Ps. 6:1

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Psalms Layer by Layer (semantics) - Frame 43(2).jpg
Psalms Layer by Layer (semantics) - Frame 43(1).jpg





Analytical summary

The title of Psalm 6 (v. 1 in the Hebrew text) gives information on the genre (mizmor), author (David), and liturgical use of the psalm (for the music director, with stringed instruments on the eighth).

Text, gloss, & translation
Verse Hebrew MT Interlinear gloss Meaning-based translation
v. 1 לַמְנַצֵּ֣חַ בִּ֭נְגִינוֹת עַֽל־הַשְּׁמִינִ֗ית מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד׃ For-the-director, with-stringed-instruments, on-the-eighth, belonging-to-David For the director of music. With stringed instruments. On the eighth. A song. By David.

Argument maps


Analysis

Grammar

Grammatical diagram

Ps. 6.1 grammar.jpg

Participant analysis

Semantics

Lexical semantics

SDBH
Word POS Lexical domain Contextual domain Definition Gloss
נצח verb Control Music and Dance action by which humans supervise, direct or oversee work (such as building or repairing) or worship (such as singing or playing instruments) to lead; to oversee; to direct
נְגִינָה noun Musical Instruments Music and Dance musical instrument with strings, such as a lute or lyre stringed instrument
שְׁמִינִי adj ? Music and Dance The meaning of "the eighth" (הַשְּׁמִינִית) eighth
מִזְמֹור noun Sing Music and Dance a type of song, probably to be accompanied by musical instruments psalm; song
דָּוִד name Names of People man; ◄ son of Jesse; ► king of Israel David
Example of a stringed instrument

Assumptions

Common ground
  • It is normal for songs to have superscriptions.[1] E.g., "the superscripts to Egyptian hymns mention genre classification and/or authorship."[2]
  • The consistent structure of biblical psalm superscriptions is (1) +/- address (2) +/- musical notation (3) +/- genre/author (4) +/- liturgical notation (5) +/- historical superscription[3]
  • David is a king. For more on the significance of kingship, see Kingship and the Psalms.
  • David is a musician (1 Sam. 16:17ff.; 2 Sam. 1:17ff.; 22:1f; 23:1f.; Amos 6:5).
  • "Music is an accomplishment that kings - Shulgi, king of Ur, or David, king of Israel - needed to master in order to become model rulers. Therefore, music was part of the education of rulers and the elite" (Caubet, in Behind the Scenes of the Old Testament, 2018:468-9).
  • In the psalms, as elsewhere in the ANE, "the king is privileged in prayer," and he is "prominent in leading prayers."[4]
Play-ground
  • As a song of David, this has the imprimatur of the king.
  • This song is to be interpreted as from David's perspective.
  • This psalm is to be performed/prayed by Israelites other than David.


References

  1. ↑ James B. Pritchard, ed., Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament, Third Edition with Supplement (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1969): 365-81.).
  2. ↑ Waltke 1991:587
  3. ↑ Daniel Bourguet, “La structure des titres des psaumes,” Revue d’Histoire et de Philosophie Religieuses, 61, 1981, 109-124).
  4. ↑ Eaton 1975:174, 195.