
Divine name
The divine name is indicated by bold purple text.
Roots bounding a section
Roots bounding a section, appearing in the first and last verse of a section, are indicated by bold red text.
Roots occurring primarily in the first section are indicated in a yellow box.
Roots occurring primarily in the third section are indicated in a blue box.
Roots connected across sections are indicated by a vertical gray line connecting the roots.
Section boundaries are indicated by a horizontal black line across the chart.
Diagram (Phrase-level)
(For more information, click "Phrase-level Legend" below.)
Visualization
Description
The prepositional phrase is indicated by a solid green oval.
The construct chain is indicated by a solid yellow oval.
When the conjunction ו appears at the phrase-level (not clause-level), it is indicated by a solid light purple oval.
The article is indicated by a solid blue oval.
Verbal Semantics Chart (Verbal)
(For more information, click "Verbal Legend" below.)
Conjugations
qatal
yiqtol-jussive
wayyiqtol(following qatal)*
cohortative
yiqtol
participle
wayyiqtol(following yiqtol)*
wayyiqtol(following participle)*
weyiqtol
inf. construct
weqatal
inf. absolute
*Wayyiqtol is colored a darker version of the conjugation it follows.
Relative tense arrows
Relative tense arrows (placed within the appropriate 'Fut/Pres/Past' column) are color coded according to the conjugation of the verb. The arrows in the table below are colored according to the typical uses of the conjugations.
After/posterior/future
Imminent future
Simultaneous/right now
Recent past
Before/anterior/past
← ←
↤
↓↓↓
↦
→ →
Aspect
Continuous
Habitual or iterative
Stative
Perfective
Encoded in words
⟲
⟲⟲⟲
⎯
•
Inferable from context
⟲
⟲⟲⟲
⎯
•
Reference point movement
Movement
No movement
⇐
⇍
Modality
indicative
purpose/result
jussive
necessity
imperative
possible
cohortative
probable
wish
ability
(past) conditional
interrogative, etc.
Expanded paraphrase (Story Behind)
(For more information, click "Expanded Paraphrase Legend" below.)
Expanded paraphrase legend
Close but Clear (CBC) translation
The CBC, our close but clear translation of the Hebrew, is represented in bold text.
Assumptions
Assumptions which provide background information, presuppositions, entailments, and inferences are represented in italics.
Story triangles (Story Behind)
(For more information, click "Story Triangle Legend" below.)
Story Triangles legend
Propositional content (verse number)
Propositional content, the base meaning of the clause, is indicated by bold black text. The verse number immediately follows the correlating proposition in black text inside parentheses.
Common-ground assumption
Common-ground assumptions[1] are indicated by gray text.
Local-ground assumption
Local-ground assumptions[2] are indicated by dark blue text.
Playground assumption
Playground assumptions[3] are indicated by light blue text.
The point of the story at which the psalm takes place (as a speech event) is indicated by a gray star.
If applicable, the point of the story at which the psalm BEGINS to take place (as a speech event) is indicated with a light gray star. A gray arrow will travel from this star to the point at which the psalm ends, indicated by the darker gray star.
A story that repeats is indicated by a circular arrow. This indicates a sequence of either habitual or iterative events.
A story or event that does not happen or the psalmist does not wish to happen is indicated with a red X over the story triangle.
Connections between propositions and/or assumptions are indicated by black arrows with small text indicating how the ideas are connected.
Note: In the Summary triangle, highlight color scheme follows the colors of participant analysis.
Macrosyntax visual (Macrosyntax)
(For more information, click "Macrosyntax Legend" below.)
Macrosyntax legend
Vocatives
Vocatives are indicated by purple text.
Discourse marker
Discourse markers (such as כִּי, הִנֵּה, לָכֵן) are indicated by orange text.
The scope governed by the discourse marker is indicated by a dashed orange bracket connecting the discourse marker to its scope.
The preceding discourse grounding the discourse marker is indicated by a solid orange bracket encompassing the relevant clauses.
Subordinating conjunction
The subordinating conjunction is indicated by teal text.
Subordination is indicated by a solid teal bracket connecting the subordinating conjunction with the clause to which it is subordinate.
Coordinating conjunction
The coordinating conjunction is indicated by blue text.
Coordination is indicated by a solid blue line connecting the coordinating clauses.
Coordination without an explicit conjunction is indicated by a dashed blue line connecting the coordinated clauses.
Marked topic is indicated by a black dashed rounded rectangle around the marked words.
The scope of the activated topic is indicated by a black dashed bracket encompassing the relevant clauses.
Marked focus or thetic sentence
Marked focus (if one constituent) or thetic sentences[4] are indicated by bold text.
Frame setters[5] are indicated by a solid gray rounded rectangle around the marked words.
[blank line]
Discourse discontinuity is indicated by a blank line.
