The Grammar and Meaning of Ps. 67:3

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Introduction

Translators and interpreters have differed in their understanding of the syntax and semantics of Psalm 67:3, especially the first word לָדַ֣עַת. These differences change how one understands the relationship between verses 2-4, with implications for how we understand the Psalm as a whole.

The text is as follows:


2 ‏ אֱלֹהִ֗ים יְחָנֵּ֥נוּ וִֽיבָרְכֵ֑נוּ| May God be gracious to us and bless us.
יָ֤אֵ֥ר פָּנָ֖יו אִתָּ֣נוּ סֶֽלָה׃ | May he make his face shine on us {selah},

3 לָדַ֣עַת בָּאָ֣רֶץ דַּרְכֶּ֑ךָ | ? to know ? your way on earth,
בְּכָל־גּ֝וֹיִ֗ם יְשׁוּעָתֶֽךָ׃ | your salvation among all nations.

4 יוֹד֖וּךָ עַמִּ֥ים ׀ אֱלֹהִ֑ים | Let the peoples praise you, O God.
י֝וֹד֗וּךָ עַמִּ֥ים כֻּלָּֽם׃ | Let the peoples praise you, all of them.


Five Options:

There are five main options for rendering this verse. Four of them read לָדַ֣עַת as introducing a purpose/result clause continuing v.2, and one of them as a circumstantial clause prefacing v.4.

These options, illustrated by modern translations, are as follows:


Purpose/result clause:

1. “Us” as subject
We will know - your way - on earth

  • Douay: That we may know thy way upon earth, thy salvation in all nations.


2. “Way” as subject
Your way - be made known - on earth

  • ESV: that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations.


3. “Earth” as subject
The earth - will know - your way

  • NJB: Then the earth will acknowledge your ways, and all nations your power to save.


4. Preserve ambiguity
To know - your way - on earth

  • Robert Alter: to know on the earth Your way, among all the nations Your rescue


Circumstantial clause:

5. Circumstantial
Knowing - your way - on earth

  • Marvin Tate (WBC): Knowing your way on the earth, your saving-work among all the nations,


In the following argument maps we will first address the issue of whether לָדַעַת here should be read as a introducing a purpose/result clause or as a circumstantial clause. Then we will consider the strengths and weaknesses of the four purpose/result clause options.


Argument Maps

Purpose/Result Clause or Circumstantial Clause?


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[Purpose/Result Clause]: The לָדַעַת of v.3 should be read as introducing a purpose/result clause continuing from v.2. 
 <_ <''Selah''>: The ''Selah'' seems to create a break between the main clause of v.2 and the purpose/result clause of v.3. #dispreferred
  <_ <Parallel Uses of ''Selah''>: In Ps.55:19 Selah appears in the middle of a sentence. Also possibly in Ps. 68:8.
 + <Default Reading>: This is the default reading of an infinitive construct with a ל-prefix.
  + [ADD CITATION FROM GRAMMAR?]: Or not necessary?
 + <Ancient + Modern Support>: Almost all translations, ancient and modern, follow this reading.
  + See ancient and modern translations below.
 + <Context>: This reading fits more logically with the overall structure of the Psalm.
  + For example, it does not break up the fixed section of v.4-6 which begins and ends with the same refrain. Also mirrors the possible purpose/result clause of v.8.


Argument Mapn0Purpose/Result ClauseThe לָדַעַת of v.3 should be read as introducing a purpose/result clause continuing from v.2. n1ADD CITATION FROM GRAMMAR?Or not necessary?n6Default ReadingThis is the default reading of an infinitive construct with a ל-prefix.n1->n6n2See ancient and modern translations below.n7Ancient + Modern SupportAlmost all translations, ancient and modern, follow this reading.n2->n7n3For example, it does not break up the fixed section of v.4-6 which begins and ends with the same refrain. Also mirrors the possible purpose/result clause of v.8. n8ContextThis reading fits more logically with the overall structure of the Psalm.n3->n8n4''Selah''The ''Selah'' seems to create a break between the main clause of v.2 and the purpose/result clause of v.3. n4->n0n5Parallel Uses of ''Selah''In Ps.55:19 Selah appears in the middle of a sentence. Also possibly in Ps. 68:8.n5->n4n6->n0n7->n0n8->n0



