Non-Initial Yiqtols in Psalm 18:1–20

Introduction

In Psalm 18:1–20, the Psalmist recounts past instances of God's deliverance. We have argued elsewhere that preterite yiqtol is used throughout this section. In vv. 5b, 8b, 9b and 14a non-initial yiqtol immediately follows either qatal or wayyiqtol. This creates a difficulty in accounting for the actual semantics of the yiqtol in this position. In this argument map we will use verse 5 as a representative case.

The MT of Psalm 18:5 is as follows:

אֲפָפ֥וּנִי מִשְׁבְּרֵי־מָ֑וֶת

וְֽנַחֲלֵ֖י בְלִיַּ֣עַל יְבַֽעֲתֽוּנִי׃

The majority of modern translation and every ancient version reflects an interpretation where the verb יְבַֽעֲתֽוּנִי is preterite, i.e., refers perfectively to an event in the past, whether that event is anterior to speech time or some other time of reference.

• E.g., “the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me” (ESV).

Other modern translations reflect a pluperfect interpretation, i.e., an event that is anterior to another past event but whose resultant state somehow continues into that other past event.

• E.g., Ropes from the world of the dead had coiled around me, and death had set a trap in my path (CEV).

A few modern translations reflect a past progressive reading, i.e., reference to the middle of the event as it was unfolding.

• E.g., “La mort m'enserrait de ses liens, et, comme un torrent destructeur, me terrifaiait” (BDS).

Finally, two translations reflect an interpretation where 15b is future with regard to the event expressed in 15a, i.e., a future in the past.

• E.g., “With Death's breakers closing in on me, Belial's torrents ready to swallow me...”(NJB)

In the following argument maps, we argue for a reading similar to a future-in-the-past, namely an ingressive reading i.e., entrance into the beginning of the event. Our translation will be given in the conclusion seciton.

Argument Maps

Preterite

The majority of modern translations and every ancient version reflects an interpretation where the verb יְבַֽעֲתֽוּנִי is preterite, i.e., refers perfectively to an event in the past, whether that event is anterior to speech time or some other time of reference; so ESV “the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me” (cf. NET, NIV, GNT, NLT, REB, NEB, NRSV, JPS1985, LUTH2017, Elderfelder, EÜ, GNB, ZB, TOB, DHH94I, BTX, NVI, RVR95, LXX, Aquila, Symamachus, Vulgate, Targum, Peshitta).

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[Preterite]: The non-initial yiqtol יְבַֽעֲתֽוּנִי in v. 5 is preterite. #dispreferred
 +<Preterite yiqtol>: Preterite yiqtols occur in Psalm 18 (cf. Notarius 2013, 310–313 :M:) #dispreferred
  +[Preterite yiqtols in Psalm 18]: E.g., “He stretched forth his hand (יִשְׁלַ֣ח) and took me (יִקָּחֵ֑נִי)” (v. 17a–b; cf. 12, 17c, 18–19). #dispreferred
  -<Non-initial>: The preterite yiqtols in vv. 12; 17–19 are all clause initial. 
 +<Context>: V. 5b is clearly in a context where events in the past are being referred to perfectively (Craigie 2004, 169 :C:).#dispreferred
  +<Qatals>: The events referred to in vv. 5a and 6 are referred to with qatal forms (cf. Longacre 2006, 28 :A:). #dispreferred
   +[Qatals in vv. 5a and 6]: “The breaker waves of Death surrounded (אֲפָפ֥וּנִי) me...the cords of Sheol entangled (סְבָב֑וּנִי) me. Death's traps rushed upon me (קִ֝דְּמ֗וּנִי)”. #dispreferred
  <_<Switch left unexplained>: Assuming the yiqtol has the same semantics with the surrounding qatals leaves the reason for the switch unexplained.
   <_<Poetic effect>: The switch from qatal to yiqtol is for a particular poetic effect such as merrism or binding of the lines (cf. Buth 1986 :A:). #dispreferred
    <_<Separate matter>: The poetic effect of the yiqtol is not relevant for the actual semantics of the form (cf. Niccacci 2006 254 :A:).
  

Perfect-in-the-past (pluperfect)

Other modern translations reflect a pluperfect interpretation, i.e., an event that is anterior to another past event but whose resultant state somehow continues into that other past event. So CEV “Ropes from the world of the dead had coiled around me, and death had set a trap in my path” (cf. NBS, NVS78P, S21)

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[Pluperfect]: The non-initial yiqtol יְבַֽעֲתֽוּנִי in v. 5a is pluperfect. #dispreferred
 <_<Ungrammatical>: There are no cases of pluperfect yiqtol in the Hebrew Bible (cf. JM §113 :G:; GKC §107 :G:).

