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:

All David's humility or meekness (repoint the text as a noun)
All David's afflictions (external opposition) (MT)
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]: Instead of MT pu. inf. constr., the nominal form עַנְוָתוֹ (his 'humility', 'meekness') is the correct reading. #dispreferred
 + <Ancient versions>: This reading is supported by the LXX and Syriac. #dispreferred
  + [Evidence for supporting argument]: LXX: πάσης τῆς πραΰτητος αὐτοῦ ('all his meekness'); Syr. ܡܘܟܟܗ ('self abasement'). #dispreferred
 + <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:). #dispreferred
 + <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 Sam 6:16, 20–22)" (VanGemeren, 2008: 926 :C:). #dispreferred
  _ <Ark journey as 'affliction'>: The same experience (2 Sam 6:16, 20–22) could be described using the verb as it appears in the MT.

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. #dispreferred
 + <OT Accounts>: The narratives in Samuel describe a variety of external pressures involved in bringing the ark to Jerusalem. #dispreferred
  + [References]: 2 Sam 5:17–25 (defeat of the Philistines); 6:1–11 (death of Uzzah), 20–23 (Michal's rebuke). #dispreferred
 - <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.

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 (probably references to fasting; cf. Péter-Contesse and Ellington 1992 :C:). 
  _ <Other senses>: The pu. binyan can also refer to external affliction (e.g. Isa 53:4): 'to become degraded, humiliated' (HALOT :L:). #dispreferred
 + <Nominal form>: The n. עֳנִי ('affliction, misery') is used of David’s preparations for the temple.
  + [Reference]: 1 Chron 22:14 - With 'affliction' (‏בְעָנְיִי) I prepared for the house of YHWH".
 + <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.

Conclusion

Research

Translations

Ancient

LXX: Μνήσθητι, κύριε, τοῦ Δαυιδ καὶ πάσης τῆς πραΰτητος αὐτοῦ^[1]
- Brenton: Lord, remember David, and all his meekness.^[2]
- NETS: O Lord, remember Dauid and all his meekness,^[3]
Targum: אידכר ייי לדוד ית כל סיגופיה׃^[4]
Syriac: ܐܬܕܟܪ ܡܪܝܐ ܠܕܘܝܕ ܘܠܟܠܗ ܡܘܟܟܗ^[5]; in Heb characters, עַנְוָתוֹ (his 'humility', 'self-abasement')
Vul.: Memento Domine David et omnis adflictionis eius^[6]

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

[1] Rahlfs 1931.

[2] Brenton's LXX Translation.

[3] NETS.

[4] CAL

[5] CAL

[6] Gryson, 4th edition.

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The Meaning of ענותו in Ps. 132:1