Exegetical Issue—Tyler

Introduction

Modern translations understand the relationship between the clauses in Psalm 19:4 in two alternative ways.

First, the majority of translations render the Psalm 19:4b as an independent clause.

They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. (NIV)

A minority of translations, however, translate the final part of the phrase as a relative clause.

There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. (ESV)

The alternative translations substantially change the meaning of the verse. In the first option (i.e., independent clause), the sound of the words and speech cannot be heard. In the second option (i.e., relative clause), the words and speech are heard universally (Futato, 2009, 89-90).

Argument Maps

19:4b as an Independent Clause

The majority of modern translations render Psalm 19:4b as an independent clause (cf. NET, NIV, CEV, GNT, etc.).

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[Independent Clause]: Psalm 19:4b is an independent clause. #dispreferred
  +<Absence of a Relative Particle>: The Masoretic Text does not have a relative particle before בלי נשׁמע קולם. #dispreferred
    <-<Ommission of Relative Particle>: The relative particle is sometimes omitted in Hebrew poetry (Calvin, :C:)  
    <-<Necessary Words>: Some additional word (e.g., like, but, etc.) must be provided to make sense of the relationship between v. 4b and its surrounding context if this is not a relative clause (cf. “yet” at the beginning of 19:5 in the NRSV). (Charry, 2015, Psalm 19 :C:; Brueggemann, 2014: 102 :C:) #dispreferred 
  +<The Antecedent of קולם>: The 3mp suffix refers either to יוֹם and  לַיְלָה or הַשָּׁמַיִם. (Kirkpatrick, 1897, 103, :C:; Alexander, 1864, 96, :C: ) #dispreferred
    <-<דברים as antecedent>: The plural noun דברים can function as the antecedent of the pronominal suffix. This is especially the case if it is an asyndetic relative clause (Holmstedt, 2016: 83 :M:) 
    +[Antecedent of קום]: The antecedent of קום in Ps 19:5a is השׁמים from 19:2. #dispreferred
  -<Contradiction>: If 19:4b is an independent clause, it creates a contradiction in the Psalm's message. 
    +<Sound or Not?>: The absence of sound does not make sense with the psalm's emphasis on the heavens making a sound (Charry, 2015, Psalm 19 :C:). 
      +[Contextual Evidence]: Psalm 19:2, 3, and 5 stress the auditory nature of creation's speech (e.g., מְֽסַפְּרִ֥ים ; מַגִּ֥יד; יַבִּ֣יעַֽ; יְחַוֶּה; מִלֵּיהֶ֑ם) 
      <_<This is a Pseudo-Contradiction>: The two statements seem contradictory on the surface, but the contradiction highlights the verse's truth: one cannot literally hear the heavens' speech, but you can certainly perceive it. (Wagner, 1999: 250 :A:) #dispreferred
  -<בלי with Passive Participles>: When בלי appears with a passive participle, it subordinates the preceding material. (Futato, 2009: 89-90 :C:)
    +[Examples: בלי with Pass. Participles]: 2 Samuel 1:21; Hosea 7:8; cf. DCH 2.177 (Futato, 2009: 89-90 :C:)

19:4b as a Relative Clause

A few modern translations render Psalm 19:4b as a relative clause (JPS 1985; ESV; NIV 1984). Numerous ancient versions support this translation (cf. LXX, Aquila, Symmachus, Jerome, Peshitta).

