Psalm 2/Phonology

Phonology

Vowels

Definition Feature being studied	Occurrences Sections where this feature is present or absent	Clustering	Intersection	Connections	Structure
u	שׁוּ (v.1a), וּלְאֻ...גּוּ (v.1b), בוּ (v.2a), דוּ (v.2b), וּ (v.5b), חֻ (v.8c), לוּ (v.10a), רוּ (v.10b), דוּ (v.11a), לוּ (v.11b), קוּ (v.12a), דוּ (v.12b)	vv.1-2; vv. 10-12; long û nearly absent in vv.3-9 (except in waw conjunction [v.5b]), short u only once in vv.3-9 (v.8c)	in first and fourth sections (occurring mostly with plural verbs)	strengthens connections between parallel lines (v.1ab, 2ab, 10ab, 11ab) as well as the connection between the first and fourth sections	Gives cohesion to first and fourth sections; suggests structural correspondence between these sections
o	גוֹ (v.1a), רוֹ...נוֹ (v.2b), חוֹ (v.2c), מוֹ-רוֹ-מוֹ (v.3a), בֹ-מוֹ (v.3b), יוֹ (v.4a), מוֹ (v.4b), מוֹ...פּוֹ (v.5a), רוֹנוֹ...מוֹ (v.5b), יּוֹ (v.6b), חֹק (v.7a), יּוֹ (v.7d), גוֹ (v.8b), רֹ (v.9a), יוֹ (v.9b), שֹׁ (v.10b), תֹא (v.12b), פּוֹ (v.12c), בוֹ (v.12d)	v.3(5x); v.4(5x); In vv 3-5, the poet plays on the sound /o/, producing an effect which is like rhyme (unusual in Hebrew poetry).	clusters on either side of the first major segment (vv.3-4)	The sound appears first in the arrogant words of the earthly rulers (v 3), but then the same sound of arrogance is converted into a sound anticipating woe in the words introducing God’s response (vv 4b, 5)."	Anadiplosis. Strengthens the contrastive correspondence between the first and second sections.
i	גוֹיִם (v.1a), מִי...רִי (v.1b), נִי (v.2a), שִׁי (v.2c), לִי (v.3b), יִשְׂ (v.4a), יִלְ (v.4b), נִי...תִּי...כִּי (v.6a), צִיּ...שִׁי (v.6b), נִי (v.7c), נִי...לִדְתּֽי (v.7d), נִּי (v.8a), יִם (v.8b), לִי (v.9b), כִי...כִּי (v.10a), עִבְ...יִרְ (v.11a), גִי...בִּרְ (v.11b), כִּֽי־יִבְ...כִּמְ (v.12c)	v.6 (hireq yod 5x); v.11(4x)	end of second section (v.6)	reinforces connection between parallel lines (v.6ab, v.11ab)	Is the cluster in v.6 meant to foreground the first-person suffix and thereby emphasize Yahweh's role in the events described? Or is it purely euphonic?
e	יֶהְ (v.1b), אֶרֶץ (v.2a), אֶת...תֵי (v.3a), מֶּ תֵי (v.3b), שֵׁב (v.4a), בֵּר...לֵי (v.5a), לֵ (v.5b), אֶל (v.7a), אֵ (v.7b), מֶּנ (v.8a), אֶתְּ...תֶ (v.8b), סֵי־אָֽרֶץ (v.8c), עֵם...שֵׁבֶט...זֶל (v.9a), צֵר...צֵם (v.9b), טֵי אָרֶץ (v.10b), אֶת (v.11a), פֶּן־יֶאֱ...דֶרֶךְ (v.12b), רֵי...סֵי (v.12d)
a	‎לָמָּה רָ (v.1a), יַצְּ...מַלְ (v.2a), יָחַד (v.2b), עַל־יְהוָה וְעַל (v.2c), נַתְּקָה (v.3a), נַשְׁ-כָה (v.3b), בַּשָּׁמַ...חָק (v.4a), אֲדֹנָי ...עַג־לָ (v.4b), אָז ...דַ (v.5a), בְאַפּוֹ (v.5a), וּֽבַחֲ...בַהֲ (v.5b), וַאֲ נָסַ...מַלְ (v.6a), עַל... הַר (v.6b), אֲסַפְּרָה (v.7a), יְהוָה אָמַר (v.7b), אַתָּה (v.7c), אֲ...הַי (v.7d), שְׁאַל (v.8a), נַחֲלָ (v.8b), וַאֲחֻזָּ...אַפְ (v.8c), בַּרְ (v.9a), נַפְּ (v.9b), וְעַתָּה מְלָ...הַשְׂ (v.10a), זָּ (v.10b), יְהוָה...אָה (v.11a), עָדָה (v.11b), נַשְּׁ...בַר (v.12a), נַף (v.12b), עַר...עַט אַפּ (v.12c), אַשְׁ (v.12d)

