Psalm 112/Notes/Lexical.V. 2.206229
From Psalms: Layer by Layer
- The word גִּבֹּור refers to "a human being... who is renowned for his characteristics, such as physical strength, power, bravery, skill, wealth, good character, or a combination thereof." It is associated with kingship, and is often applied to kings (cf. Ps. 45:4; Ps. 24:8 [// מלך]; Ps. 33:16 [// מלך]; Dan. 11:3 [מֶלֶךְ גִּבֹּור]). The phrase גבור בארץ occurs only elsewhere in Gen. 10:8//1 Chron. 1:10, where it describes Nimrod, who, though he is not called a "king" (מלך) is said to have had a "kingdom" (ממלכה). Although it is possible, in this instance, that the word גבור is describing Nimrod's greatness as a hunter and not as a king per se (cf. the phrase גִבֹּר־צַיִד in the following clauses), it's more likely that גבור בארץ is a general description of his greatness as a ruler (cf. Ges-18 "Gewaltherrscher auf Erden") and that skilled hunting is but one manifestation of his greatness/kingship—"to be a great hunter... was a claim associated with royal status."[1] Thus, the use of גבור (singular!) in Ps. 112 is one indication that the "man" in this psalm is a king.[2]
- Most translations read אָרֶץ as "the land (of Israel)", but if the man is a king with international significance, then ארץ might refer more broadly to the "the earth", as in Gen. 10:8.
- The meaning of "blessed" (יברך pual) depends on who is doing the blessing and who is being blessed. If the generation of upright ones is being blessed by YHWH, then the verb refers to a "causative action by which deities grant a special favor to humans."[3] If, however, the generation of upright ones is "blessing" the "man," then it would mean "to pronounce blessed," or, "to congratulate" (see e.g. 2 Sam. 8:10; Ps. 49:19), or, perhaps even "to praise". In either case, the meaning might be similar to Psalm 72:17 which, like Ps. 112:2, celebrates the king's legacy; the king is both blessed by others and a source or blessing to them: יְהִ֤י שְׁמ֨וֹ לְֽעוֹלָ֗ם לִפְנֵי־שֶׁמֶשׁ֮ יָנִין שְׁ֫מ֥וֹ וְיִתְבָּ֥רְכוּ ב֑וֹ כָּל־גּוֹיִ֥ם יְאַשְּׁרֽוּהוּ׃.