Psalm 19/Notes/Lexical.V. 8.425320
From Psalms: Layer by Layer
Instruction-Sun (Ps 19:8-11) | ||
Input 1: YHWH's covenant instruction | Input 2: Sun | |
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Source | Given by YHWH | Created by YHWH (Gen 1:16) |
Purpose | To teach Israel how to live as YHWH's people; to illuminate the paths of life (cf. Ps 119:105) | To illuminate the earth (Gen 1:15) |
To distinguish YHWH's people from the nations (cf. Exod 19:5-6; Lev 20:24; 1 Kgs 8:53 [הבדיל]) | To separate (להבדיל) day from night (Gen 1:14) | |
To be the means by which YHWH rules over his people; to govern the behavior of his people | To rule the day (Gen 1:16) | |
Attributes | Perfect (v. 8a); flawless (בָּרָה v. 9b) | Flawless/bright (בָּרָה֙ כַּֽחַמָּ֔ה) (Song 6:10) |
True (אֱמֶת v. 10b) and, therefore, reliable (נֶאֱמָנָה v. 8b) | Faithful to rise every morning and, therefore, a reliable witness to the continuation of the created order (cf. Gen 8:22; Ps 89:37-38) | |
Just (v. 9a); righteous (v. 10b) | A symbol of righteousness and justice (cf. Mal 3:20; IQ27 I:6–7; the Hammurabi stele; cf. Sarna 1965, 173). | |
Pure (טְהוֹרָה v. 10a) | Associated with the pure (טְהוֹרָה) (cf. טֹהַר in Exod 24:10; טְהָרוֹ in Ps 89:45; cf. Eaton 1968) | |
Benefits | Restores life (v. 8a) | Gives and restores life (cf. Mal 3:20; the Great Hymn to the Aten in COS 1.28; cf. Sarna 1965, 173). |
Makes wise (v. 8b) | Associated with the gift of wisdom (cf. the Shamash Hymn in COS 1.1117), perhaps insofar as wisdom is associated with light | |
Causes to rejoice (v. 9a) | Causes to rejoice (cf. Mal 3:20; Hymn to Egyptian sun god in COS 1.27; COS 1.25; cf. Sarna 1965, 174) | |
Gives light to eyes (v. 9b), i.e., brings spiritual refreshment | Gives light to eyes | |
Potential dangers | Brings a curse on Israel if they do not keep it (cf. Deut 28:15-68 | Strikes (הכה) people who are unprotected (Isa. 49:10; Jon. 4:8; Ps. 121:6) |
Temporal duration | Enduring forever (v. 10a) | Enduring forever (cf. Ps 89:37) |
Blend | YHWH's sun-like covenant instruction
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Implicatures |
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Figure Prominence | HIGH In one sense, the image is subtle and low in prominence, because the psalm never explicitly compares YHWH's instruction to the sun. However, by putting the description of YHWH's instruction (vv. 8-10) immediately after the description of the sun (vv. 5c-7) and by using terms to describe YHWH's instruction which are also appropriate to the sun, the psalm strongly encourages a comparison between the sun and YHWH's instruction. Indeed, it is the recognition of this implicit comparison that unlocks the meaning of the whole psalm (see the Story Behind triangles, where the main parts of the psalm are linked by the assumption YHWH's instruction is like the sun). |