This feature is considered relevant for this psalm.,

Consonants

Definition Feature being studied	Occurrences Sections where this feature is present or absent	Clustering	Intersection	Connections	Structure
Alveolars (ל, ר, נ)	‎ לָמָּה רָגְשׁוּ (v.1a), וּלְאֻמִּים (v.1b), רִיק (v.1b), מַלְכֵי־אֶרֶץ (v.2a), וְרוֹזְנִים נֽוֹסְדוּ (v.2b), עַל (v.2c), וְעַל (v.2c), נְנַתְּקָה (v.3a), מוֹסְרוֹתֵימו (v.3a), וְנַשְׁלִיכָה מִמֶּנּוּ (v.3b), אֲדֹנָי יִלְעַג־לָמוֹ (v.4b), יְדַבֵּר אֵלֵימוֹ (v.5a), וּֽבַחֲרוֹנוֹ יְבַהֲלֵמוֹ (v.5b), וַאֲנִי נָסַכְתִּי מַלְכִּי (v.6a), עַל־צִיּוֹן הַר (v.6b), אֲסַפְּרָה אֶל (v.7a), אָמַר אֵלַי (v.7b), בְּנִי (v.7c), אֲנִי (v.7d), יְלִדְתּֽיךָ (v.7d), שְׁאַל מִמֶּנִּי (v.8a), וְאֶתְּנָה (v.8b), נַחֲלָתֶךָ (v.8b), אָֽרֶץ (v.8c), תְּרֹעֵם (v.9a), בַּרְזֶל (v.9a), כִּכְלִי יוֹצֵר תְּנַפְּצֵם (v.9b), מְלָכִים הַשְׂכִּילוּ (v.10a), הִזָּסְרוּ (v.10b), אָרֶץ (v.10b), בְּיִרְאָה (v.11a), וְגִילוּ בִּרְעָדָה (v.11b), נַשְּׁקוּ־בַר (v.12a), יֶאֱנַף (v.12b), דֶרֶךְ (v.12b), יִבְעַר (v.12c), אַשְׁרֵי כָּל (v.12d)	ר in vv.10b-12d(8x); ל only once in vv.10b-12c; נ in v.3 (4x)	ר concentrated in final section; ל relatively infrequent in final section		The infrequency of ל and the frequency of ר in the fourth section (vv.10-12) set off this section from the rest of the psalm, thus giving cohesion and creating discontinuity.
Glides (י, ו)	גוֹיִם (v.1a), יֶהְגּוּ (v.1b), יִ֥תְיַצְּבוּ (v.2a), וְרוֹזְנִים (v.2b), יָחַד (v.2b), יְהוָה וְעַל (v.2c), וְנַשְׁלִיכָה (v.3b), יוֹשֵׁב בַּשָּׁמַיִם יִשְׂחָק (v.4a), יִלְעַג (v.4b), יְדַבֵּר (v.5a), יְבַהֲלֵמוֹ (v.5b), וַאֲנִי (v.6a), צִיּוֹן (v.6b), יְהוָה (v.7b), הַיּוֹם יְלִדְתּֽיךָ (v.7d), וְאֶתְּנָה גוֹיִם (v.8b), וַאֲחֻזָּתְךָ (v.8c), יוֹצֵר (v.9b), וְעַתָּה (v.10a), הִזָּסְרוּ (v.10b), יְהוָה בְּיִרְאָה (v.11a), וְגִילוּ (v.11b), יֶאֱנַף וְתֹאבְדוּ (v.12b), יִבְעַר (v.12c),	v.11a(3x); י at v.4a(3x); י more frequent in first half of psalm (vv.1-6) than second (vv.7-12)
