Psalm 19/Notes/Lexical.V. 2.731315

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The Sky Declaring God's Honor (vv. 2-5)
Input 1: Sky Input 2: Poet
Topic described The sky (specifically the continuation of the created order which is observable in the sky) shows God's honor (cf. v. 2). Poets can declare (ספר) the honor of YHWH (cf. Ps 9:2) or the honor of a king (cf. Ps 45:2).
Means The sky communicates through the continued sequence of day and night (cf. v. 3). Poets communicate rhythmically, generally through song.
Skill level The sky is beautiful and awe-inspiring (cf. Ps 8). Poets communicate with skill (e.g., prosody, alliteration, word play, images, etc.).
Audience Everyone can see the sky (cf. v. 5ab). Poets recite to an audience.
Blend
Sky acting as a poet
Implicatures
  • The sky is constantly reciting (even singing) a poem.
  • The topic of the sky's poem is God's honor and skill (cf. v. 2).
  • The rhythm of the sky's poem is the rhythmic alternation of day and night (cf. קַו ['measured verse line'] in v. 5a).
  • The sky has a universal audience; everyone can listen to the sky's poem.
  • The artistry of the sky's poem lies in the power and beauty of the celestial bodies (sun, moon, and stars) and their patterned movements across the sky (cf. Ps 8:4).
  • Just as poems are characterized by patterned repetition, so the movements of the sun, moon, and stars are characterized by patterned repetition.
Figure Prominence HIGH. Personification itself, which is very common in Hebrew poetry, is low in prominence. The image here, however, which is sustained and developed across several verses (vv. 2-5), grows to a point of high prominence. It contributes to the theme of speech which is key to understanding the psalm. The psalm begins with the glorious speech of the sky (vv. 2-7), moves on to discuss the perfect speech of YHWH's Word (vv. 8-11), and closes with the inglorious and imperfect speech of YHWH's servant (vv. 12-15). Thus, the personification of the sky as a poet not only contributes to the poem's liveliness and beauty, it also contributes to the main theme of the psalm.