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[Circumstantial Clause]: The לָדַעַת of v.3 should be read as introducing a circumstantial clause prefacing v.4. #dispreferred 
 + <''Selah''>: The ''Selah'' seems to create a break between the main clause of v.2 and the purpose/result clause of v.3. It is therefore preferable to connect v.3 with v.4. #dispreferred
  <_ <Parallel Uses of ''Selah''>: In Ps.55:19 Selah appears in the middle of a sentence. Also possibly in Ps. 68:8.
 + <לָדַעַת as circumstantial>: Tate argues that לָדַעַת can be read a circumstantial, quoting GKC §114o (Tate 1998 :C:). #dispreferred
  <_ <Unusual Order>: There is no precedent for an infinitive-circumstantial clause occurring before its main clause.
   + In GKC §114o 34 examples of circumstantial infinitive constructs are listed. However, in every single one the infinitive-circumstantial clause occurs after the main clause, whereas in Ps.67:3 it would precede the main clause.


Argument Mapn0Circumstantial ClauseThe לָדַעַת of v.3 should be read as introducing a circumstantial clause prefacing v.4. n1In GKC §114o 34 examples of circumstantial infinitive constructs are listed. However, in every single one the infinitive-circumstantial clause occurs after the main clause, whereas in Ps.67:3 it would precede the main clause. n5Unusual OrderThere is no precedent for an infinitive-circumstantial clause occurring before its main clause.n1->n5n2''Selah''The ''Selah'' seems to create a break between the main clause of v.2 and the purpose/result clause of v.3. It is therefore preferable to connect v.3 with v.4. n2->n0n3Parallel Uses of ''Selah''In Ps.55:19 Selah appears in the middle of a sentence. Also possibly in Ps. 68:8.n3->n2n4לָדַעַת as circumstantialTate argues that לָדַעַת can be read a circumstantial, quoting GKC §114o (Tate 1998 🄲). n4->n0n5->n4


Options 1-4

Having clarified why לָדַעַת should be read as a purpose/result clause, we must now consider options 1-4, with special focus on who the subject of the לָדַעַת is.


1. “Us” as subject (Plausible)
We will know - your way - on earth

2 ‏ אֱלֹהִ֗ים יְחָנֵּ֥נוּ וִֽיבָרְכֵ֑נוּ| May God be gracious to us and bless us.
יָ֤אֵ֥ר פָּנָ֖יו אִתָּ֣נוּ סֶֽלָה׃ | May he make his face shine on us {selah}, 3 לָדַ֣עַת בָּאָ֣רֶץ דַּרְכֶּ֑ךָ | that we may know your way on earth,
בְּכָל־גּ֝וֹיִ֗ם יְשׁוּעָתֶֽךָ׃ | your salvation among all nations.

4 יוֹד֖וּךָ עַמִּ֥ים ׀ אֱלֹהִ֑ים | Let the peoples praise you, O God.
י֝וֹד֗וּךָ עַמִּ֥ים כֻּלָּֽם׃ | Let the peoples praise you, all of them.

  • Douay: That we may know thy way upon earth, thy salvation in all nations.

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[The subject of לָדַעַת is "we/us"]: In v.2 the Psalmist prays for God to be gracious to "us", to bless "us", and to make his face shine on "us". The 1st-person object of these verbs in v.2. becomes the implied subject of לָדַעַת in v.3. 
 + <Similar Constructions Exist>: There is precedent for the object of a preceding verb becoming the subject of לָדַעַת.
  + See, for example, Dt. 4:35 (To you it was shown that you might know that the LORD, He is God.). See also Jer. 24:7 and Ezek. 20:12. 
 + <Common Phrase>: Knowing (or not knowing) God's way(s) is a common phrase.
  + See for example Ps. 95:10 and Jer. 5:4. 
 + <Ancient Support>
  + The Vulgate explicitly takes this reading and the LXX, although somewhat ambiguous, is best read in this way. 
 <_ <Lacks Modern Support>: Not a single modern translation follows this reading.