Gutturals (א, ע, ה, ח)	וּלְאֻמִּים (v.1b), אֶרֶץ (v.2a), יָחַד (v.2b), עַל (v.2c), וְעַל (v.2c), אֶת (v.3a), עֲבֹתֵימוֹ (v.3b), יִשְׂחָק (v.4a), אֲדֹנָי יִלְעַג (v.4b), אָז (v.5a), אֵלֵימוֹ בְאַפּוֹ (v.5a), וּֽבַחֲרוֹנוֹ יְבַהֲלֵמוֹ (v.5b), וַאֲנִי (v.6a), עַל (v.6b), הַר (v.6b), אֲסַפְּרָה אֶל חֹק (v.7a), אָמַר אֵלַי (v.7b), אַתָּה (v.7c), אֲנִי הַיּוֹם (v.7d), שְׁאַל (v.8a), וְאֶתְּנָה (v.8b), נַחֲלָתֶךָ (v.8b), וַאֲחֻזָּתְךָ אַפְסֵי־אָֽרֶץ (v.8c), תְּרֹעֵם (v.9a), וְעַתָּה (v.10a), הַשְׂכִּילוּ (v.10a), הִזָּסְרוּ (v.10b), אָרֶץ (v.10b), עִבְדוּ אֶת (v.11a), בְּיִרְאָה (v.11a), בִּרְעָדָה (v.11b), יֶאֱנַף (v.12b), יִבְעַר כִּמְעַט אַפּוֹ (v.12c), אַשְׁרֵי (v.12d), חוֹסֵי (v.12d)	v.5(5x); v.7ab(5x), v.8c(4x), v.12cd(5x); ה in v.10; ח in v.2bc and v.8bc; א in v.7(6x) and v.8c(3x)	beginning of 3rd section (v.7); end of psalm (v.12cd)	This feature may form/reinforce a connection between v.5 and v.12c, both of which are about wrath (אף) and contain clusters of gutturals. It also forms connections between parallel lines (v.5ab, v.7, v.10, and v.11[ה]).	On a microstructural level, the feature reinforces parallelisms that form bicola (vv.5ab, 7ab, 10ab).
Labials (מ, ב, פ)	‎ לָמָּה (v.1a), גוֹיִם (v.1a), וּלְאֻמִּים (v.1b), יִ֥תְיַצְּבוּ מַלְכֵי (v.2a), וְרוֹזְנִים (v.2b), מְשִׁיחוֹ (v.2c), מוֹסְרוֹתֵימוֹ (v.3a), מִמֶּנּוּ עֲבֹתֵימוֹ (v.3b), יוֹשֵׁב בַּשָּׁמַיִם (v.4a), לָמוֹ (V.4b), יְדַבֵּר אֵלֵימוֹ בְאַפּוֹ (v.5a), וּֽבַחֲרוֹנוֹ יְבַהֲלֵמוֹ (v.5b), מַלְכִּי (v.6a), אֲסַפְּרָה (v.7a), אָמַר (v.7b), בְּנִי (v.7c), מִמֶּנִּי (v.8a), גוֹיִם (v.8b), אַפְסֵי (v.8c), תְּרֹעֵם בְּשֵׁבֶט בַּרְזֶל (v.9a), תְּנַפְּצֵם (v.9b), מְלָכִים (v.10a), שֹׁפְטֵי (v.10b), עִבְדוּ (v.11a), בְּיִרְאָה (v.11a), בִּרְעָדָה (v.11b), בַר (v.12a), פֶּן־יֶאֱנַף וְתֹאבְדוּ (v.12b), יִבְעַר כִּמְעַט אַפּוֹ (v.12c), בוֹ (v.12d)	vv.3b-4a(8x); v.5(7x), 9a(4x), ב in v.9a(3x) and 11a-12d(7x); with the exception of vv.4-5, ב is rare in the first half of the psalm; פ in v.12bc(3x); מ in v.3(5x); nearly absent in vv.10b-12 (only 1x)	cluster near first major segment (vv.3-4); nearly absent in 4th section	Alliteration of labials strengthens connection between parallel lines (vv. 5ab, 9ab, 12abcd).	On a microstructural level, this feature forms bicola (v.5, 9) and possibly a tetracolon (v.12abcd). On a macrostructural level, the infrequency of מ and the frequency of ב in the fourth section (vv.10-12) set off this section from the rest of the psalm.
