Psalm 14 Discourse
From Psalms: Layer by Layer
Macrosyntax
- Not a single coordinating conjunction! And, few subordinating ones. It seems the psalmist opted for juxtaposition/asyndeton rather than using waws to make a series of statements, each with its own "punch".
- v. 2: new stanza begins, marked by introduction of YHWH as subject and participant. This stanza gives the perspective of YHWH about humankind/the wicked.
- v. 2a: YHWH is marked topic; the prepositional phrase מִשָּׁמַיִם֮ is focussed, possibly to highlight the location of YHWH, high above humans (literally and metaphorically). His perspective is entirely different than that of humans.
- v. 2b: the infinitive לִ֭רְאוֹת sets off the direct quote/inner thought of YHWH, and gives the reason for his action in 2a.
- v. 2c: this clause is an appositive, describing who the מַשְׂכִּ֑יל is (the one who "acts wisely") from 2b
- v. 3a &b: the fronting of the subjects in these lines serves to contrast all the אֵ֣יןs in vv. 1-3; though the words have opposite meanings (all vs. none), their statements have the same propositional meaning
- v. 3d: the word גַּם is a focus particle, marking an idea that is contrary to expectation, or an extreme case (BHRG §41.4.5.2.1.c)--here, one might expect that at least ONE wise person could be found, but that is not the case!
- v. 4a: the particle(s) הֲלֹ֥א grammatically is functioning either as an asseverative particle (asserting the certainty of a statement) or introducing a rhetorical question that should have for an answer "yes" but is essentially "no"; either way, it is functioning to emphasize the information in the verse (for more info, see https://psalms.scriptura.org/w/Grammar,_Participants,_and_Meaning_of_Psalm_14:4)
- v. 4b &c: these two subordinate clauses serve as elaboration, re-characterizing "all who do evil" (HDOT (ESV)) 2012).
- v. 5: new stanza begins, signaled by the particle שָׁ֤ם as well as the thetic statement. שָׁ֤ם, as BDB 1027.1 states, "In poetry, pointing to a spot in which a scene is localized vividly in the imagination"
- vv. 5 & 6: linked by parallel structure (action by the wicked in line A + כִּֽי in line B introducing reason for line A + verbless statement about YHWH)
- v. 6a: the fronting of the object, עֲצַת־עָנִ֥י , "the insight of the oppressed", might serve to highlight the theme of folly vs. wisdom in this psalm.
- v. 7a: though מִ֥י יִתֵּ֣ן is functioning grammatically as a question marker, it's serving semantically as an expression of a wish or desire ("Oh that....!") This verse/stanza is looking forward to a future time. The fronting of "from Zion" emphasizes that salvation will only come from YHWH.
- v. 7b: this clause is subordinate to the two clauses that follow, providing their circumstance (a conditional that is sure to happen)
Speech Act Analysis
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Affect Analysis
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