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[Relative Clause]: Psalm 19:4b is a relative clause.
  +<Asyndetic Relative Clause>: Relative clauses can be asyndetic in Hebrew poetry (IBHS 19.6 :G: Joüon, §158.a :G:; Holmstedt, 2016: 81 :M:).  
    +<Attributive Asyndetic Clauses>: Biblical Hebrew juxtaposes asyndetic relative clauses with their primary clauses to express an attributive relationship. (IBHS, 19.6a :G:)
      +[Examples of Asyndetic Attributive Clauses]: Isa 5:11; Ps 51:10 (IBHS 19.6 :G:) 
  +<Ancient Versions>: Several ancient versions have a relative particle (cf. LXX, Aquila, Symmachus, Targum, Peshitta) 
    +<Not a Text Critical Issue>: The unanimity of the relative particle in ancient versions without an extant Hebrew text containing the relative particle suggests this is not a text-critical issue.
  +<Coherence with Romans 1:18-23>: Taking this as a relative clause emphasizes the universal scope of creation's witness to God's glory that is similar to Romans 1:18-23 (Wilson, 2014: Psalm 19 :C:) 
    <_<The Psalm Still Makes the Point>: The universal reach of creation's witness to God's glory is evident in vv. 2 and 5. It is not dependent on the relative clause. #dispreferred 
  +<בלי with Passive Participles>: When בלי occurs with a passive participle, it marks a subordinate clause 
    +[Examples of בלי with Passive Participles]: (cf. 2 Sam 1:21; Hos 7:8; Futato, 2009: 89-90 :C:) 
  +<Antecedent of קולם>: Asyndetic relative clauses are usually immediately adjacent to the head noun. (Holmstedt, 2016: 83 :M:)
    +[Examples of Adjacent Antecedents]: Exod 18:20; Ps 7:16; 
    <_<Antecedent of קום>: The antecedent of the 3mp pronominal suffix in Ps 19:5 is שׁמים from Ps 19:2. This may suggest the 3mp suffix of קולם should also be שׁמים. #dispreferred
  +<Emphasis on Speech>: The relative clause supports the emphasis on speech in the psalm.
    +[Lexcial Evidence]: Psalm 19:2 (מְֽסַפְּרִ֥ים; מַגִּ֥יד); Psalm 19:3 (יַבִּ֣יעַֽ ;יְחַוֶּה)
    <_<Figurative Speech>: The psalm uses personification. The statement that the heavens speak but makes no sound is not actually contradictory from a poetic perspective. #dispreferred
  +<Universal Scope>: The relative clause further emphasizes the universal scope of creation's praise about God.
    +[Evidence of Universal Scope]: Psalm 19:5 בְּכָל־הָאָ֨רֶץ and וּבִקְצֵה תֵבֵל 
    <_<Independent Clause Does Not Negate>: If Psalm 19:4b is an independent clause, this does not negate the universal reach of creation's praise of God. #dispreferred

Conclusion

In conclusion, we have translated Psalm 19:4b as an asyndetic relative clause: There is no speech and there are no words, whose sound is unheard.

Though this is a minor position among modern translations, it is preferred for the following reasons:

First, it coheres well with the ancient witnesses. LXX, Aquila, Symmachus, Jerome, and Peshitta all understood the underlying Hebrew text as an asyndetic relative clause. This is evidenced by the inclusion of a relative particle in these translations.

Second, the grammatical structure conforms to known examples of other asyndetic relative clauses. The head noun (דברים) serves as the antecedent of קולם.

Third, it coheres with the emphasis on speech in the preceding verses and the universal reach of that speech in v. 5.

In conclusion, Psalm 19:4b should be understood as a relative clause that emphasizes the universal reach of creation's praise to God.

Research

Translations

Ancient

• LXX: οὐκ εἰσὶν λαλιαὶ οὐδὲ λόγοι, ὧν οὐχὶ ἀκούονται αἱ φωναὶ αὐτῶν
  • "There are no conversations, there are no words, the articulations of which are not heard."
• Aquila: οὐκ ἔστι λόγος, καὶ οὐκ ἔστι ῥήματα,οὗ μὴ ἀκουσθῇ φωνὴ αὐτοῦ
• Symmachus: οὐ ῥήσεσιν, οὐδὲ λόγοις, ὧν οὐκ ἀκούονται
• Jerome: non est sermo et non sunt verba quibus non audiatur vox eorum
• Targum: לית מימר דתורעמתא ולית מילי דשגושא דלא משתמע קלהון׃
  • "There is no word of commotion, nor are there words of confusion, and their voice is not heard."
• Peshitta: ܠܝܬ ܡܐܡܪܐ ܐܦ ܠܐ ܡ̈ܠܐ܂ ܕܠܐ ܢܫܬܡܥ ܒܩܠܗܘܢ܂
  • "There is no speech or words, for their voice is not heard."

