Psalm 19 Test Phrasal

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Psalm 19 Phrase-Level Analysis & Diagrams

The following grammatical diagrams are zoomable, and the lexical and phrasal overlays can be toggled on/off. Notes on the semantic layers can be found beneath each verse's diagram.

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About the Phrasal Layer

Phrasal Visuals for Psalm 19

V. 1


Preferred

SimpleGrammar
Fragment [v. 1]
    PrepositionalPhrase 
      Preposition
        preposition: לַ for
      Object
        article: הַ <status="elided"> the
        verb-participle: מְנַצֵּחַ director
  Fragment 
    Nominal
      noun: מִזְמוֹר psalm
  Fragment
    PrepositionalPhrase <gloss="by David">
      Preposition
        preposition: לְ of
      Object
        noun: דָוִד David
  Fragment <status="alternative">
    Nominal 
      noun: מִזְמוֹר psalm
      Adjectival
        PrepositionalPhrase <gloss="by David">
          Preposition
            preposition: לְ of
          Object
            noun: דָוִד David

Note for V. 1

Sample Phrase-level note for Ps 19:1


V. 2


Preferred

SimpleGrammar
Fragment [v. 2]
    Clause
      Subject
        article: הַ the
        noun: שָּׁמַיִם sky
      Predicate
        verb-participle: מְסַפְּרִים is declaring
        Object
          ConstructChain
            noun: כְּבוֹד honor
            noun: אֵל God
    Conjunction
      conjunction: וּ and
    Clause
      Subject
        article: הָ the
        noun: רָקִיעַ firmament
      Predicate
        verb-participle: מַגִּיד is telling about
        Object
          ConstructChain <gloss="the workmanship of his hands">
            noun: מַעֲשֵׂה workmanship
            noun: יָדָי hands
            suffix-pronoun: ו him
        Object <status="alternative">
          noun: מַעֲשֵׂי <status="emendation">

Phrase-Level Notes

  • 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").


V. 3


Preferred

SimpleGrammar
Fragment [v. 3]
    Clause
      Subject
        Nominal
          ConstructChain 
            noun: movement <status="elided"> 
            noun: יוֹם day 
        Adjectival 
          PrepositionalPhrase 
            Preposition
              preposition: לְ to
            Object
              noun: יוֹם day
      Predicate
        verb: יַבִּיעַ causes to bubble up >> pours out
        Object
          noun: אֹמֶר speech
    Conjunction
      conjunction: וְ and
    Clause
      Subject
        Nominal
          ConstructChain
            noun: movement <status="elided">
            noun: לַיְלָה night
        Adjectival
          PrepositionalPhrase
            Preposition
               preposition: לְּ to
            Object
              noun: לַיְלָה night
      Predicate
        verb: יְחַוֶּה imparts
        Object
          noun: דָּעַת knowledge


Alternative 1: יוֹם//לַיְלָה as subjects and לְיוֹם and לְּלַיְלָה as adverbials

SimpleGrammar
Fragment [v. 3 - alternative] <status="alternative">
    Clause
      Subject
        noun: יוֹם day
      Predicate
        verb: יַבִּיעַ causes to bubble up >> pours out
        Adverbial
          PrepositionalPhrase
            Preposition
              preposition: לְ to 
            Object
              noun: יוֹם day
        Object
          noun: אֹמֶר speech
    Conjunction
      conjunction: וְ and
    Clause
      Subject
        noun: לַיְלָה night
      Predicate
        verb: יְחַוֶּה imparts
        Adverbial
          PrepositionalPhrase 
            Preposition
              preposition: לְּ to
            Object
              noun: לַיְלָה night
        Object
          noun: דָּעַת knowledge