Past Progressive

A few modern translations reflect a past progressive reading, i.e., reference to the middle of the event as it was unfolding. So BDS La mort m'enserrait de ses liens, et, comme un torrent destructeur, me terrifaiait (cf. PDV2017; NFC).

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[Progressive]: The yiqtol in v. 5a יְבַֽעֲתֽוּנִי expresses progressive aspect. #dispreferred
 <_<Ungrammatical>: Yiqtol cannot express progressive aspect (Joosten 2002 :A:), which is rather reserved for the participle (see Andrason 2011 nn. 13–14 :A:)

Future-in-the-past (specifically, Ingressive) (Preferred)

A few modern translations reflect a future-in-the-past interpretation. So NJB “With Death's breakers closing in on me, Belial's torrents ready to swallow me...“ (cf. HFA). That is, the event expressed by יְבַֽעֲתֽוּנִי in 5a is posterior to some other event in the past. We accept this basic function of yiqtol. More specifically, we interpret the form as expressing that the completion of the event will be in the “future” relative to some other point in time. That is, the beginning of the action has already begun. This phasal aspect is known as “ingressive”.

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[Future-in-the-past (ingressive)]: The non-initial yiqtol יְבַֽעֲתֽוּנִי in v. 5a expresses a future in the past with a strong implicature of ingressive aspect.
 +<Meaning of yiqtol>: The yiqtol form is fundamentally a posterior (see Robar 2023 :P:).
  -<Yiqtol as aspectual>: “The imperfect, as opposed to the perfect, represents actions, events, or states which are regarded by the speaker at any moment as still continuing, or in process of accomplishment, or even as just taking place.” (GKC §107a :G:). #dispreferred
   <_<Aspect accounted for by RPM>: The perfective, perfect, progressive, and habitual aspect may be defined in terms of reference point movement, without needing to assign them to the verb's semantics (see Robar 2023 :P:).
 +<Posteriority implies ingressive>: Posteriority may imply that what is posterior is the completion of event, in which case the event has begun.
 +<All x-yiqtols in Psalm 18:1–20 explained>: Ingressive readings provide compelling readings of all non-initial yiqtols in Psalm 18:1–20.
  +[Ingressive non-initial yiqtols in Psalm 18]: “The breaker waves of Death surrounded me as the torrents of Beliya'al began to overwhelm me (יְבַֽעֲתֽוּנִי)” (v. 5); “The earth then quivered and quaked as the mountains began to shake (יִרְגָּ֑זוּ)” (v. 8); “Smoke went up from his mouth as fire from his mouth began to consume (תֹּאכֵ֑ל)”; “And YHWH thundered from heavens as the most high began to raise (יִתֵּ֣ן) his voice” (v. 14).
 +<Non-initial past yiqtols elsewhere>: Other non-initial yiqtols in past contexts are well-read as ingressives.
  +[Non-initial past yiqtols]: “Hushai, David's friend, came into the city while Absalom began to enter (יָבֹ֖א ) Jerusalem” (2 Sam 15:37); “And the Lord brought about a great victory in that day, and the men began to return (יָשֻׁ֥בוּ ) after him” (2 Sam 23:10); “And the foundations of the threshold shook from the voice of the caller, as the house began to be filled (יִמָּלֵ֥א) with smoke” (Isa 6:4); “He struck the rock and water poured out, and streams began to overflow (יִ֫שְׁטֹ֥פוּ)” (Psa 78:20).
 

Conclusion

Most attempts to explain the sudden shift to yiqtol in Psalm 18:5 either attribute semantics to the verb that are foreign to yiqtol or dismiss it merely as a poetic effect. Neither possibility explains what the form is contributing in this verse and in other verses like it. On the view that yiqtol is fundamentally posterior, and that its aspectual nuances may be accounted for by reference point movement, the ingressive reading presents itself as one that both makes sense of the form and context.

We therefore translate Psalm 18:5 as The breaker waves of death surrounded as the torrents of Beliya'al began to overwhelm me.

The same analysis would apply to the non-initial yiqtols in vv. 8b, 9b, and 14b.

Since no other proposals are viable, and since we offer a solution that is theoretically-grounded as well as produces contextually satisfying readings, we give this solution a B rating.

Research

Translations

Ancient

LXX

περιέσχον με ὠδῖνες θανάτου, καὶ χείμαρροι ἀνομίας ἐξετάραξάν με.

The pangs of death surrounded me, and the torrents of lawlessness troubled (aorist) me.

Aquila

ἀποστασίας obstupescere fecerunt me.

...of rebellion made (perfective past) me astounded.

Symmachus

ἐπτόησάν με.

...terrified (aorist) me.

Latin

circumdederunt me funes mortis et torrentes diabuli terruerunt me.

The ropes of death surrounded me and the rushing streams terrified me.

Targum

אקפתני עקא כאיתא דיתבא על מתברא וחיל לית לה למילד והיא מסכנא ליממת וסיעת טלומיא בעתת יתי.