[indentation]
Syntactic subordination is indicated by indentation.
Direct speech is indicated by a solid black rectangle surrounding all relevant clauses.
(text to elucidate the meaning of the macrosyntactic structures)
Within the CBC, any text elucidating the meaning of macrosyntax is indicated in gray text inside parentheses.
(For more information, click "Speech Act Summary Legend" below.)
The sections of the Speech Act Summary are color coded according to which emotion is the strongest in that section. The colors correlate to the categories below:
Active negative emotions: Intense, energetic emotions that drive action and engagement (e.g. afraid, angry).
Neutral negative emotions: Negative emotions that don’t strongly drive action but reflect discomfort or displeasure (e.g. disappointed, startled).
Passive negative emotions: Low-energy negative emotions, often associated with withdrawal, weariness, or lack of action (e.g. tired, doubtful).
Active positive emotions: Energetic, enthusiastic emotions that drive action and engagement (e.g. astonished, triumphant).
Neutral positive emotions: Pleasant emotions that don’t strongly drive action but reflect positive orientations and responses (e.g. joyous, pleased).
Passive positive emotions: Warm, calm, and quiet positive emotions, often related to reflection or connection (e.g. compassionate, reverent).
Speech Act Table (Speech Act/Emotional Analysis)
(For more information, click "Speech Act Table Legend" below.)
Verse
Hebrew
CBC
Sentence type
Illocution (general)
Illocution with context
Macro speech act
Intended perlocution (Think)
Intended perlocution (Feel)
Intended perlocution (Do)
Verse number and poetic line
Hebrew text
English translation
Declarative, Imperative, or Interrogative
Indirect Speech Act: Mismatch between sentence type and illocution type
Assertive, Directive, Expressive, Commissive, or Declaratory
Indirect Speech Act: Mismatch between sentence type and illocution type
More specific illocution type with paraphrased context
Illocutionary intent (i.e. communicative purpose) of larger sections of discourse
These align with the "Speech Act Summary" headings
What the speaker intends for the address to think
What the speaker intends for the address to feel
What the speaker intends for the address to do
Line division (Poetic structure)
(For more information, click "Poetic Structure Legend" below.)
Poetic line division legend
Pausal form
Pausal forms are highlighted in yellow.
Accent which typically corresponds to line division
Accents which typically correspond to line divisions are indicated by red text.
|
Clause boundaries are indicated by a light gray vertical line in between clauses.
G
Line divisions that follow Greek manuscripts are indicated by a bold green G.
DSS
Line divisions that follow the Dead Sea Scrolls are indicated by a bold green DSS.
M
Line divisions that follow Masoretic manuscripts are indicated by a bold green M.
Number of prosodic words
The number of prosodic words are indicated in blue text.
Prosodic words greater than 5
The number of prosodic words if greater than 5 is indicated by bold blue text.
References
↑Common-ground assumptions include information shared by the speaker and hearers. In our analysis, we mainly use this category for Biblical/ANE background - beliefs and practices that were widespread at this time and place. This is the background information necessary for understanding propositions that do not readily make sense to those who are so far removed from the culture in which the proposition was originally expressed.
↑Local-ground assumptions are those propositions which are necessarily true if the text is true. They include both presuppositions and entailments. Presuppositions are those implicit propositions which are assumed to be true by an explicit proposition. Entailments are those propositions which are necessarily true if a proposition is true.
↑Whereas local-ground assumptions are inferences which are necessarily true if the text is true, play-ground assumptions are those inferences which might be true if the text is true.
↑When the entire utterance is new/unexpected, it is a thetic sentence (often called "sentence focus"). See our Creator Guidelines for more information on topic and focus.
↑Frame setters are any orientational constituent – typically, but not limited to, spatio-temporal adverbials – function to "limit the applicability of the main predication to a certain restricted domain" and "indicate the general type of information that can be given" in the clause nucleus (Krifka & Musan 2012: 31-32). In previous scholarship, they have been referred to as contextualizing constituents (see, e.g., Buth (1994), “Contextualizing Constituents as Topic, Non-Sequential Background and Dramatic Pause: Hebrew and Aramaic evidence,” in E. Engberg-Pedersen, L. Falster Jakobsen and L. Schack Rasmussen (eds.) Function and expression in Functional Grammar. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter, 215-231; Buth (2023), “Functional Grammar and the Pragmatics of Information Structure for Biblical Languages,” in W. A. Ross & E. Robar (eds.) Linguistic Theory and the Biblical Text. Cambridge: Open Book Publishers, 67-116), but this has been conflated with the function of topic. In brief: sentence topics, belonging to the clause nucleus, are the entity or event about which the clause provides a new predication; frame setters do not belong in the clause nucleus and rather provide a contextual orientation by which to understand the following clause.