Property: Discussion
From Psalms: Layer by Layer
P
The repeated divine name acts as the precatory backbone throughout the text (יהוה–x6, אלהי–v. 7a). The use of the divine name may form a pattern:
::יהוה / אלהים / יהוה
::יהוה / יהוה
::יהוה / אלהים / יהוה +
The roughly chiastic strophic structure is diagrammed below:
::'''A. Complaint/Lament (2-3)'''
:::'''B. Profession: Reliability of YHWH (4-5)'''
:::'''B’ Profession: David’s confidence (6-7)'''
::'''A’ Appeal & Answer (8-9)'''
Alternatively, verse 9 may constitute a separate section. "There are four regular S[short]-strophes, i.e. quartets of cola, according to the AB–B'A' pattern, plus a surplus, the one-line strophe containing v.9."'"`UNIQ--ref-00000B13-QINU`"' +
The strongest divisions in the poem are those that divide the three major parts:
'''PART 1''' (vv.2-6) --> '''PART 2''' (vv.7-10)
*[[#Selah|סלה]] (v.6c)
*[[#Cola distribution|Tricola]] (vv.6-7)
*Shift in [[#Subject change|Subject/Agent]]: David/Enemies --> Yahweh
*Shift in [[#Subject change|Undergoer]]: David --> Yahweh
*Shift in [[#Communicative function|Communicative function]]: vow of innocence --> petition
*Shift in [[#Person, gender and number|Verb PGN]]: 1cs/3ms --> 2ms
*Shift in [[#Range of emotions|emotion]]: Fear + Disgust + Anger --> Anger + Anticipation + Trust
*Shift in [[#Scene change|scene]]/[[#Figures of Speech|imagery]]: lying down in the dust (v.6) --> rising up to the highest place (vv.7-8)
*[[#Verb forms|Imperative]] with [[#Paragogic letters|paragogic suffix]] (v.7a)
*[[#References to God|Divine name]] (v.7a)
'''PART 2''' (vv.7-10) --> '''PART 3''' (vv.11-17)
*Verbless clauses (vv.11-12)
*Terse lines (vv.11-12)
*Shift in [[#Person, gender and number|Verb PGN]]: 2ms --> 3ms. "The third stanza is notable for its linguistic shift from the second person prayer of stanza 2 to third person confession."'"`UNIQ--ref-00000DE7-QINU`"'
*Shift in [[#Communicative function|Communicative function]]: petition --> profession
*Shift in [[#Cola distribution|type of cola]]: Tricola (vv.7, 9) + Tetracola (v.10) --> Bicola (vv.11-17)
*Shift in [[#Scene change|scene]]/[[#Figures of Speech|imagery]]: up high --> down low
*Shift in [[#Anthropomorphism|imagery]]: judgment in the courtroom --> judgment on the battlefield
*[[#References to God|Clustered repetition of אלהים]] (vv.10d-12)
The strong break between Part 2 and Part 3 is smoothed over by a chiasm that connects these two parts (anadiplosis): '''a''' וּבֹחֵ֣ן לִ֭בּ֗וֹת וּכְלָי֗וֹת '''b''' אֱלֹהִ֥ים צַדִּֽיק // '''b'''' מָֽגִנִּ֥י עַל־אֱלֹהִ֑ים '''a'''' מ֝וֹשִׁ֗יעַ יִשְׁרֵי־לֵֽב (cf. Psalm 3:3-4, where a chiasm has a similar function).
Weaker boundaries also exist between the sections within each part:
'''PART 1''' (vv.2-6)
<u>Section 1 (vv.2-3) --> Section 2 (vv.4-6)</u>
*Shift in [[#Communicative function|Communicative function]]: invocation --> vow of innocence
*Repetition of [[#References to God|יהוה אלהי]] (vv.2a, 4a; ''anaphora'')
*10-syllable lines (vv.2a, 4a; ''anaphora'')
*[[#Similar sounds in adjacent lines|Phonological recursion]] (''anaphora''): יהוה אלהי...חסיתי (v.2a) // יהוה אלהי... עשׂיתי (v. 4a)
'''PART 2''' (vv.7-10)
<u>Section 3 (vv.7-8) --> Section 4 (vv.9-10)</u>
*[[#References to God|Divine name]] (v.9a)
*[[#Lunn on Word order|Word order]]: MKD/DEF cola (v.8ab) to indicate closure
*[[#Cola distribution|Tricolon]] (v.9)
*Note that the boundary between these sections is smoothed over by a chiastic connection (see [[#Cohesion|Cohesion]]).
