Psalm 20 Semantics

Psalm Overview

• Grammar
• Semantics
• Story behind the Psalm
• Discourse
• Poetics

About the Semantics Layer

Semantics is the study of how language is used to represent meaning. The goal of semantic analysis for interpreting and translating the Bible is to understand the meaning of words and how they relate to each other in context. We want to understand what is implicit about word meaning – and thus assumed by the original audience – and make it explicit – and thus clear for us who are removed by time, language, and culture. The semantics layer is composed of three major branches: lexical semantics, phrase-level semantics and verbal semantics. (Click 'Expand' to the right for more information.)

About Lexical Semantics

One major branch of semantic study is lexical semantics, which refers to the study of word meanings. It examines semantic range (=possible meanings of a word), the relationship between words (e.g. synonymy, hyponymy), as well as the relationship between words and larger concepts (conceptual domains). One component of our approach involves not only the study of the Hebrew word meaning, but also of our own assumptions about word meaning in modern languages. Because the researcher necessarily starts with their own cultural assumptions (in our case, those of Western-trained scholars), this part of the analysis should be done afresh for every culture.

For a detailed description of our method, see the Lexical Semantics Creator Guidelines.

About Phrase-level Semantics

The Phrase-level Semantics layer analyses the meaning of syntactic units which are larger than the level of the word and smaller than the level of the clause. Specifically, this layer analyses the meaning of prepositional phrases (e.g., לְאִישׁ), construct phrases (e.g., אִישׁ אֱלֹהִים), phrases formed by a coordinating waw conjunction (e.g., אִישׁ וְאִשָּׁה) and noun phrases which consist of a noun plus a determiner (e.g., הָאִישׁ) or a quantifier (e.g., כֹּל אִישׁ).

For a detailed description of our method, see the Phrase-level Semantics Creator Guidelines.

About Verbal Semantics

This sub-layer focuses on the relationship between verbs, time and modality. These are important categories for interpretation and translation, and how one analyses a verb can have a significant effect on how it is rendered. This sub-layer has been through several iterations, as it strives to accomplish two things: (1) Transparency for the native Hebrew structures, and (2) Transparency for the interpretation necessary to translate the verbal semantics into other languages.

For a detailed description of our method, see the Verbal Semantics Creator Guidelines.

Semantics Visuals for Psalm 20

Lexical and Phrase-level Semantics Diagram

For legend, click "Expand" to the right

	Prepositional phrase	Construct chain	Construct chain within a prepositional phrase	Phrase-level waw	Article and כֹּל
Diagram Shading
Definition	- A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition plus its object. The phrase usually modifies the clause or another constituent in the clause.	- A construct chain, also called a 'genitive phrase', is a grammatical encoding of the relationship 'A of B,' in which A is a phonologically modified noun (in the construct state), and B is a phonologically unmodified noun (the absolute state).	- Some construct chains occur within prepositional phrases	- A waw conjunction can join units of all sizes. Phrase level waw join units at the word or phrase level (i.e., below the level of the clause).	- Definite articles tell you something about the identifiability or inclusiveness about the word it is attached to - כֹּל is a quantifier that tells you about the scope of a word it is attached to

• See our growing collection of Venn Diagrams, not only for Psalm 20, but for all of the psalms.
• See SDBH on Psalm 20.

v. 1

v. 2

• In Ps. 20, the Hebrew word שֵׁם (name) occurs three times:
  • v. 2: שֵׁם אֱלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב - in the name of the God of Jacob
  • v. 6: וּבְשֵׁם־אֱלֹהֵינוּ - in the name of our God
  • v. 8: וּבְשֵׁם־אֱלֹהֵינוּ - in the name of YHWH

Based on the context of the psalm and on the semantic domains provided by SDBH, "the name of YHWH" is representative of YHWH himself.

• Protect (יְשַׂגֶּבְךָ) - in this verse, the verb שגב means to protect.
  • "To make high inaccessible, meaning to protect."
  • Bible sense: "to protect v., to shield from danger, injury, destruction, or damage. Piel: Ps 20:2; 59:2; 69:30; 91:14; 107:41 (5×)."
  • The verb is "associated with the notion of 'height'; it frequently has the connotation of security. Thus in Deut 2:36 the word is translated 'strong' (of a city) and in the Piel stem it is rendered both 'to set on high,' and 'to defend' or 'protect' (Ps 20:1 [H 2]; 59:1, 2; 69:29 [H 30]; 91:14)."
  • "To protect."
  • "To keep safe; to protect."
  • "Protect is a translation of the causative form of a verb meaning “to be high”; therefore 'put you out of reach (of your enemies)' is the idea."

v. 3

• For the transfer from "sustain you" to "strengthen you." HALOT defines סעד as, "to support, sustain, with regard to helping individuals in distress." The manner of help given is dependent upon the particular need. For instance, סעד could indicate a material provision for the hungry and thirsty such as in Judg. 19:5, 8 and Ps 104:15. In the context of battle, as in Ps 20:3, the support or sustenance involves strengthening an individual for victory. When the Psalmist prays for God to sustain his anointed, he prays that God would strengthen him through the conflict.

