Psalm 19/Notes/Lexical.V. 2.803569

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  • Articles: Every use of the article in this psalm (vv. 2ab, 5ac, 7a) is real-world identifiable/unique, besides v. 11, which is resuming a previously identified entity.
  • The singular מעשה might refer collectively to YHWH's deeds (so perhaps Symmachus and Targum Pss), to the product which YHWH has created (cf. Ps 102:26; so GNT and CEV: "what he has done"), or to the abstract quality of YHWH's workmanship (cf. Ps 28:5; cf. HALOT; Baethgen 1904, 55: "das Tun Gottes, was er zu tun vermag und zu tun pflegt"). The context (and the parallel with the abstract noun כבוד) suggests the latter. So NLT: "his craftsmanship."
  • The first noun in the construct phrase מַעֲשֵׂה יָדָיו, the abstract noun מַעֲשֵׂה (meaning "workmanship, skill") specifies a characteristic which "his hands" possess (cf. BHRG 25.4.1, "Possession [characteristic]-Possessor").