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!" Ancient and modern versions, along with commentators, are divided on the interpretation of this phrase, as seen in the three representative English translations below:

Douay-Rheims Bible (itself a translation of the Vulgate): "O Lord, remember David, and all his meekness."
ESV: "Remember, O LORD, in David’s favor, all the hardships he endured."
NIV: "LORD, remember David and all his self-denial."

The main possibilities for what exactly the psalmist asks YHWH to remember are as follows:

All David's humility (repoint the text as a noun)
All David's afflictions (external opposition) (MT)
All David's self-inflicted hardship (MT)

The first option requires revitalisation of the MT, and the second two options represent two different ways of understanding the MT. Given the place of this phrase within the opening sentence of the psalm, and given its importance as a direct appeal to YHWH, its interpretation has a significant bearing on how one understands the rest of the psalm.

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. עֻנּוֹתוֹ, the nominal form עַנְוָתוֹ (his 'humility', 'meekness') is the correct reading. #dispreferred
 + <Ancient versions>: This reading is supported by the LXX and Syriac. #dispreferred
  _ <Same consonantal text>: The Grk translator was likely reading the same consonantal text, so the LXX is not evidence of a variant reading.   
  + [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, 1955: 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)" (cf. 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.
 - <Differs from MT>: The revocalised reading is not required semantically or grammatically, and does not explain the MT spelling.

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 ark narrative>: 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
 + <OT succession narrative>: The reference here is to the difficulties David experienced at the hands of Saul, after his anointing and before his coronation (Futato 2009: 398 :C:). #dispreferred
 + <Lexical semantics>: The verb (pu. binyan) can refer to external affliction (e.g. Isa 53:4): 'to become degraded, humiliated' (HALOT :L:). #dispreferred
  _ <Other senses>: The verb (pu. binyan) can also refer to self-inflicted hardship.
   + [Use of pu. verb in reference to self-inflicted hardship]: Lev 23:29 (probably references to fasting; cf. Péter-Contesse and Ellington 1992 :C:); cf. pi. in Lev 23:27.  
 - <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; there is no mention of enemies.

Option 3: "Self-denial" (preferred)

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 ('his painstaking effort', Allen)
  + [Similar uses of pu. verb]: Lev 23:29 (probably references to fasting; cf. Péter-Contesse and Ellington 1992 :C:); cf. pi. in Lev 23:27. 
  _ <Other senses>: The pu. binyan can also refer to external affliction (Isa 53:4; Ps 119:71): 'to become degraded, humiliated' (HALOT :L:). #dispreferred
 + <Hardships associated with temple-building>: This work, including preparations for building, is presented as a 'burden' or 'slavish toil' for the king (Gerstenberger, 2001 :C:).
  + <Nominal form>: The n. עֳנִי ('affliction, misery') is used of David’s preparations for the temple, a sense which "matches the present context very well" (Goldingay 2008: 545 :C:).
   + [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

All three exegetical options result in a coherent interpretation, and it appears that each has historic and translation precedent. However, the third option is preferred here since it does not require emendation, and since it best supports the subject matter of Psalm 132 as a whole and the content of the immediately following text (vv. 2–3.

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

Allen, Leslie. 2002. Psalms 101–150 (Revised). WBC. Dallas: Thomas Nelson.

Futato, Mark D. 2009. "The Book of Psalms." In Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, Vol 7: The Book of Psalms, The Book of Proverbs. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House.

Gerstenberger, Erhard S. 2001. Psalms, Part 2, and Lamentations. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.

Goldingay, John. 2008. Psalms: Psalms 90-150. Vol. 3. BCOT. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic.

Johnson, Aubrey. 1955. Sacral Kingship in Ancient Israel. Eugene, OR: Wipft and Stock.

Péter-Contesse, René and John Ellington. 1992. A Handbook on Leviticus. UBS Helps for Translators. New York: UBS.

VanGemeren, Willem. 2008. “Psalms.” Vol. 5 in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Psalms (Revised Edition). Edited by Tremper Longman III and David E. Garland. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

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"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

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