Psalm 2/Speech Act/SpeechTable
From Psalms: Layer by Layer
| Verse | Text (Hebrew) | Text (CBC) | Sentence type | Illocution (general) | Illocution with context | Macro speech act | Intended perlocution (Think) | Intended perlocution (Feel) | Intended perlocution (Do) | Speech Act Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | לָ֭מָּה רָגְשׁ֣וּ גוֹיִ֑ם | Why are nations in an uproar, | Interrogative | Expressive | Expressing contempt for the nations' being in an uproar | Disparaging the futile attempt of the nations and their rulers at rebellion | Listeners will be convinced that the rebellion is futile | Listeners will feel contempt for the rebels | • "The question is rhetorical. Rather than seeking information, the psalmist expresses his outrage that the nations would have the audacity to rebel against God and his chosen king" (NET note). Or, better: the psalmist expresses his contempt that the nations would engage in something so futile, so foolish and destined for failure • BDB: למה "with an impf., often deprecating, or introducing rhetorically, the reason why something should, or should not, be done, why should …?" | |
| וּ֝לְאֻמִּ֗ים יֶהְגּוּ־רִֽיק׃ | and [why] do peoples plot emptiness? | Expressing contempt for the peoples' futile plots | ||||||||
| 2 | יִ֥תְיַצְּב֨וּ ׀ מַלְכֵי־אֶ֗רֶץ | [Why] do earthly kings take a stand, | Expressing contempt for the kings' rebellion | |||||||
| וְרוֹזְנִ֥ים נֽוֹסְדֽוּ־יָ֑חַד | and officials gather together | Expressing contempt for the officials' rebellion | ||||||||
| 3 | עַל־יְהוָ֥ה וְעַל־מְשִׁיחֽוֹ׃ | against YHWH and against his anointed one, | Declarative | Assertive | Asserting the kings' rebellion against YHWH and his anointed one | Disparaging the futile attempt of the nations and their rulers at rebellion | Listeners will be convinced that the rebellion is futile | Listeners will feel contempt for the rebels | ||
| נְֽנַתְּקָה֙ אֶת־מֽוֹסְרֽוֹתֵימֹ֑ו | "Let us tear off their bonds, | Imperative | Directive | Summoning one another to tear off the bonds of YHWH and his anointed one | Disparaging the futile attempt of the nations and their rulers at rebellion | Listeners will be convinced that the rebellion is futile | Listeners will feel contempt for the rebels | • This is a quote of the kings' words. | ||
| וְנַשְׁלִ֣יכָה מִמֶּ֥נּוּ עֲבֹתֵימֹֽו׃ | and throw off their ropes from us!" | Summoning one another to throw off the ropes of YHWH and his anointed one | ||||||||
| 4 | יֹושֵׁ֣ב בַּשָּׁמַ֣יִם יִשְׂחָ֑ק | The one enthroned in the heavens laughs, | Declarative | Expressive | Expressing contempt for the kings' rebellion | Disparaging the futile attempt of the nations and their rulers at rebellion | Listeners will be convinced that the rebellion is futile | Listeners will feel contempt for the rebels | • The psalmist's reaction | |
| אֲדֹנָ֥י יִלְעַג־לָֽמֹו׃ | the Lord scoffs at them. | Expressing contempt for the kings' rebellion | ||||||||
| 5 | אָ֤ז יְדַבֵּ֣ר אֵלֵ֣ימֹו בְאַפּ֑וֹ | Then he will speak to them in his anger, | Asserting that YHWH will speak to the kings in his anger | |||||||
| וּבַחֲרֹונֹ֖ו יְבַהֲלֵֽמֹו׃ | and in his wrath he will terrify them: | Declarative | Assertive | Asserting that YHWH will terrify the kings in his wrath | Disparaging the futile attempt of the nations and their rulers at rebellion | Listeners will be convinced that the rebellion is futile | Listeners will feel contempt for the rebels | |||
| 6 | וַאֲנִ֣י נָסַ֣כְתִּי מַלְכִּ֑י | "But I myself have installed my king | Declarative | Assertive | Asserting that YHWH has installed his king on Zion | Disparaging the futile attempt of the nations and their rulers at rebellion | Listeners will be convinced that the rebellion is futile | Listeners will feel contempt for the rebels | • This is a quote of YHWH's words. | |
| עַל־צִיֹּ֥ון הַר־קָדְשִֽׁי׃ | on Zion, my holy mountain." | Declarative | Assertive | Asserting that YHWH has installed his king on Zion | Disparaging the futile attempt of the nations and their rulers at rebellion | Listeners will be convinced that the rebellion is futile | Listeners will feel contempt for the rebels | |||
| 7 | אֲסַפְּרָ֗ה אֶֽל־חֹ֫ק בְּדִיד֥וּת | "I will proclaim the decree | Declarative | Assertive | Asserting that the king will proclaim YHWH’s decree | Proclaiming the decree of the king | Listeners will be convinced of the king's authority | Listeners will feel awe and respect for the king | • This is a quote of the king's words. | |
