Psalm 2/Particles

Particles

Negative markers

no negative markers in this psalm,

Independent personal pronouns

וַאֲנִי (v.6a)
אַתָּה (v.7c),

Prepositions

Word-Bound Prepositions

• ב (v.4a, 5ab, 9a, 11ab, 12d)
  • forms parallels in v.5ab and 11ab
• כ (v.9b, 12c)
• ל (v.4b)

Independent Prepositions

• אֶל (v.5a, 7ab)
  • forms parallel in v.7ab
• מִן (v.3b, 8a)
• עַל (v.2c[x2], 6b)
  • The two lines with עַל (v.2c, 6b) may be connected. Not only do both lines begin with the preposition, but both lines represent the only instances of enjambment in the psalm. Furthermore, both lines are the same length (4 words).,

Waw/Vav

Coordinating words within a line

• v.2c (coordinating prepositional phrases)
• v.12b (coordinating clauses)

Coordinating lines within a unit
The parallel lines are most often connected to one another by ו at the start of the b-line (1b, 2b, 3b, 5b, 8c, 11b). Exceptions are 4ab, 7cd, and 9ab, which are connected asyndetically (ø).

• v.1a --(waw + noun)--> 1b
• v.2a --(waw + noun)--> 2b
• v.3a --(waw + verb)--> 3b
• v.5a --(waw + noun)--> 5b
• v.8a --(waw + verb)--> 8b --(waw + noun)--> 8c
• v.11a --(waw + verb)--> 11b

Coordinating units (bicola, tricola, etc.) within a section
The bicola are most often connected to one another asyndetically. The only a-lines to begin with ו are 6a (disjunctive waw) and 10a (w/עתה), both of which mark points of discontinuity.

• v.6a (waw + pronoun [אֲנִי])

Coordinating sections

• v.10a (waw + עַתָּה)

Parallel lines connected asyndetically
*Note the cluster of asyndetic lines in v.7. This has the effect of slowing down the psalm at this dramatic/climactic point.

• 4ab
• 7ab
• 7cd
• 9ab
• 10ab,

Other particles

• v. 5a. “Then” (אָז) is used here as a stylistic device to introduce a stressed phrase. When things have reached a climactic stage, the point of judicial decision, at that point Yahweh makes his definitive regal pronouncement (v. 6).
• v. 10a. “So now...” (וְעַתָּה) – a standard discourse opener begins stanza D. "The use of וְעַתָּה (‟and now therefore”) is meant to alert the reader that there is an informed inference or consequence here" (BDB, 254).
• v. 12b. The particle פֶּן indicates a negative purpose/result relationship.,

Other

The following table depicts the distribution of conjunctions and other particles that connect clauses or lines.

Strophe A
1a
1b		ו
.
2a			ø
2bc		ו
.
3a			ø
3b		ו
.
Strophe B
4a			ø
4b			ø
.
5a				אז
5b		ו
.
6ab		ו
.
Strophe B'
7a			ø
7b			ø
7c			ø
7d			ø
.
8a			ø
8b		ו
8c		ו
.
9a			ø
9b			ø
.
Strophe A'
10a		ו			עתה
10b			ø
.
11a			ø
11b		ו
.
12a			ø
12b						פן
12c		ו
12d							כי
.
12e			ø