Alternative 2: יוֹם לְיוֹם//לַיְלָה לְּלַיְלָה as adverbials

SimpleGrammar
Fragment [v. 3 - alternative] <status="alternative">
    Clause
      Subject
      Predicate
        verb: יַבִּיעַ causes to bubble up >> pours out
        Adverbial
          Nominal
            noun: יוֹם day
            Adjectival
              PrepositionalPhrase
                Preposition
                  preposition: לְ to
                Object
                  noun: יוֹם day
        Object
          noun: אֹמֶר speech
    Conjunction
      conjunction: וְ and
    Clause
      Subject
      Predicate
        verb: יְחַוֶּה imparts
        Adverbial
          Nominal
            noun: לַיְלָה night
            Adjectival
              PrepositionalPhrase
                Preposition
                  preposition: לְּ to
                Object
                  noun: לַיְלָה night
        Object
          noun: דָּעַת knowledge


V. 4


Preferred

SimpleGrammar
Fragment [v. 4]
    Clause
      Subject
        noun: אֹמֶר speech
      Predicate
        Adverbial
          particle: אֵין there is no
    Conjunction
      conjunction: וְ and <height="200">
    Clause
      Subject
        noun: דְּבָרִים words
        RelativeClause
          RelativeParticle
            particle: <status="elided"> whose
          Clause
            Subject
              ConstructChain <gloss="their sound">
                noun: קוֹלָ sound
                suffix-pronoun: ם them <located="relative clause head">
            Predicate
              verb-participle: נִשְׁמָע is being heard
              Adverbial
                particle: בְּלִי not
      Predicate
        Adverbial
          particle: אֵין there are no


Alternative - v. 4b as independent clause

SimpleGrammar
Fragment [v. 4 - alternative] <status="alternative">
    Clause
      Subject
        ConstructChain
          noun: קוֹלָ voice
          suffix-pronoun: ם them
      Predicate
        verb-participle: נִשְׁמָע is being heard
        Adverbial
          particle: בְּלִי not


Vv. 5-6a


Preferred

SimpleGrammar
Fragment [vv. 5-6a]  
    Clause
      Subject
        ConstructChain <gloss="their verse line">
          noun: קַוָּ measuring line >> verse line
          suffix-pronoun: ם them
      Predicate
        verb: יָצָא has gone forth
        Adverbial
          PrepositionalPhrase
            Preposition 
              preposition: בְּ throughout
            Object
              quantifier: כָל whole
              article: הָ the 
              noun: אָרֶץ earth
    Conjunction
      conjunction: וּ and
    Clause
      Subject
        ConstructChain <gloss="their words">
          noun: מִלֵּי words
          suffix-pronoun: הֶם them
      Predicate
        verb: יָצְאוּ <status="elided"> have gone forth
        Adverbial
          PrepositionalPhrase
            Preposition
              preposition: בִ throughout
            Object
              ConstructChain
                noun: קְצֵה edge
                noun: תֵבֵל world
  Fragment
    Clause
      Subject
      Predicate
        verb: שָׂם he has set up
        Adverbial
          PrepositionalPhrase
            Preposition
              preposition: לַ for
            Object
              article: הַ <status="elided"> the
              noun: שֶּׁמֶשׁ sun
        Adverbial
          PrepositionalPhrase
            Preposition
              preposition: בָּ in
            Object
              pronoun: הֶם them
        Object
          noun: אֹהֶל tent >> home
    Conjunction
      conjunction: וְ and
    Clause
      Subject
        pronoun: הוּא he
      Predicate
        verb: is
        Complement
          PrepositionalPhrase
            Preposition
              preposition: כְּ like
            Object
              noun: חָתָן a bridegroom
              Adjectival
                verb-participle: יֹצֵא coming out
                Adverbial
                  PrepositionalPhrase
                    Preposition
                      preposition: מֵ of
                    Object
                      ConstructChain <gloss="his tent">
                        noun: חֻפָּת tent
                        suffix-pronoun: וֹ him

