Psalm 112/Notes/Grammar.V. 2.129355

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  • The prepositional phrase בָּאָרֶץ' probably modifies גִּבּוֹר adjectivally, as suggested by the word order and the prosodic structure (see MT accents). Cf. the phrase גִּבֹּר בָּאָרֶץ in Gen. 10:8. (Contrast the interpretation of the Peshitta, in which the phrase was probably understood adverbially: ܢܗܘܐ ܚܝܠܬܢ ܙܪܥܗ ܒܐܪܥܐ܂).
  • It is not clear whether גִּבּוֹר is an adjective or a noun.[1] If זַרְעוֹ is a collective (seed>>descendants), then גִּבּוֹר is an adjective ("his descendants will be mighty"). If, however, זַרְעוֹ refers to a singular offspring (seed>>descendant/child), then גִּבּוֹר can be read as a noun.
  • The grammar of v. 2b is difficult. There are at least three options.
    • vV 2b is an independent clause in which דּוֹר יְשָׁרִים is the subject and יְבֹרָךְ is the predicate. E.g., NIV: "the generation of the upright will be blessed" (cf. LXX, Jerome, NLT, ESV, NRSV, NET, LUT, ELB, EÜ, ZÜR).
    • The noun phrase דּוֹר יְשָׁרִים in v. 2b is in apposition to גִּבּוֹר in v. 2a, and יְבֹרָךְ is an asyndetic relative clause. E.g., "His descendants will be mighty in the land, a generation of upright people (who will be) blessed" (cf. NEB, JPS85; so Rashi [דור ישרים אשר יבורך יהיה זרעו]). But the phrase גִּבּוֹר בָּאָרֶץ is probably not a collective (cf. Gen. 10:8).
    • v. 2b is an independent clause in which דּוֹר יְשָׁרִים adverbially modifies the verb יְבֹרָךְ (preferred). E.g., "in the generation of the upright he will be blessed" (so Peshitta: ܘܢܬܒܪܟ ܒܕܪܐ ܕܙܕܝܩ̈ܐ܂; Targum: בדר תריציא יתברך). This view works well in the context of the psalm. The "man" is the topic of the psalm and so is the most probable subject of the 3ms verb יְבֹרָךְ. The whole of v. 4, then, is about this man's legacy. The first half of the verse talks about his offspring, and the second half of the verse talks about him being blessed in a (future) generation.
  1. Cf. Ges18: "subst. u. adj. Gebr. oft nicht z. unterscheiden."