Psalm 19/Story Behind/Assumptions

From Psalms: Layer by Layer
Jump to: navigation, search

Assumptions Table

Verse Text (Hebrew) Text (CBC) The Close-but-clear translation (CBC) exists to provide a window into the Hebrew text according to how we understand its syntax and word-to-phrase-level semantics. It is not intended to be used as a stand-alone translation or base text, but as a supplement to Layer-by-Layer materials to help users make full use of these resources. Proposition Common Ground Local Ground Playground
1 לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד For the director. A psalm. By David.
2a הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם מְֽסַפְּרִ֥ים כְּבֽוֹד־אֵ֑ל The sky is declaring God’s honor, The sky declares God's honor.
  • "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" (Gen 1:1); the sky is "the work of YHWH's hands" (Ps 102:26; cf. Ps 8:4).
  • The term אֵל identifies YHWH as the God of the universe, the creator of heaven and earth (see SDBH on EL: "with singular meaning: = the highest God, creator of heaven and earth"; cf. אלהים in Gen 1; on the use of אֵל see also Cassuto 1941, lectures 2-3).
  • "Declaring God's honor" (i.e., praising God) often takes poetic form, especially in the Psalms.
2b וּֽמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יָ֝דָ֗יו מַגִּ֥יד הָרָקִֽיעַ׃ and the firmament is telling about the workmanship of his hands. The firmament tells about the workmanship of God's hands.
  • God created the firmament on the second day of creation in order to separate the water above from the water below (Gen. 1).
  • God called the firmament "sky" (Gen 1:8).
  • The firmament was made of solid material (cf. Job 37:18; see also the ancient versions). "Historical evidence shows that virtually everyone in the ancient world believed in a solid firmament" (Seely, “The Firmament and the Water Above, Part 1,” 236; but see Walton 2011 who argues that the רקיע refers to a vast space ["expanse"]).
  • "The first role of the rāqīʿa was to create the space in which people could live. The second... was to be a mechanism by which precipitation was controlled" (Walton 2011).
3a י֣וֹם לְ֭יוֹם יַבִּ֣יעַֽ אֹ֑מֶר Day after day pours out speech, Day after day pours out speech.
  • On the first day of creation, before creating the sky, God created "day" and "night", i.e, he created time (Gen 1:3-5)
  • God created the sun (which rules the day), the moon (which rules the night), and the stars, and he put them "in the firmament of the sky" (ברקיע השמים) in order to separate day from night and to illuminate the earth (Gen 1:14-15)
3b וְלַ֥יְלָה לְּ֝לַ֗יְלָה יְחַוֶּה־דָּֽעַת׃ and night after night imparts knowledge. Night after night imparts knowledge.
4a אֵֽין־אֹ֭מֶר וְאֵ֣ין דְּבָרִ֑ים There is no speech, and there are no words There is speech and there are words whose sound is not being heard.
  • Everyone can see the sky
  • Everyone experiences the movement of time (day and night)
4b בְּ֝לִ֗י נִשְׁמָ֥ע קוֹלָֽם׃ whose sound is not being heard.
5a בְּכָל־הָאָ֨רֶץ ׀ יָ֘צָ֤א קַוָּ֗ם Its verse line has gone forth throughout the whole earth, The sky's verse-line goes forth throughout the whole earth.
  • People who "declare" (v. 2a) words about God according to a rhythm (v. 3) are poets (on ספּר as associated with reciting a poem, see e.g. Ps 9:2b)
  • "YHWH created the heavens and the earth" (Gen 1:1). Together "heaven" and "earth" represent the totality of God's creation.
5b וּבִקְצֵ֣ה תֵ֭בֵל מִלֵּיהֶ֑ם and its words [have gone forth] throughout the edge of the world. The sky's words go forth throughout the edge of the world.
5c לַ֝שֶּׁ֗מֶשׁ שָֽׂם־אֹ֥הֶל בָּהֶֽם׃ He has set up in it a home for the sun, God sets up a home for the sun in the sky.