Dentals (ד, ט, ת)	יִ֥תְיַצְּבוּ (v.2a), נֽוֹסְדוּ־יָחַד (v.2b), נְנַתְּקָה אֶת־מוֹסְרוֹתֵימוֹ (v.3a), עֲבֹתֵימוֹ (v.3b), אֲדֹנָי (v.4b), יְדַבֵּר (v.5a), נָסַכְתִּי (v.6a), קָדְשִׁי (v.6b), אַתָּה (v.7c), יְלִדְתּֽיךָ (v.7d), וְאֶתְּנָה (v.8b), נַחֲלָתֶךָ (v.8b), וַאֲחֻזָּתְךָ (v.8c), תְּרֹעֵם בְּשֵׁבֶט (v.9a), תְּנַפְּצֵם (v.9b), וְעַתָּה (v.10a), שֹׁפְטֵי (v.10b), עִבְדוּ אֶת (v.11a), בִּרְעָדָה (v.11b), וְתֹאבְדוּ דֶרֶךְ (v.12b), כִּמְעַט (v.12c)	ת in v.3a(3x) and 8b-10a(6x); double ד only in v.2b (נֽוֹסְדוּ־יָחַד) and v.12b (וְתֹאבְדוּ דֶרֶךְ)		There may be a connection between נֽוֹסְדוּ־יָחַד (v.2b) and תֹאבְדוּ דֶרֶךְ (v.12b). Both have clusters of dentals (double ד) as well as similar vowels.
palatals (ג, כ, ק)	רָגְשׁוּ גוֹיִם (v.1a), יֶהְגּוּ־רִיק (v.1b), מַלְכֵי (v.2a), נְנַתְּקָה (v.3a), וְנַשְׁלִיכָה (v.3b), יִשְׂחָק (v.4a), יִלְעַג (v.4b), נָסַכְתִּי מַלְכִּי (v.6a), קָדְשִׁי (v.6b), חֹק (v.7a), יְלִדְתּֽיךָ (v.7d), גוֹיִם נַחֲלָתֶךָ (v.8b), וַאֲחֻזָּתְךָ (v.8c), כִּכְלִי (v.9b), מְלָכִים הַשְׂכִּילוּ (v.10a), וְגִילוּ (v.11b), נַשְּׁקוּ (v.12a), דֶרֶךְ (v.12b), כִּֽי (v.12c), כִּמְעַט (v.12c), כָּל (v.12d)	v.1ab(4x), v.12(5x)	Clusters at beginning (v.1ab) and end (v.12) of psalm.	Reinforces connection between parallel lines (v.1ab)	Forms bicolon (v.1a.). On a macrostructural level, may form inclusio (vv.1, 12).
sibilants (צ, ז, ס, שׂ, שׁ)	רָגְשׁוּ (v1a), יִ֥תְיַצְּבוּ (v.2a), אֶרֶץ (v.2a), וְרוֹזְנִים נֽוֹסְדוּ (v.2b), מְשִׁיחוֹ (v.2c), מוֹסְרוֹתֵימוֹ (v.3a), וְנַשְׁלִיכָה (v.3b), יוֹשֵׁב בַּשָּׁמַיִם יִשְׂחָק (v.4a), אָז (v.5a), נָסַכְתִּי (v.6a), צִיּוֹן (v.6b), קָדְשִׁי (v.6b), אֲסַפְּרָה (v.7a), שְׁאַל (v.8a), וַאֲחֻזָּתְךָ אַפְסֵי־אָֽרֶץ (v.8b), בְּשֵׁבֶט בַּרְזֶל (v.9a), יוֹצֵר תְּנַפְּצֵם (v.9b), הַשְׂכִּילוּ (v.10a), הִזָּסְרוּ שֹׁפְטֵי אָרֶץ (v.10b), נַשְּׁקוּ (v.12a), אַשְׁרֵי (v.12d), חוֹסֵי (v.12d)	v.2ab(x4), v.4a(3x); v.8b(3x), v.10ab(4x); vv.8-9(8x); ז in 8b and 9a; double צ in v.2a and v.9b; שׂ only at v.4a and v.10a	cluster at beginning of second section (v.4a); cluster at beginning of fourth section (v.10ab); שׂ only at beginning of sections 2 (v.4a) and 4 (v.10a)	Reinforces connection between parallel lines (v.2ab)	Forms bicolon (v.2ab). On a macrostructural level, the clusters at 4a and 10ab may be part of what indicates the start of new sections.