Phrase-Level Notes

  • On the first prepositional phrase (בְּכָל־הָאָרֶץ) with the verb יצא, cf. 1 Chron 15:3—וַיֵּצֵ֥א שֵׁם־דָּוִ֖יד בְּכָל־הָֽאֲרָצֹ֑ות. "Unlike English, Biblical Hebrew does not lexicalize the distinction between dynamic and static location" (BHRG 39.6). In this case, where the location is dynamic (verb יצא), it is glossed "throughout."
  • The second prepositional phrase (וּבִקְצֵה תֵבֵל) is more difficult.
    • Aquila translates it as καὶ εἰς τέλος (cf. LXX εις τα περατα), which might reflect the Hebrew text ולקצה (so BHS). The reading ולקצה would work well with the elided verb יצא (cf. Jer 23:15 יָצְאָ֥ה חֲנֻפָּ֖ה לְכָל־הָאָֽרֶץ). English translations—whether or not they are actually reading a different Hebrew text—gloss the PP in v. 5b similarly to Aquila: "into... to" (NIV), "throughout... to" (NLT), "through... to" (KJV, ESV, NET).
    • Another solution would be to read the plural בקצי תבל (cf. LXX τα περατα; Jerome: finibus; Peshitta ܘܒܣܘ̈ܦܝܗܿ; Targum ובסייפי): "throughout the ends of the world."
    • Another explanation is that the verb יצא is actually not elided in the b-line. Instead, the b-line is a verbless clause: "Their verse-line has gone out throughout the whole earth, and their words (are) in the end of the world" (cf. Deut 30:4—אִם־יִהְיֶ֥ה נִֽדַּחֲךָ֖ בִּקְצֵ֣ה הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם).
    • Some scholars, however, suggest that the ב + singular is appropriate here (e.g., Craigie 1983; Kraus 1988, citing Brockelman 106a). An "edge" (קצה) is not just a thin border, but a space (cf. Gen 23:9—אֶת־מְעָרַ֤ת הַמַּכְפֵּלָה֙ אֲשֶׁר־לֹ֔ו אֲשֶׁ֖ר בִּקְצֵ֣ה שָׂדֵ֑הוּ), and the "edge" of the world is a large space. Just as the words of the heavens can travel "throughout" the whole earth, so that can travel "throughout" the world's edge. Cf. Jenni 1992, 222.
  • The prepositional phrase לַ֝שֶּׁ֗מֶשׁ indicates the beneficiary (cf. Jenni 2000, rubric 3513 [lamed dativum]; cf. Mal 1:3).
  • The prepositional phrase בָּהֶֽם refers to the heavens as the location of the sun's home (v. 2 'in them', so Theodoret 135; Hupfeld 1855, 412; Baethgen 1904, 56). This prepositional phrase connects the second strophe (which is about the sun) to the first strophe (which is about the heavens). It also corresponds poetically to the prepositional phrase בהם in v. 12 (גַּֽם־עַ֭בְדְּךָ נִזְהָ֣ר בָּהֶ֑ם).


Alternative - v. 5a read with קוֹלָם

SimpleGrammar
Fragment <status="alternative">
    Clause
      Subject
        ConstructChain
          noun: קוֹלָ <status="emendation"> voice
          suffix-pronoun: ם them
      Predicate
        verb: יָצָא has gone forth
        Adverbial
          PrepositionalPhrase
            Preposition
              preposition: בְּ in
            Object
              quantifier: כָל all
              article: הָ the
              noun: אָרֶץ earth
  Fragment <status="alternative">
    Clause
      Subject
        ConstructChain <gloss="their words">
          noun: מִלֵּי words
          suffix-pronoun: הֶם them
      Predicate
        verb: are
        Complement
          PrepositionalPhrase
            Preposition
              preposition: בִ in
            Object
              ConstructChain
                noun: קְצֵה edge
                noun: תֵבֵל world