  • God placed the sun "in the firmament of the sky" (ברקיע השמים)
  • YHWH has spread out the sky like a tent (Isa 40:22; 44:24; 45:12; 51:13; Zech 12:1; Ps 104:2)
6a וְה֗וּא כְּ֭חָתָן יֹצֵ֣א מֵחֻפָּת֑וֹ and he is like a bridegroom coming out of his tent. The sun is like a bridegroom coming out of his tent.
6b יָשִׂ֥ישׂ כְּ֝גִבּ֗וֹר לָר֥וּץ אֹֽרַח׃ He is glad, like a warrior, to run his course. "The sun is glad, like a great one, to run his course."
  • The sun is like a runner who runs millions of miles every day.
    • "In a brief day you race a course, hundreds thousands, millions of miles" (Egyptian sun god hymn, COS 1.27, 43).
    • "to the limit of all that you made, Being Re, you reach their limits... though one sees you, your strides are unseen" (hymn to the Aten, COS 1.28)
  • Great warriors (גבורים) are especially good runners (cf. Joel 2:7; Job 16:14),
  • The sun is a king-like figure, the ruler over the day (cf. Gen 1:16; Ps 136:8), and kings were expected to be great warriors who could run long distances (cf. 2 Sam 1:23; 22:33, 37; see Demsky 2005; on the celestial bodies as warriors, cf. Jdg 5:20)
7a מִקְצֵ֤ה הַשָּׁמַ֨יִם ׀ מֽוֹצָ֗אוֹ His starting point is from the edge of the sky, The sun's starting point is from the edge of the sky.
  • The sun rises (זרח) in the east (מזרח, קדם)
7b וּתְקוּפָת֥וֹ עַל־קְצוֹתָ֑ם and his turning point is at its edges, The sun's turning point is at its edges.
  • The sun sets (בוא) in the west (ימה)
  • The sun "reaches the ends of the lands every day" (Egyptian sun god hymn COS 1.27, 44), at which point he turns around and returns to his starting point "for this is the entrance for its nocturnal journey back under the earth" (HALOT; cf. Keel 1997, 22-23).
7c וְאֵ֥ין נִ֝סְתָּ֗ר מֵֽחַמָּתוֹ׃ and nothing is hidden from his heat. Something is hidden from the sun's heat.
  • The sun's heat is potentially deadly (cf. Ps 121:6; an Egyptian sandstone relief from the third century BC shows two cobras coming out of the winged sun [Keel 1997, Fig. 21])
8a תּ֘וֹרַ֤ת יְהוָ֣ה תְּ֭מִימָה מְשִׁ֣יבַת נָ֑פֶשׁ YHWH’s instruction is perfect, restoring life. YHWH’s instruction is perfect. YHWH's instruction restores life.
  • The sun is closely associated with righteousness and law.
    • "for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness (שמש צדקה) will rise with healing in its rays" (Mal 3:20 [4:2], NIV).
    • "And justice (הצדק) will be revealed like the sun (כשמש)..." (IQ27 I:6–7, García Martínez and Tigchelaar 1997, 66).
  • Throughout the ANE, the sun-god is associated with righteousness and law (cf. Sarna 1965, 173).
      • In Mesopotamia, the sun-god Shamash was known as "the careful judge who gives just verdicts" (COS 1.117), the "judge (dayyān) of heaven and earth" and "the judge (šaipí-iṭ) of gods and men" (see Sarna 1965, 173).
      • In Egypt, the sun-god Re "'judges the wicked from the just;' 'judges the weak the injured;' he is 'maker of righteousness'" (Sarna 1965, 173, citing Pritchard 1969, 24, 366-367).
  • The sun gives and restores life
    • "for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays" (Mal 3:20 [4:2], NIV).
    • "...O living Aten, creator of life!... "Giver of breath, to nourish all that he made" (COS 1.28, Great Hymn to the Aten); "The one who gives life, who revives the dead" (Sarna 1965, 173, citing Tallqvist 1938, 458f).
8b עֵד֥וּת יְהוָ֥ה נֶ֝אֱמָנָ֗ה מַחְכִּ֥ימַת פֶּֽתִי׃ YHWH’s testimony is reliable, making simpletons wise. YHWH’s testimony is reliable. YHWH’s testimony makes simpletons wise.