Misery surrounded me like a woman sitting on the birthstool without having any strength to give birth and deathly ill, and the troop of the oppressor terrified me.

Peshitta

ܡܛܠ ܕܚܕܪ̈ܘܢܝ ܚ݂ܒ̈ܠܐ ܕܡܘܬܐ. ܘܕܓܠܘ̈ܬܐ ܕܥ݁ܘ̈ܠܐ݂ ܕܠܚ̈ܢܝ.

because the birth pains of death surrounded me and the falsity of the unjust troubled me.

Modern

Preterite

• the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me (ESV).
• The ropes of Sheol tightened around me, the snares of death trapped me (NET).
• The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me (NIV).
• The danger of death was around me, and the grave set its trap for me (GNT).
• The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death laid a trap in my path (NLT).
• The bonds of death encompassed me and destructive torrents overtook me (REB).
• When the bonds of death held me fast, destructive torrents overtook me (NEB).
• the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me (NRSV).
• Ropes of death encompassed me; torrents of Belial terrified me (JPS1985).
• Es umfingen mich des Todes Bande, und die Fluten des Verderbens erschreckten mich (LUTH2017).
• Es umfingen mich Bande des Todes, und Bäche des Verderbens erschreckten mich (Elderfelder).
• Mich umfingen die Fesseln des Todes und die Fluten des Verderbens erschreckten mich (EÜ).
• Ich war gefangen in den Fesseln des Todes, vernichtende Fluten stürzten auf mich ein,(GNB).
• Stricke des Todes schnürten mich ein, und Ströme des Verderbens erschreckten mich (ZB).
• Les liens de la mort mo'ont enserré, les torrents de Bélial m'ont surpris (TOB).
• La muerte me envolvió en sus lazos; ¡me encontré en trampas mortales! (DHH94I).
• Me rodearon las ligaduras del Seol, Los lazos de la Muerte surgieron ante mí (BTX).
• Los lazos del sepulcro me enredaron;las redes de la muerte me atraparon (NVI).
• Los lazos del seol me han rodeado, me tendieron redes de muerte (RVR95).

Past Perfect (i.e, Perfect-in-the-Past)

• Ropes from the world of the dead had coiled around me, and death had set a trap in my path (CEV).
• Les liens de la mort m'avaient enserré, et les torrents de la destruction m'avaient rempli d'effroi (NBS).
• Les liens de la mort m'avaient enserré, et les torrents de la destruction m'avaient épouvanté (NVS78P).
• Les liens de la mort m’avaient enserré, et les torrents dévastateurs m’avaient épouvanté (S21).

Past Progressive

• La mort m'enserrait de ses liens, et, comme un torrent destructeur, me terrifaiait (BDS).
• La mort m’avait déjà attaché, elle me faisait peur comme un fleuve en colère (PDV2017).
• Les liens de la mort m'enserraient, des torrents destructeurs m'effrayaient (NFC).

Future in the past

• With Death's breakers closing in on me, Belial's torrents ready to swallow me (NJB).
• Ich war schon gefangen in den Fesseln des Todes, er drohte mich zu verschlingen wie eine mächtige Woge (HFA).

Secondary Literature

Andrason, Alexander. 2010. “The Panchronic Yiqtol: Functionally Consistent and Cognitively Plausible.” The Journal of Hebrew Scriptures 10. https://doi.org/10.5508/jhs.2010.v10.a10.

Buth, Randall. 1986. “The Taxonomy and Function of Hebrew Tense-Shifting in the Psalms.” Selected Technical Articles Related to Translation 15:26–32.

Craigie, Peter C. 1983. Psalms 1–50. WBC 19. Waco, TX: Word.

Joosten, J., 2002. Do the finite verbal forms in Biblical Hebrew express aspect?. Journal of the Ancient Near Eastern Society, 29(1):49–70.

Longacre, Robert E. 2006. “Discourse Structure, Verb Forms, and Archaism in Psalm 18.” Journal of Translation 2 (1): 17–30. https://doi.org/10.54395/jot-je6cc.

Niccacci, Alviero. 2006. “The Biblical Hebrew Verbal System in Poetry.” In Biblical Hebrew in Its Northwest Semitic Setting: Typological and Historical Perspectives, edited by Steven E. Fassberg and Avi Hurvitz, 247–68. Publication of the Institute for Advanced Studies, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem 1. Jerusalem: Hebrew University Magnes Press.

Notarius, Tania. 2013. The Verb in Archaic Biblical Poetry: A Discursive, Typological, and Historical Investigation of the Tense System. Leiden: Brill.

Robar, Elizabeth. 2023. “A Possible Poetic Constraint: Reference Point Movement”. Conference Paper. Society of Biblical Literature, San Antonio, TX.

References

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