Modern

v. 4b independent clause

• There is no actual speech or word, nor is its voice literally heard. (NET)
• They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. (NIV)
• They don’t speak a word, and there is never the sound of a voice. (CEV)
• No speech or words are used, no sound is heard; (GNT)
• They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. (NLT)
• and this without speech or language or sound of any voice (NEB)
• No utterance at all, no speech, not a sound to be heard, (NJB)
• ohne Sprache und ohne Worte; unhörbar ist ihre Stimme. (Luther 2017)
• Dies alles geschieht ohne Worte, ohne einen vernehmlichen Laut. (HFA)
• Sie tun es ohne Worte, kein Laut und keine Stimme ist zu hören. (NGU)
• ohne Rede und ohne Worte, mit unhörbarer Stimme. (ELB)
• ohne Rede und ohne Worte, ungehört bleibt ihre Stimme. (EU)
• Kein Wort wird gesprochen, kein Laut ist zu hören (GNB)
• ohne Sprache, ohne Worte, mit unhörbarer Stimme. (ZUR)
• Ce n’est pas un recit, il n’y a pas de mots, leur voix ne s’entend pas (TOB)
• Ce n'est pas un langage, ce ne sont pas des paroles, on n'entend pas leur voix. (NBS)
• Ce n'est pas un langage, ce ne sont pas des paroles, Leur voix n'est pas entendue. (NVSR)
• Ce ne sont pas des paroles, ce ne sont pas des discours, ni des voix qu’on peut entendre. (BDS)
• Ce n’est pas un discours, il n’y a pas de paroles, aucun son ne se fait entendre. (PDV)
• Ce n'est pas un discours, ce ne sont pas des mots, l'oreille n'entend aucun son. (NFC)
• Ce n’est pas un langage, ce ne sont pas des paroles, on n’entend pas leur son. (S21)
• No hay lenguaje ni palabras ni es oída su voz. (RVR95)
• Sin palabras, sin lenguaje, sin una voz perceptible, (NVI)
• Aunque no se escuchan palabras ni se oye voz alguna, (DHH)
• Donde no hay lenguaje ni idioma, la voz de Ellos no es para ser oida, (BTX4)

v. 4b relative clause

• There is no utterance, there are no words, whose sound goes unheard. (JPS 1985)
• There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. (ESV)
• There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. (NIV 1984)

Secondary Literature

Alexander, Joseph Addison. Commentary on Psalms. Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 1864.

Brueggemann, Walter, and William H. Bellinger Jr. Psalms. New Cambridge Bible Commentary. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2014.

Calvin, John. Commentary on the Book of Psalms. Translated by James Anderson. Grand Rapids: Christian Classics Ethereal Library, n.d. https://ccel.org/ccel/calvin/calcom08/calcom08.vii.html.

Charry, Ellen T. Psalms 1-50 : Sighs and Songs of Israel. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Brazos Press, 2015. 

Futato, Mark D. “The Book of Psalms,” in Conerstone Biblical Commentary, Vol 7: The Book of Psalms, The Book of Proverbs. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2009.

Holmstedt, Robert D. The Relative Clause in Biblical Hebrew. Winona Lake, Indiana: Eisenbrauns, 2016. 

Kirkpatrick, Alexander Francis. The Book of Psalms. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1897.

Wagner, J. Ross. “From the Heavens to the Heart: The Dynamics of Psalm 19 as Prayer.” The Catholic Biblical Quarterly 61, no. 2 (1999): 245–61.

Wilson, Gerald H. Psalms. Vol. 1. NIVAC. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002.