  • The sun endures forever
    • "His offspring shall endure forever, his throne as long as the sun before me" (Ps 89:37, ESV).
    • "...whose ordinances are permanent, whose ordinances stand fast and are not destroyed... whose statues fail not" (Sarna 1965, 173, citing Budge 1960, 112f)
  • The sun-god is thought to give wisdom to people.
    • "You grant wisdom, O Shamash, to humankind. You grant those seeking you your raging, fierce light... You grant wisdom to the limits of the inhabited world" (Shamash hymn, COS 1.117, 419)
9a פִּקּ֘וּדֵ֤י יְהוָ֣ה יְ֭שָׁרִים מְשַׂמְּחֵי־לֵ֑ב YHWH’s commandments are just, causing the heart to rejoice. YHWH’s commandments are just. YHWH's commandments cause the heart to rejoice.
  • The sun is associated with justice and uprightness (see notes on v. 8a)
  • The sun causes joy
    • "But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves" (Mal 3:20 [4:2], NIV).
    • "Every land rejoices at his rising" (COS 1.27, hymn to Egyptian sun-god); "the patricians are happy when you rise" (COS 1.25, Egyptian hymn to Amun-Re); "'when thou wisest in the horizon of heaven, a cry of joy goeth forth to three from all people.' 'In every place every heart swelleth with joy at thy rising'" (Sarna 1965, 174, citing Budge 1960, 347f).
9b מִצְוַ֥ת יְהוָ֥ה בָּ֝רָ֗ה מְאִירַ֥ת עֵינָֽיִם׃ YHWH’s command is flawless, giving light to the eyes. YHWH’s command is flawless. YHWH's command gives light to the eyes.
  • The sun is "flawless"
    • "fair as the moon, bright as the sun (בָּרָה֙ כַּֽחַמָּ֔ה)" (Song 6:10, NIV).
  • The sun gives light
    • "Through you do all eyes see... When you stir to rise at dawn, Your brightness opens the eyes of the herds" (COS 1.27, Egyptian sun-god hymn).
  • (See notes on v. 8b)
10a יִרְאַ֤ת יְהוָ֨ה ׀ טְהוֹרָה֮ עוֹמֶ֪דֶת לָ֫עַ֥ד Fearing YHWH is pure, enduring forever. Fearing YHWH is pure. Fearing YHWH endures forever.
10b מִֽשְׁפְּטֵי־יְהוָ֥ה אֱמֶ֑ת צָֽדְק֥וּ יַחְדָּֽו׃ YHWH’s rules are true; they are altogether right; YHWH's rules are true. YHWH's rules are altogether right.
  • The sun is associated with righteousness (see notes on v. 8a)
11a הַֽנֶּחֱמָדִ֗ים מִ֭זָּהָב וּמִפַּ֣ז רָ֑ב those which are more desirable than gold, even much pure gold, "YHWH's rules are more desirable than gold, even much pure gold,"
  • The sun god is said to be finer than gold.
    • "fine gold does not match your splendor" (Egyptian sun god hymn, COS 1.27, 43)
11b וּמְתוּקִ֥ים מִ֝דְּבַ֗שׁ וְנֹ֣פֶת צוּפִֽים׃ and sweeter than honey, even virgin honey from the honeycomb. "YHWH's rules are sweeter than honey, even virgin honey from the honeycomb."
  • The sun god is said to be sweet
    • "Lord of sweetness, rich in love... Love of You is in the southern heaven, Your sweetness in the northern heaven" (COS 1.25, Egyptian hymn of praise to Amun-Re).
12a גַּֽם־עַ֭בְדְּךָ נִזְהָ֣ר בָּהֶ֑ם Furthermore, your servant is warned by them. YHWH's servant is warned by YHWH's rules
  • The sun not only brings enormous benefits, it also exposes darkness. In the same way, YHWH's law exposes sin.
    • "At the brightness of your light, humankind's footprints become visible" (Shamash hymn, COS 1.117, 418).