'''PART 3''' (vv.11-17)
<u>Section 5 (vv.11-14) --> Section 6 (vv.15-17)</u>
*Shifts in [[#Subject change|subject/agent and object/undergoer]]: Yahweh --> the wicked
*[[#Lunn on Word order|Word order]]: DEF/DEF cola (v.14ab) to indicate closure
*[[#Other particles|הִנֵּה]] (v.15a)
*Terse line (v.15a)
*Shift in imagery: war --> pregnancy
The tetragrammaton occurs seven times in this psalm. The climactic seventh occurrence (שֵֽׁם־יְהוָ֥ה עֶלְיֽוֹן) concludes the psalm and prepares the reader for psalm 8 (מָֽה־אַדִּ֣יר שִׁ֭מְךָ בְּכָל־הָאָ֑רֶץ). The use of אֱלֹהִים in place of יהוה in vv.10-12 may have been motivated by a desire to limit occurrences of the tetragrammaton to seven. The central occurrence of יהוה is in v.9a. +
The tetragrammaton, used in direct address at the beginning of lines, functions to demarcate the major sections of the psalm (vv.4a, 9a). +
The tetragrammaton, when used in direct address (v.2a, 4a, 8a), is used to initiate new sections (anaphora). The other divine epithet (אלהים) is used less frequently to perform a distinct function, i.e., to forge a connection between v.3b and v.8b. +
The text consists of four stanzas, each of which is comprised of three verses, which are longer in lexical length in the second half: A (22 words), B (19), C (25), D (26).
:Stanza '''A''' (vv.1-3)
:Stanza '''B''' (vv.4-6)
:Stanza '''C''' (vv.7-9)
:Stanza '''D''' (vv.10-12)
Jacobson also proposes that the "poem consists of four stanzas, which have an A-B-B-A structure:"'"`UNIQ--ref-00000003-QINU`"'
:St. 1 The “kings of the earth” rebel
::St. 2 The divine king enthroned in heaven
::St. 3 The Davidic king enthroned on Zion
:St. 4 The “kings” are warned
This segmentation is based on the fact that "each of the first three stanzas ends with a quotation, each focuses on a different character or characters, and each implies a different location."'"`UNIQ--ref-00000004-QINU`"'
Fokkelman also segments the Psalm into four parts (what he calls Strophes instead of Stanzas), "whose contents or semantic coherence shows the AB-B'A' pattern:"'"`UNIQ--ref-00000005-QINU`"'
:strophe 1: pretensions of people and kings (vv. 1-3)
::strophe 2: God rebukes, points to Zion and his king (vv. 4-6)
::strophe 3: God speaks, his king will be victorious (vv. 7-9)
:strophe 4: speaker demands homage to God from kings (vv. 10-12)
Goldingay also divides the text into four sections, noting that they "work abbʹaʹ":'"`UNIQ--ref-00000006-QINU`"'
:vv. 1– 3 The nations’ plans
:vv. 4– 6 The Lord’s response to them
:vv. 7– 9 The king’s own response
:vv. 10– 12 the implications for the nations. +
The three main parts of the psalm reflect an ABA' pattern (see especially [[#Figures of Speech|Figures of Speech]]):
:Superscription (v.1)
::'''A''' (vv.2-6)
:::'''B''' (vv.7-10)
::'''A'''' (vv.11-17)
:Concluding Praise (v.18)
In the first part ('''A''', vv.2-6), the Psalmist is unjustly targeted by his enemies. In the third part ('''A'''', vv.11-17), his enemies are justly targeted by Yahweh. This reversal results from the middle part ('''B''', vv.7-10), where Yahweh ascends for judgment.
The middle part ('''B''', vv.7-10) consists of two sections (vv.7-8; vv.9-10), each with 47 syllables. The centerpiece of this center section is v.9a: יהוה ידין עמים, with its emphatic [[#Lunn on Word order|word order]] (S V O), [[#Other observations|terse rhythmic cadence]] (2.2.2), and [[#Subject change|3rd person reference]] (sandwiched between 2nd person references). It stands as a triumphant declaration between the psalmist's general appeal for Yahweh to ascend for judgment (vv.7-8) and the more specific appeal that Yahweh bring justice to his own personal situation (vv.9b-10). +
The two middle sections of the psalm are the same length.
