Psalm 20 Academics
May YHWH answer you!
Psalm 20
Guardian: Mari Strube
Academic Resources
Explore our academic Psalms resources for Psalm 20, including our Layer-by-Layer analysis, select Exegetical Issues, and Overview Videos.
Overview 
- This page will introduce and provide orientation to Psalm 20 as a whole. It covers the message, structure, background and participants of the psalm.
Layer-by-Layer Analysis 
- The heart of our process is our layer-by-layer exegetical analysis, where we unfold the semantics, story behind, discourse, and poetics of each psalm.
Grammar & Semantics
Semantics is the study of how language is used to represent meaning. The goal of semantic analysis is to understand the meaning of words and how they relate to each other in context. Our Semantics analysis consists of the following sub-layers:
- Grammar & Textual Criticism
- Lexical Semantics
- Phrase-Level Semantics
- Verbal Semantics
Story Behind
The Story Behind the Psalm shows how each part of the psalm fits together into a single coherent whole. Here, we analyze the meaning of sentences and larger units of discourse, up to and including the entire psalm. This also include historical background and figurative imagery.
Discourse
Our Discourse Layer moves beyond semantic-level meaning, and analyzes features of the text dependent on the speaker, addressee, and macrosyntax.
Poetics
Exploring the Psalms as poetry is crucial for understanding and experiencing the psalms and thus for faithfully translating them into another language.
Verse-by-Verse Notes 
- Explore the psalm verse-by-verse and section-by-section.
Psalm 20 Exegetical Issues 
- These issues examine the top three tough questions for each psalm, explaining different scholarly interpretations, and offering our perspective.
- The traditional Hebrew text of Ps 20:10 reads as follows: [1]
- יְהוָ֥ה הוֹשִׁ֑יעָה הַ֝מֶּ֗לֶךְ יַעֲנֵ֥נוּ בְיוֹם־קָרְאֵֽנוּ׃
- The Masoretic accentuation includes an athnach below הוֹשִׁיעָה, suggesting a break between יְהוָה הוֹשִׁיעָה and הַמֶּלֶךְ. However, the BHS editors propose that the athnach should be placed under הַמֶּלֶךְ instead. Translations differ based upon whether or not they choose to follow the Masoretic accentuation.
- The traditional Hebrew text of Ps 20:6b reads as follows:[2]
- וּבְשֵֽׁם־אֱלֹהֵ֥ינוּ נִדְגֹּ֑ל
- The MT reading נִדְגֹּל is disputed, however. Translations have read the text in three different ways.
- 1. Read the text as נִדְגֹּל (so MT; Qal verb from the root דגל - "to set up standard, banner"[3]). This option is represented by the modern translation ESV: ". . . and in the name of our God set up our banners!"
- The Hebrew text of Ps 20:7 reads as follows:[8]
- עַתָּ֤ה יָדַ֗עְתִּי כִּ֤י הוֹשִׁ֥יעַ ׀ יְהוָ֗ה מְשִׁ֫יח֥וֹ
- יַ֭עֲנֵהוּ מִשְּׁמֵ֣י קָדְשׁ֑וֹ
- בִּ֝גְבֻר֗וֹת יֵ֣שַׁע יְמִינֽוֹ
- Modern translations diverge on their rendering of the qatal verb הֹושִׁיעַ.
- 1.Some translations render it as present perfect: "Now I know that the Lord has given victory to his anointed one: he will answer him from his holy heaven with the victorious might of his right hand" (REB).
- 2.Others as a present verb: "Now this I know: The Lord gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand" (NIV).
- 3.Still others as a simple future: "Now I am sure that the Lord will deliver his chosen king; he will intervene for him from his holy heavenly temple, and display his mighty ability to deliver" (NET).