See the table below on .

• v. 1. Note the alliteration between 1a and 1b that strengthens their sonic cohesion.
• v.3a. The object marker (את), rare in poetry, appears in v.3a in a cluster of dentals. Its use might be explained on this account.

This feature is considered relevant for this psalm.,

Sound combinations

Definition Feature being studied	Occurrences Sections where this feature is present or absent	Clustering	Intersection	Connections	Structure
מוֹ	מוֹסְרוֹתֵימוֹ (v.3a), עֲבֹתֵימוֹ (v.3b), לָמוֹ (v.4b), אֵלֵימוֹ (v.5a), יְבַהֲלֵמוֹ (v.5b)	vv.3-5	clustering around 1st major sectional division
ב + ר	יְדַבֵּר (v.5a), בַּרְזֶל (v.9a), ְּבְּיִרְאָה (v.11a), בִּרְעָדָה (v.11b), בַר (v.12a), יִבְעַר (v.12c)	ב and ר both cluster in the final section (vv.10-12); also in 9a(b-3x, r-2x)			Perhaps this feature is meant to draw attention to the foreign word בַּר (v.12a). At the very least, this feature may partially explain why the author chose to use בַּר instead of בֵּן
ל + מ	‎לָמָּה (v.1a), וּלְאֻמִּים (v.1b), מַלְכֵי (v.2a), וְעַל־מְשִׁיחו (v.2c), לָמוֹ (v.4b), אֵלֵימוֹ (v.5a), יְבַהֲלֵמוֹ (v.5b), מַלְכִּי (v.6a), שְׁאַל מִמֶּנִּי (v.8a), מְלָכִים (v.10a)	vv.1-2; vv.4-6	first two consonants of the psalm (v.1a); especially prominent in first two sections of the psalm; also appears in the opening line of section 4.		Is this alliteration meant to draw attention to thematic significance of the word מלך? Perhaps this explains why the psalmist has chosen to use מוֹ suffixes in v.5.

This feature is considered relevant for this psalm.,

Patterns in endings

Use of the unique מוֹ- suffix (vv.3-5; see above on Sound Combinations) might be explained on phonological/poetic grounds. The noun מוֹסְרוֹת, which begins with מוֹ, might have led the poet to use the מוֹ suffix on this word and on subsequent words for the purpose of rhyme.,

Similar sounds in adjacent lines

Phonological Overview

v.1ab.

• both begin with l + m (למה//לאמים)
• v.1a ends with ē + m (גוים); v.1b begins with ē + m (לאמים)
• alliteration of gutturals (g/q)
• verbs ending in וּ

v.2ab.

• alliteration of sibilants; ṣ(x2) in a-line; s and z in b-line
• verbs ending in וּ

v.3ab.

• alliteration of nasals (n[x3], m[x5]) and dentals (t[x4])
• end rhyme: תֵמוֹ-

v.4ab.

• verb ending guttural + a-class vowel + palatal in both lines (ישׂחק//ילעג)

v.5ab.

• alliteration of labials (b/p)
• assonance: ō
• rhyme: לֵמוֹ

v.6ab.

• assonance/rhyme: ē (ני, תי, כי, צי, שׁי)

v.7ab.

• alliteration of gutturals: 5/6 words begin with a guttural; 4 with א and 1 with ח.
• repetition of אל in each line

v.7cd.

• rhyming of first words in each line: בְּנִי//אֲנִי

v.8bc.

• each line begins waw + א
• similar sounds in נחלתך//אחזתך

v.9ab.

• alliteration of labials (b/p)
• first and last word both begin with תּ and end in ṣērê + ם

v.10ab.

• alliteration of ה at beginning of words (השׂכילו//הוסרו)
• verbs ending in וּ
• alliteration of sibilants (a-line: שׂ, b-line: ס, שׁ, ץ)

v.11ab.

• alliteration of gutturals (a-line: ע, א, א b-line: ע)
• alliteration of בּ and ר
• first words ending in וּ
• assonance: i-class vowels (עִבְדוֹ...בּיִרְאָה // גִילוּ...בִּרְעָדָה)
• end rhyme: ā

v.12abcd.

• alliteration of labials (b[4x]/p[3x])

v.12cd

• end rhyme: labial + ō
• guttural with short a-vowel (עַר...עַט...אַפְּ...אַשְׁ),

Other observations

The phrase תֹּאבְדוּ דֶרֶךְ in v.12b sounds like the earlier phrase נוֹסְדוּ יַחַד (v.2b).