Psalm 16/Notes/Phrasal.v. 11.788101

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  • The bet prepositional phrase in your right hand (בִּימִינְךָ) could either mean "at your right hand" (ESV, NIV, CSB; cf. LUT) or "in your right hand" (NASB, NJPS; cf. ELB, EÜ, ZÜR, HFA, NGÜ, GNB). According to the former, "delights" (נְעִמוֹת) are in YHWH's presence, next to him, at his right side. According to the latter, "delights" are said to be in (and, by implication, come from) YHWH's hand: "eternal happiness comes from your hand" (cf. GNB, HFA; Ibn Ezra: "like one who gives delightful gifts"). This second interpretation – "in your right hand" – better explains the use of the bet preposition (cf. Isa 44:20; Prov 3:16; so DCH; see also Ps 48:11). For the interpretation "at your right hand," we might have expected the preposition lamed (1 Kgs 2:19; Pss 45:10; 110:1) or עַל (Pss 109:6; 110:5; Zech 4:11; 1 Chr 6:24; 2 Chr 18:18).