V. 6b


Preferred

SimpleGrammar
Fragment [v. 6b]
    Clause
      Subject
      Predicate
        verb: יָשִׂישׂ he is glad
        Adverbial
          PrepositionalPhrase
            Preposition
              preposition: כְּ like
            Object
              noun: גִבּוֹר a great one
        Adverbial
          PrepositionalPhrase
            Preposition
              preposition: לָ to
            Object
              Clause
                Subject
                Predicate
                  verb-infinitive: רוּץ run
                  Object
                    noun: אֹרַח course

Phrase-Level Notes

  • The prepositional phrase לָר֥וּץ modifies the verb ("is glad... to run"). Cf. 1 Sam 6:13—וַֽיִּשְׂמְח֖וּ לִרְאֹֽות (Jenni 2000, rubric 7924).


V. 7


Preferred

SimpleGrammar
Fragment [v. 7]
    Clause
      Subject
        ConstructChain <gloss="his starting point">
          noun: מוֹצָא starting point
          suffix-pronoun: וֹ him
      Predicate
        verb: is
        Complement
          PrepositionalPhrase <gloss="from the edge of the sky">
            Preposition
              preposition: מִ from
            Object
              ConstructChain
                noun: קְצֵה edge
                Nominal
                  article: הַ the
                  noun: שָּׁמַיִם sky
    Conjunction
      conjunction: וּ and
    Clause
      Subject
        ConstructChain <gloss="his turning point">
          noun: תְקוּפָת turning point
          suffix-pronoun: וֹ him
      Predicate
        verb: is
        Complement
          PrepositionalPhrase
            Preposition
              preposition: עַל at
            Object
              ConstructChain <gloss="its edges">
                noun: קְצוֹתָ edges
                suffix-pronoun: ם them
    Conjunction
      conjunction: וְ and
    Clause
      Subject
        verb-participle: נִסְתָּר something hidden
        Adjectival
          PrepositionalPhrase
            Preposition
              preposition: מֵ from
            Object
              ConstructChain <gloss="his heat">
                noun: חַמָּת heat
                suffix-pronoun: וֹ him
      Predicate
        Adverbial
          adverb: אֵין there is not

Phrase-Level Notes

  • The preposition על sometimes functions as a "contingent locative" (BHRG 39.20), i.e., "The trajector x is not horizontally above the trajector y, but in close proximity to it" (BHRG 39.20, citing Gen 24:43 and Ps 110:5). Hence, "at their edges" rather than "above their edges."[1]


V. 8


Preferred

SimpleGrammar
Fragment [v. 8]
    Clause
      Subject
        ConstructChain
          noun: תּוֹרַת instruction
          noun: יְהוָה YHWH
      Predicate
        verb: is
        Complement
          adjective: תְּמִימָה perfect
    Clause
      Subject <status="elided">
        ConstructChain
          noun: תּוֹרַת instruction
          noun: יְהוָה YHWH
      Predicate
        Complement
          ConstructChain
            Nominal
              verb-participle: מְשִׁיבַת restoring
            noun: נָפֶשׁ life
  Fragment
    Clause
      Subject
        ConstructChain
          noun: עֵדוּת testimony
          noun: יְהוָה YHWH
      Predicate 
        verb: is
        Complement
          verb-participle: נֶאֱמָנָה enduring
    Clause
      Subject <status="elided">
        ConstructChain
          noun: עֵדוּת testimony
          noun: יְהוָה YHWH
      Predicate
        Complement
          ConstructChain
            Nominal
              verb-participle: מַחְכִּימַת making wise
            Nominal
              adjective: פֶּתִי simple


