Psalm 16/Notes/Lexical.v. 2.310650

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  • The psalmist calls YHWH his "lord" (אֲדֹנָי) and his "good" (טוֹבָתִי). The word lord (אָדוֹן) refers to someone who is in "a position of authority over another" (SDBH). The word good (טוֹבָה) describes a "state in which people go through a time of relative prosperity" (SDBH). In this case, "good" is a figure of speech (metonymy) for "source of good." Compare similar expressions like "YHWH is... my salvation" (Ps 27:1; >> "YHWH is the source of my salvation") and "YHWH is our righteousness" (Jer 23:6; >> "YHWH is the source of our righteousness"). The NJPS, therefore, translates טוֹבָתִי as "my benefactor."