Argument Mapn0The subject of לָדַעַת is "we/us"In v.2 the Psalmist prays for God to be gracious to "us", to bless "us", and to make his face shine on "us". The 1st-person object of these verbs in v.2. becomes the implied subject of לָדַעַת in v.3. n1See, for example, Dt. 4:35 (To you it was shown that you might know that the LORD, He is God.). See also Jer. 24:7 and Ezek. 20:12. n4Similar Constructions ExistThere is precedent for the object of a preceding verb becoming the subject of לָדַעַת.n1->n4n2See for example Ps. 95:10 and Jer. 5:4. n5Common PhraseKnowing (or not knowing) God's way(s) is a common phrase.n2->n5n3The Vulgate explicitly takes this reading and the LXX, although somewhat ambiguous, is best read in this way. n6Ancient Supportn3->n6n4->n0n5->n0n6->n0n7Lacks Modern SupportNot a single modern translation follows this reading. n7->n0


2. “Way” as (grammatical) subject
Your way - be made known - on earth

2 ‏ אֱלֹהִ֗ים יְחָנֵּ֥נוּ וִֽיבָרְכֵ֑נוּ| May God be gracious to us and bless us.
יָ֤אֵ֥ר פָּנָ֖יו אִתָּ֣נוּ סֶֽלָה׃ | May he make his face to shine upon us {selah}, 3 לָדַ֣עַת בָּאָ֣רֶץ דַּרְכֶּ֑ךָ | that your way may be known on earth,
בְּכָל־גּ֝וֹיִ֗ם יְשׁוּעָתֶֽךָ׃ | your saving power among all nations.

4 יוֹד֖וּךָ עַמִּ֥ים ׀ אֱלֹהִ֑ים | Let the peoples praise you, O God;
י֝וֹד֗וּךָ עַמִּ֥ים כֻּלָּֽם׃ | Let all the peoples praise you!

ESV 


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[The (grammatical) subject of לָדַעַת is God's "way" (ָדַּרְכֶּך)]: In v.2 the Psalmist prays for God to be gracious to "us", to bless "us", and to make his face shine on "us". The 1st-person object of these verbs in v.2. becomes the implied subject of לָדַעַת in v.3. 
 + <Similar Constructions Exist>: There is precedent for the object of a preceding verb becoming the subject of לָדַעַת.
  + See, for example, Dt. 4:35 (To you it was shown that you might know that the LORD, He is God.). See also Jer. 24:7 and Ezek. 20:12. 
 + <Common Phrase>: Knowing (or not knowing) God's way(s) is a common phrase.
  + See for example Ps. 95:10 and Jer. 5:4.


Argument Mapn0The (grammatical) subject of לָדַעַת is God's "way" (ָדַּרְכֶּך)In v.2 the Psalmist prays for God to be gracious to "us", to bless "us", and to make his face shine on "us". The 1st-person object of these verbs in v.2. becomes the implied subject of לָדַעַת in v.3. n1See, for example, Dt. 4:35 (To you it was shown that you might know that the LORD, He is God.). See also Jer. 24:7 and Ezek. 20:12. n3Similar Constructions ExistThere is precedent for the object of a preceding verb becoming the subject of לָדַעַת.n1->n3n2See for example Ps. 95:10 and Jer. 5:4. n4Common PhraseKnowing (or not knowing) God's way(s) is a common phrase.n2->n4n3->n0n4->n0
+ [Supporting evidence title]: List supporting evidence here.
 <_ <Undercutting statement title>:Type undercutting statement here (Author Date:Page :C:).#dispreferred
 - <Refuting statement title>:Type refuting statement here (Author Date:Page :C:; Author Date:Page :A:).#dispreferred
+ <Supporting argument title 2>: Type supporting argument here (Author Date:Page :C:).
+ <Supporting argument title 3>: Type supporting argument here (Author Date:Page :G:).
- <Refuting argument title>: Type refuting argument here (Author Date:Page :G:).



3. “Earth” as subject
The earth - will know - your way

4. Preserve ambiguity
To know - your way - on earth

Conclusion

Research

Translations

Ancient

Modern

Secondary Literature

References

67:3