| יְהוָה֮ אָמַ֪ר אֵלַ֥י בְּנִ֗י אַ֥תָּה | YHWH said to me, "You are my son; | Declarative | Assertive | Asserting that YHWH has declared the king to be his son | Proclaiming the decree of the king | Listeners will be convinced of the king's authority | Listeners will feel awe and respect for the king | • This is a quote of YHWH's words to the king. | ||
| אֲנִ היום יְלִדְתִּֽיךָ׃ | today I have begotten you. | Declarative | Assertive | Asserting that YHWH has begotten the king today | Proclaiming the decree of the king | Listeners will be convinced of the king's authority | Listeners will feel awe and respect for the king | |||
| 8 | שְׁאַ֤ל מִמֶּ֗נִּי וְאֶתְּנָ֣ה גֹויִם נַחֲלָתֶ֑כָה | Ask of me, and I will give nations as your inheritance, | Imperative | Directive | Summoning the king to ask for nations as his inheritance | Proclaiming the decree of the king | Listeners will be convinced of the king's authority | Listeners will feel awe and respect for the king | • This is a quote of YHWH's words to the king. | |
| וַאֲחֻזָּתְךָ֖ אַפְסֵי־אָֽרֶץ׃ | and the ends of the earth as your possession. | Declarative | Assertive | Asserting that YHWH will give the ends of the earth as the king’s possession | Proclaiming the decree of the king | Listeners will be convinced of the king's authority | Listeners will feel awe and respect for the king | |||
| 9 | תְּרֹעֵ֣ם בְּשֵׁ֣בֶט בַּרְזֶ֑ל | You will shatter them with an iron scepter; | Declarative | Assertive | Asserting that the king will shatter the nations with an iron scepter | Proclaiming the decree of the king | Listeners will be convinced of the king's authority | Listeners will feel awe and respect for the king | ||
| כִּכְלִ֣י יֹוצֵ֥ר תְּנַפְּצֵֽם׃ | you will dash them to pieces like pottery." | Declarative | Assertive | Asserting that the king will dash the nations to pieces like pottery | Proclaiming the decree of the king | Listeners will be convinced of the king's authority | Listeners will feel awe and respect for the king | |||
| 10 | וְעַתָּ֤ה מְלָכִ֨ים ׀ הַשְׂכִּ֑ילוּ | So now, O kings, be wise; | Imperative | Directive | Summoning the earthly kings to be wise | Summoning the kings to submit to the rule of YHWH and of his anointed one | The earthly kings will be terrified at the prospect of facing the king's wrath | The earthly kings will submit to the rule of YHWH and of his anointed one | • Ultimatum: "A final offer or demand made by one party to another, especially in diplomatic negotiations, expressing or implying the threat of serious consequences or the breakoff of relations if the terms are not accepted" (The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition)" | |
| הִ֝וָּסְר֗וּ שֹׁ֣פְטֵי אָֽרֶץ׃ | Accept discipline, earthly rulers! | Imperative | Directive | Summoning the earthly rulers to accept discipline | Summoning the kings to submit to the rule of YHWH and of his anointed one | The earthly kings will be terrified at the prospect of facing the king's wrath | The earthly kings will submit to the rule of YHWH and of his anointed one | • "fear... trembling" | ||
| 11 | עִבְד֣וּ אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה בְּיִרְאָ֑ה | Serve YHWH with fear, | Imperative | Directive | Summoning the kings to serve YHWH | Summoning the kings to submit to the rule of YHWH and of his anointed one | The earthly kings will be terrified at the prospect of facing the king's wrath | The earthly kings will submit to the rule of YHWH and of his anointed one | ||
| וְ֝גִ֗ילוּ בִּרְעָדָֽה׃ | and rejoice with trembling! | Imperative | Directive | Summoning the kings to rejoice with trembling | Summoning the kings to submit to the rule of YHWH and of his anointed one | The earthly kings will be terrified at the prospect of facing the king's wrath | The earthly kings will submit to the rule of YHWH and of his anointed one | |||
| 12 | נַשְּׁקוּ־בַ֡ר פֶּן־יֶאֱנַ֤ף ׀ וְתֹ֬אבְדוּ דֶ֗רֶךְ | Kiss the son, or else he will become angry and you will perish in your way, | Imperative | Directive | Summoning the kings to kiss the son • Explaining what will happen if they refuse to kiss the son |
Summoning the kings to submit to the rule of YHWH and of his anointed one | The earthly kings will be terrified at the prospect of facing the king's wrath | The earthly kings will submit to the rule of YHWH and of his anointed one | ||
| כִּֽי־... | ||||||||||
| אַשְׁרֵ֥י כָּל־חֹ֥סֵי בֹֽו׃ | Blessed are all who take refuge in him. | Declarative | Assertive | Asserting that those who take refuge in the son are blessed | Summoning the kings to submit to the rule of YHWH and of his anointed one | The earthly kings will be terrified at the prospect of facing the king's wrath | The earthly kings will submit to the rule of YHWH and of his anointed one |