Psalm 20/Notes/Verbal.v. 7.785697

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  • Modern translations diverge on their rendering of the qatal verb הֹושִׁ֥יעַ. 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). 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). 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). See The Verbal Semantics of הֹושִׁיעַ in Psalm 20:7 for a detailed discussion of the issue.
  • He will answer him (יַ֭עֲנֵהוּ): Indicative is preferred over the jussive in light of the context (The petition for YHWH to answer is indicative that victory lies in the future; therefore, YHWH will answer. There is expectation of future deliverance). Jerome ("exaudiet" - future indicative of exaudiō), the LXX ("ἐπακούσεται" - future indicative of ἐπακούω), and modern translations (NLT, ESV, NET, NASB, NRSV, CEV, NEB, REB, NJB, NVI, BTX4, NBS, NGÜ, ELB, etc.) support this reading.