  • When the prophet Isaiah heard the Seraphim declaring the glory of God, he became aware of his own uncleanness, particularly the uncleanness of his speech (Isa 6; cf. Ps 19:15), and he recognized the peril of his situation (אוי לי כי נדמיתי, Isa 6:5). (Similarly, when David hears the sky declaring the glory of God and when he feels the heat of YHWH's all-searching Word, which is like the sun, he is "warned" i.e., he is made aware of his perilous situation).
  • The word "warned" (נזהר) is associated with illumination.
    • "And those who are wise shall shine (יַזְהִרוּ) like the brightness (כְּזֹהַר) of the sky above" (Dan 12:3, ESV); "...something like the appearance of brightness (זֹהַר)" (Ezek 8:2); "then the righteous will shine (נזהרון) like the sun" (Matt 13:43 in Old Syriac).
12b בְּ֝שָׁמְרָ֗ם עֵ֣קֶב רָֽב׃ There is great reward in keeping them. There is great reward in keeping YHWH's rules
  • "Keeping" the commands enabled Israel to possess the land (Deut 11:8)
  • Keeping the commands was also necessary in order to remain in the land (Deut 11:9), because if the people kept the commands, then YHWH sent seasonal rains (Deut 11:10-17).
13a שְׁגִיא֥וֹת מִֽי־יָבִ֑ין Who can discern mistakes? Someone realizes his own mistakes
  • Mistakes are sins which a person commits consciously and inadvertently. "Either the offender knows the law but accidentally violates it or he acts deliberately without knowing he did wrong" (Milgrom 1968)
13b מִֽנִּסְתָּר֥וֹת נַקֵּֽנִי׃ Clear me from the guilt of hidden sins! YHWH clears his servant from the guilt of hidden sins
  • Hidden sins are sins which a person commits unconsciously (see Milgrom 1968, 120; cf. 1QS 5:11-12)
14a גַּ֤ם מִזֵּדִ֨ים ׀ חֲשֹׂ֬ךְ עַבְדֶּ֗ךָ Also, prevent your servant from committing presumptuous sins! YHWH prevents his servant from committing presumptuous sins
  • Presumptuous sins are sins which a person commits consciously and deliberately, knowing that he is violating YHWH's law (cf. Exod 21:14)
14b אַֽל־יִמְשְׁלוּ־בִ֣י Do not let them rule over me! Presumptuous sins rule over YHWH's servant
  • Sin threatens to rule over people, but people must rule over sin (cf. Gen 4:7)
  • Sacrifices must be "blameless" (תמים) if they are to be acceptable (לרצון) to YHWH
אָ֣ז אֵיתָ֑ם Then I will be blameless YHWH's servant is blameless
  • If a person is ruled by sin, then that person will commit great crime (cf. Gen 4)
14c וְ֝נִקֵּ֗יתִי מִפֶּ֥שַֽׁע רָֽב׃ and innocent of great crime. YHWH's servant is innocent of great crime
15a יִֽהְי֥וּ לְרָצ֨וֹן ׀ אִמְרֵי־פ֡י Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart The words of David's mouth and the meditation of his heart are acceptable before YHWH, his rock and his redeemer
  • Blameless sacrifices are acceptable (לרצון) to YHWH.
    • Cf. note on lexical semantics: The phrase היה לרצון usually refers to "(divine) acceptance, oft. of sacrifice or of people offering a sacrifice to Y[HWH]" (DCH). Just as a sacrificial animal with any defect was not acceptable to YHWH (Lev 22:20 לֹ֥א לְרָצֹ֖ון יִהְיֶ֥ה) but only those animals which were 'blameless' (Lev 22:21, תָּמִ֤ים יִֽהְיֶה֙ לְרָצֹ֔ון), so the psalmist, now that YHWH has made him 'blameless' (איתם, v. 14b), can offer words which are acceptable to YHWH.
  • Words and thoughts represent a person's overall moral state
15b וְהֶגְי֣וֹן לִבִּ֣י לְפָנֶ֑יךָ be acceptable before you,
15c יְ֝הוָ֗ה צוּרִ֥י וְגֹאֲלִֽי׃ YHWH, my rock and my redeemer!