V. 9


Preferred

SimpleGrammar
Fragment [v. 9]
    Clause
      Subject
        ConstructChain
          noun: פִּקּוּדֵי commandments
          noun: יְהוָה YHWH
      Predicate
        verb: are
        Complement
          adjective: יְשָׁרִים just
    Clause
      Subject <status="elided">
        ConstructChain
          noun: פִּקּוּדֵי commandments
          noun: יְהוָה YHWH
      Predicate
        Complement
          ConstructChain
            Nominal
              verb-participle: מְשַׂמְּחֵי causing to rejoice
            noun: לֵב heart
  Fragment
    Clause
      Subject
        ConstructChain
          noun: מִצְוַת command 
          noun: יְהוָה YHWH
      Predicate
        verb: is
        Complement
          adjective: בָּרָה flawless
    Clause
      Subject <status="elided">
        ConstructChain
          noun: מִצְוַת command
          noun: יְהוָה YHWH
      Predicate
        Complement
          ConstructChain
            Nominal
              verb-participle: מְאִירַת giving light to
            noun: עֵינָיִם eyes


Vv. 10–11


Preferred

SimpleGrammar
Fragment [vv. 10-11]
    Clause
      Subject
        ConstructChain <gloss="fearing YHWH">
          noun: יִרְאַת fear
          noun: יְהוָה YHWH
      Predicate
        verb: is
        Complement
          adjective: טְהוֹרָה pure
    Clause
      Subject <status="elided">
        ConstructChain <gloss="fearing YHWH">
          noun: יִרְאַת fear
          noun: יְהוָה YHWH
      Predicate
        Complement
          verb-participle: עוֹמֶדֶת standing >> enduring
          Adverbial
            PrepositionalPhrase <gloss="forever">
              Preposition
                preposition: לָ for
              Object
                noun: עַד forever
  Fragment
    Clause
      Subject
        ConstructChain
          Nominal
            noun: מִשְׁפְּטֵי rules
            RelativeClause
              RelativeParticle
                particle: הַ which
              Clause
                Subject
                Predicate 
                 Complement 
                   Nominal
                     verb-participle: נֶּחֱמָדִים desirable
                      Adjectival <gloss="more than gold, even much pure gold">
                        PrepositionalPhrase
                          Preposition
                            preposition: מִ more than
                          Object
                            noun: זָּהָב gold
                        Conjunction
                          conjunction: וּ and
                        PrepositionalPhrase
                          Preposition
                            preposition: מִ more than
                          Object
                            noun: פַּז pure gold
                            Adjectival
                              adjective: רָב much
                   Conjunction
                     conjunction: וּ and
                   Nominal
                     adjective: מְתוּקִים sweet
                     Adjectival <gloss="more than honey, even virgin honey from the honeycomb">
                       PrepositionalPhrase
                        Preposition
                           preposition: מִ more than
                        Object
                           noun: דְּבַשׁ  honey
                           Conjunction
                             conjunction: וְ and
                           ConstructChain
                             noun: נֹפֶת virgin honey
                             noun: צוּפִים honeycomb
          Nominal
            noun: יְהוָה YHWH
      Predicate
        Complement
          noun: אֱמֶת faithfulness >> true
    Clause
      Predicate
        verb: צָדְקוּ they are right
        Adverbial
          adverb: יַחְדָּו altogether


V. 12


Preferred

SimpleGrammar
Fragment [v. 12]
  particle: גַּם also
Fragment
  Clause
    Subject
      ConstructChain <gloss="your servant">
        Nominal
          Adjectival <status="alternative">
            adverb: גַּם even
          noun: עַבְדְּ servant
        suffix-pronoun: ךָ you
    Predicate     
      verb-participle: נִזְהָר is warned
      Adverbial
        PrepositionalPhrase
          Preposition
            preposition: בָּ by
          Object
            pronoun: הֶם them
Fragment
  Clause
    Subject
      Nominal
        noun: עֵקֶב reward
        Adjectival
          adjective: רָב great
    Predicate
      verb: is
      Complement
        PrepositionalPhrase
          Preposition
            preposition: בְּ in
          Object
            Clause
              Predicate
                verb-infinitive: שָׁמְרָ keeping
                Object
                  suffix-pronoun: ם them

Phrase-Level Notes

  • As Jenni notes, the suffix in בהם points back to the phrase משפטי יהוה and the preposition is a beth of realization --> beth of communication (Jenni 1992,169-170; cf. Pss 78:2; 119:46).


