Property: Body
From Psalms: Layer by Layer
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Given the clear and consistent meaning elsewhere of נָתַן הוֹד עַל ("bestow glory on someone") as well as the fact the heavens become the object of marvel in v. 4f (which assumes that they are glorious), the interpretation "on the heavens" is to be preferred.[5] YHWH bestows "glory" (הוֹד) on the heavens (v. 2) just as he bestows "glory" (הוֹד) on humans (v. 6).
* "The heavens" (הַשָּׁמיִם) at the end of v. 2b is parallel with "the earth" (הָאָרֶץ) at the end of v. 2a. Together, the pair "heaven" and "earth" refer to the entire created world (cf. Gen. 1:1) as the sphere of YHWH's lordship. +
How you decide to translate the names and titles of God is a complex issue; see the ''Names and Titles of God'' document for a more detailed explanation of the 3 main references for God in the Old Testament. +
Nursing children represent the weakest and most vulnerable part of the human race (cf. 1 Sam. 15:3; 22:29; Jer. 44:7; Lam. 1:16; Joel 2:16). In ancient Israel, "nursing children" may have included children up to three years of age.[17] The parallels between vv. 2-3 and vv. 4-5 suggest that the nursing children (v. 3) stand figuratively for all of humanity (v. 5), of which they are the weakest part. Thus, "we may take 'babes and infants' as a metaphor for the weak and inherently helpless condition of human beings."[18] More specifically, the nursing children may be an image of Israel and her kings.[19]
* Mouth (פִּי) is metaphorical for speech. It is through the helpless cries of children (metaphorical for the desperate prayers of his people) that YHWH protects his people. +
Some good advice on how to handle imagery +
Some good advice on how to handle key terms +
Some good advice on how to handle names +
Some good advice on how to handle other important words +
Stringed instruments are used for a few psalms. We are still researching this topic and will include that information here when available. Stay tuned! +
The Hebrew name means “uncle” or “beloved”. It is said DAY-vid in English or dah-VEED in Hebrew (and some other languages). +
The repetition of this word might represent the universality/totality of divine and human dominion. It is used twice in the outer edges of the psalm to refer to the scope of God's dominion (vv.2b, 10b) and twice in the body of the psalm to refer to the scope of humanity's dominion (vv.7b-8a). Alter identifies כֹּל as "the chief thematic key-word of the psalm. ''God's'' dominion is over all, heaven and earth, angels and men and creatures of the field and air and sea, and he places 'all' at the feet of man." (25) +
We hope to provide more information on "the Director" in the future. For now, see detailed information on Lamnaṣṣēaḥ [[Lamnaṣṣēaḥ|here.]] +