Psalm 23/Notes/Grammar.V. 1.208330

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  • יְהוָ֥ה רֹ֝עִ֗י ("YHWH is my shepherd"): The participle רֹעִי is commonly treated as a grammaticalized noun (cf. also Gen 46:32; Isa 38:12; 44:28; 63:11; etc.). In other words, this participle acts more like a noun than a typical participle with verbal function.[1] For the Hebrew participle רֹעִי, which is functioning as a predicate noun, the LXX has a present active indicative verb (Κύριος ποιμαίνει με - The Lord shepherds me). The Peshitta (ܡܪܝܐ ܢܪܥܝܢܝ "The Lord will shepherd me") as well as Jerome's translations (Psalmi Iuxta Hebr.- Dominus pacit me - and Psalmi Iuxta LXX - Dominus reget me) follow the LXX in translating the Hebrew participle verb with an active verb. In other words, they probably interpreted the Hebrew participle רֹעִי with a verbal function instead of interpreting it as a noun (this rendering is represented [in pink] in the diagram, and it is not reflected in any of the modern translations consulted).
  1. ↑ "When both subj. and pred. are definite, the subj. precedes the pred. and the clause is one of identification" (J.C.L. Gibson 1994, §49 (a)) (e.g., Ps. 74:12: וֵ֭אלֹהִים מַלְכִּ֣י - and God is my king).