Vv. 13–14a


Preferred

SimpleGrammar
Fragment [vv. 13-14a]
  Clause
    Subject
      pronoun: מִי who
    Predicate
      verb: יָבִין can realize
      Object
        noun: שְׁגִיאוֹת mistakes
Fragment
  Clause
    Subject
    Predicate
      verb: נַקֵּ clear the guilt of
      Object
        suffix-pronoun: נִי me
      Adverbial
        PrepositionalPhrase
          Preposition
            preposition: מִ from
          Object
            Nominal
              verb-participle: נִּסְתָּרוֹת hidden things >> hidden sins
Fragment
  particle: גַּם furthermore
Fragment
  Clause
    Subject
    Predicate
      verb: חֲשֹׂךְ prevent
      Object
        ConstructChain <gloss="your servant">
          noun: עַבְדֶּ servant
          suffix-pronoun: ךָ you
      Adverbial
        PrepositionalPhrase <gloss="from committing presumptuous sins">
          Preposition
            preposition: מִ from
          Object
            adjective: זֵּדִים presumptuous sins
      Adverbial <status="alternative">
        PrepositionalPhrase 
          Preposition
            preposition: מִ from
          Object 
            noun: זָּרִים <status="emendation"> foreigners


V. 14bc


Preferred

SimpleGrammar
Fragment [v. 14bc]
    Clause
      Subject
      Predicate
        verb: יִמְשְׁלוּ let them rule
        Adverbial
          PrepositionalPhrase
            Preposition
              preposition: ב over
            Object
              pronoun: ִי me
        Adverbial
          adverb: אַל not
  Fragment
    particle: אָז then
  Fragment
    Clause
      Subject
      Predicate
        verb: אֵיתָם I will be blameless
    Conjunction
      conjunction: וְ and
    Clause
      Subject
      Predicate
        verb: נִקֵּיתִי I will be innocent
        Adverbial
          PrepositionalPhrase
            Preposition
              preposition: מִ of
            Object
              Nominal
                noun: פֶּשַׁע crime
                adjective: רָב great


V. 15


Preferred

SimpleGrammar
Fragment [v. 15]
    Apposition
      Vocative
        noun: יְהוָה YHWH
      Vocative
        Nominal
          ConstructChain <gloss="my rock">
            noun: צוּרִ rock
            suffix-pronoun: ִי me
          Conjunction
            conjunction: וְ and
          ConstructChain <gloss="my redeemer">
            verb-participle: גֹאֲל redeemer
            suffix-pronoun: ִי me
  Fragment
    Clause
      Subject
        ConstructChain <gloss="the words of my mouth">
          noun: אִמְרֵי words
          noun: פ mouth
          suffix-pronoun: ִי me
        Conjunction
          conjunction: וְ and
        ConstructChain <gloss="the meditation of my heart">
          noun: הֶגְיוֹן meditation
          noun: לִבּ heart
          suffix-pronoun: ִי me
      Predicate
        verb: יִהְיוּ let them be
        Adverbial
          PrepositionalPhrase
            Preposition
              preposition: לְפָנֶי before
            Object
              pronoun: ךָ you
        Complement
          PrepositionalPhrase <gloss="acceptable">
            Preposition
              preposition: לְ for
            Object
              noun: רָצוֹן acceptance

Phrase-Level Notes

  • The preposition ל in the phrase לרצון is a lamed of reevaluation (cf. Jenni 2000, 40, rubric 133). Lit.: "let the words of my mouth... become acceptance" >> "be acceptable".


  1. ↑ Mena, by contrast, categorizes this occurrence of על as "To, the [trajector] is directed towards the end goal, which is the [landmark]" (2012, 122); cf. LXX εως.