:'''Section 3 (vv.7-8).''' - 47 syllables
:'''Section 4 (vv.9-10).''' - 47 syllables
:Section 6 (vv.15-17) also has 47 syllables
If every syllable in the psalm is counted, including סלה (v.6c) and those in the superscription (v.1), a neat prosodic symmetry results.
:SS (v.1) + Stanza I (vv.2-6) = '''122''' syllables
:Stanza II (vv.7-10) = '''47''' syllables (vv.7-8) + '''47''' syllables (vv.9-10)
:Stanza III (vv.11-17) + Conclusion (v.18) = '''122''' syllables +
The words listed above occur 10 times or less in the Hebrew Bible. Most of these occur in the second half of the psalm. Each occurrence is tied to some [[#Phonology|phonological]] feature. +
There are a number of allusions to the Aaronic blessing of Num. 6:24-26:
יְבָרֶכְךָ֥ יְהוָ֖ה וְיִשְׁמְרֶֽךָ׃</br>
יָאֵ֙ר יְהוָ֧ה׀ פָּנָ֛יו אֵלֶ֖יךָ וִֽיחֻנֶּֽךָּ׃</br>
יִשָּׂ֙א יְהוָ֤ה׀ פָּנָיו֙ אֵלֶ֔יךָ</br>
וְיָשֵׂ֥ם לְךָ֖ שָׁלֽוֹם׃
*'''v.2c.''' חנני (Num. 6:25, ויחנך)
*'''v.7b.''' נסה עלינו אור פניך (Num. 6:25, יאר יהוה פניו אליך; Num. 6:26, ישׂא יהוה פניו אליך)
**the two petitions (Num. 6:25a, 26a) are conflated in a single petition (Ps.4:7b)
*'''v.9c.''' שׁלום (Num. 6:26b, שׁלום)
See also Ps. 44:3, 80:3, 7, 19, 119:135, Dt 32:20<--this last point by Brad.Willits--> +
There are basically four subjects in the psalm: 1) Yahweh, 2) David, 3) the wicked, 4) the righteous
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Character Features
|-
! Ref. !! Speaker !! Addressee !! Person !! Subject/Agent !! Object/Undergoer
|-
| 2a || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || 2 || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || '''David''''s words
|-
| 2b || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || 2 || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span>|| '''David''''s mutterings
|-
| 3a || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || 2 || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span>|| '''David''''s voice
|-
| 3b || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || 1 || '''David'''|| <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span>
|-
| 4a || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || 2 || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span>|| '''David''''s voice
|-
| 4b || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || 1 || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> / '''David'''
|-
| 5a || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || 2 || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || n/a
|-
| 5b || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || 3 || <span style="color:#FF0000">wickedness</span> || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span>
|-
| 6a || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || 3 || <span style="color:#FF0000">the wicked</span>|| <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span>
|-
| 6b || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || 2 || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span>|| <span style="color:#FF0000">the wicked</span>
|-
| 7a || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || 2 || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span>||<span style="color:#FF0000">the wicked</span>
|-
| 7b || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || 3 || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span>||<span style="color:#FF0000">the wicked</span>
|-
| 8a || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || 1 || '''David''' || '''David'''
|-
| 8b || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || 1 || '''David'''|| '''David'''
|-
| 9a || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || 2 || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span>||'''David'''
|-
| 9b || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || 2 || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span>'s paths
|-
| 10a || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || 3 || <span style="color:#800080">steadiness</span> || n/a
|-
| 10b || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || 3 || <span style="color:#FF0000">the wicked</span>'s insides || n/a
|-
| 10c || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || 3 || <span style="color:#FF0000">the wicked</span>'s throat || n/a
|-
| 10d || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || 3 || <span style="color:#FF0000">the wicked</span>'s tongue || <span style="color:#FF0000">the wicked</span>'s tongue
|-
| 11a || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || 2 || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span>||<span style="color:#FF0000">the wicked</span>
|-
| 11b || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || 3 || <span style="color:#FF0000">the wicked</span>||<span style="color:#FF0000">the wicked</span>