v. 4

• See the Venn diagram of מִנְחָה below:

• See the Venn diagrams of piel verb דָּשֵׁן below:

v. 5

v. 6

• The Hebrew verb רָנַן (shout for joy) is "used often in military contexts, such as in 1 Samuel 4:5 when the people gave a 'ringing cry' over the victorious return of the ark. It is a loud, shrill, vibrating shriek of victory, not a calm word of thanksgiving."
• For more information on name (שֵׁם), see note in v. 2.

v. 7

v. 8

• Repeated root זָכַר: The repetition of the terms נַזְכִּֽיר (v. 8b) and יִזְכֹּ֥ר (v. 4a) seems to form a seam binding together different sections of the psalm. The verbal root for boasting is זָכַר ("to remember.") Its appearance in v. 8b parallels the previous use in v. 4a. In v. 4a, the people ask God to remember the king's offerings and to act favorably toward him. Then, in v. 8b, the people boast in (literally remember) the name of YHWH, remembering their dependence on him and his faithfulness to them.
• For more information on name (שֵׁם), see note in v. 2.

v. 9

• The hithpael form of the verb עוּד is a hapax legomenon, and it means to stand upright or straighten up. This form of the verb is reflexive, so it has the sense of "standing oneself upright" or "straightening oneself up." Delitzsch suggested the verb עוּד in the hithpael carries the nuance of showing one’s self firm, strong, courageous. Hence, in Psalm 20:9, the posture of God's people is contrasted with that of their enemies. The Psalmist declares that they are brought down to their knees, but God's people are able to stand upright; God's people are able to show themselves firm, strong.

v. 10

Verbal Semantics Chart

For legend, click "Expand" to the right

	Tense	Aspect	Reference point movement	Modality
Definition	A situation's location in time	Internal temporal constituency of a situation as portrayed	Whether or not the expected reference point in the discourse is updated after the situation.	Distinguishing between indicative, volitional and other forms of modality, as determined by morphology; word order; particles; context
Options	Relative: a situation's location in time relative to a reference point Absolute: a situation's location in time relative to the moment of speech	Continuous Habitual/iterative Stative	Expected movement: usually perfective No expected movement: usually imperfective	indicative jussive imperative cohortative wish purpose/result past (conditional) possible probable interrogative
Symbol

For steps to determine relative tense and reference point movement click "Expand" to the right:

Where is action relative to reference point?				What question is prompted by verb tense?			Do we expect reference point to move?
	After reference point (Posterior)
		Imperative			What next?	Posterior (relative future)	Yes	⇐
		Yiqtol			What next? What now?	Posterior (relative future Simultaneous (relative imperfective present)	Yes	⇐
		Weqatal
		Weyiqtol					No	⇍
		Wayyiqtol
	At reference point (Simultaneous)
		Yiqtol			What now?	Simultaneous (relative imperfective present)	No	⇍
		Participle
		Weyiqtol
		Infinitive
	Before reference point (Anterior)
		Qatal			What next? What now?	Anterior (relative past) Simultaneous (relative imperfect present)	Yes	⇐
		Wayyiqtol					No	⇍

Bibliography

Alexander, Joseph Addison. 1864. Commentary on Psalms. Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications.

Barnes, Albert. 1868. Notes, Critical, Explanatory, and Practical, on the Book of Psalms. Vol. I. New York: Harper & Brothers.

Bratcher, Robert G. and William David Reyburn. 1991. A Translator’s Handbook on the Book of Psalms. UBS Handbook Series. New York: United Bible Societies.

Broyles, Craig C. 1999. Psalms. NIBC 11. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson.

Delitzsch, Franz. 1892. Biblical Commentary on The Psalms. Vol. I. Edinburg: T. & T. Clark.

Jacobson, Rolf A., and Beth Tanner. 2014. “Book One of the Psalter: Psalms 1–41,” in The Book of Psalms. Edited by E. J. Young, R. K. Harrison, and Robert L. Hubbard Jr. The New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: MI, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

Jamieson, Robert; A. R. Fausset; David Brown; Thomas Starling; and John Brown. 1873. A Commentary, Critical and Explanatory, on the Old and New Testaments. Vol. I. New York: S.S. Scranton.

Jenni, Ernst. 1992. Die Hebräischen Präpositionen Band 1: Die Präposition Beth. Stuttgart: W. Kohlhammer.

Keil, C. F., and F. Delitzsch. 1944. Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament. Vol. II. Edinburg: T. & T. Clark.

Kirkpatrick, Alexander Francis. 1897. [ https://archive.org/details/bookofpsalms01kirk/page/n115/mode/2up?view=theater The Book of Psalms]. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Ross, Allen. 2012. A Commentary on the Psalms, Volume 1: 1-41. Vol. 1. Kregel Exegetical Library. Grand Rapids: Kregel Academic & Professional.

VanGemeren, Willem A. 2008. The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Psalms. Edited by Tremper Longman and David E. Garland. Rev. ed. Vol. 5. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

שגב" .2017." In The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.