|-
| 11c || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || 2 || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span>||<span style="color:#FF0000">the wicked</span>
|-
| 11d || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || 3 || <span style="color:#FF0000">the wicked</span>||<span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span>
|-
| 12a || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || 3 || <span style="color:#800080">the righteous</span> || <span style="color:#800080">the righteous</span>
|-
| 12b || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || 3 || <span style="color:#800080">the righteous</span> || <span style="color:#800080">the righteous</span>
|-
| 12c || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || 2 || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || <span style="color:#800080">the righteous</span>
|-
| 12d || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || 3 || <span style="color:#800080">the righteous</span> || <span style="color:#800080">the righteous</span>
|-
| 13a || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || 2 || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span>||<span style="color:#800080">'''the righteous'''</span>
|-
| 13b || '''David''' || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span> || 2 || <span style="color:#0000FF">Yahweh</span>||<span style="color:#800080">'''the righteous'''</span>
|}
There are four sections in the psalm. Section 1 (vv.2-3) is an introduction, and Section 4 (v.13) is a conclusion. Section 2 (vv.4-8) and Section 3 (vv.9-12) form the body of the psalm. These two middle sections exhibit parallelism at the macro-level (ABC // A'B'C'). Function words (כִּי, לֹא/אֵין, וְ) are used to support and clarify this parallel structure, as summarized in the following table.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! !! Section 2 (vv.4-8) !! Section 3 (vv.9-12)
|-
| '''Profession/Petition''' (line initial vocative) || '''2.1''' (v.4), ...יהוה || '''3.1''' (v.9), ...יהוה
|-
| '''Grounds''' (כִּי + neg. + verbless clause) || '''2.2''' (vv.5-7), ...כִּי לֹא || '''3.2''' (vv.10-11), ...כִּי אֵין
|-
| '''Contrast''' (line initial ''waw'') || '''2.3''' (v.8), וַאֲנִי || '''3.3''' (v.12), וְיִשְׂמְחוּ
|} +
There are no other words for God in this Psalm. +
There are no rhetorical questions in this Psalm. The opening interrogative (מָה) functions as "an introduction to an exclamation" rather than an introduction to a rhetorical question.'"`UNIQ--ref-00000AE0-QINU`"' +
There are three main parts to the psalm, each of which consists of two sections:
:Superscription (v.1)
:Part 1 (vv.2-6)
::Section 1 (vv.2-3)
::Section 2 (vv.4-6)
:Part 2 (vv.7-10)
::Section 3 (vv.7-8)
::Section 4 (vv.9-10)
:Part 3 (vv.11-17)
::Section 5 (vv.11-14)
::Section 6 (vv.15-17)
:Concluding 7th Section (v.18)
*For the reasoning behind these divisions, see below on [[#Cohesion|Cohesion]] and [[#Discontinuity & boundaries|Discontinuity & boundaries]].
*See how this three-part division corresponds to the psalm's [[#Figures of Speech|Imagery]].
*For the grouping of v.9a with vv.9b-10 rather than with vv.7-8, see above on [[#Cola distribution|Cola distribution]].
The number 7 is significant in the structure of the psalm (cf. Psalm 6). There are 7 sections, 7 occurrences of [[#References to God|Yahweh's name]], and the middle line of the psalm (v.10a) has 7 syllables.
Craigie's two-fold division of the psalm (Section 1: vv.2-11; Section 2: vv.12-18) is not supported by the evidence (see below on [[#Cohesion|cohesion]] and [[#Discontinuity & boundaries|Discontinuity & boundaries]]).'"`UNIQ--ref-00000DDF-QINU`"' +
There are two rhetorical questions in this psalm (3 according to the LXX):
*'''v.3.''' The first question (עַד מֶה), which the psalmist poses to בני אישׁ, functions as a rebuke.
**The LXX has two questions in this verse, ἕως πότε (עד מה) in v.3a and ἵνα τί (למה) in v.3b, since it apparently read כבדי לב למה for כבדי לכלמה (see [[#Variants]]).
*'''v.7a.''' The second question (מִי), raised by "many" (בני אישׁ = רַבִּים?), expresses a wish.'"`UNIQ--ref-00000BF0-QINU`"' This question seems to reflect a context where people were in despair and feeling like things were not going well in their lives.
These two questions frame the series of imperatives at the heart of the psalm (vv.4-6). +
There is relatively little rare vocabulary in this psalm (contrast with Psalm 6). The only word that occurs less than 10 times is הִפְלָה (v.4a). +
Third person throughout. See [[#Subject change|table]] below. +
This is a generic article where adjective > abstract substantive (cf. הָרַע, Jdg. 3:7)'"`UNIQ--ref-00000BC0-QINU`"' +