Psalm 24 Speech Act

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Speech Act Analysis

What is Speech Act Analysis?

The Speech Act layer presents the text in terms of what it does, following the findings of Speech Act Theory. It builds on the recognition that there is more to communication than the exchange of propositions. Speech act analysis is particularly important when communicating cross-culturally, and lack of understanding can lead to serious misunderstandings, since the ways languages and cultures perform speech acts varies widely.

For a detailed explanation of our method, see the Speech Act Analysis Creator Guidelines.

Summary Visual

Speaker Verses Macro Speech Acts Addressee
David v. 1 By David. A psalm. The earth and its fullness belong to YHWH, the world and the inhabitants in it,

REMINDER
(vv. 1–2)

YHWH is the one who has all authority over creation
because
"He has founded it upon the seas and keeps it established upon the currents." (v. 2)
 Congregation
v. 2 because he has founded it upon the seas and keeps it established upon the currents.
v. 3 Who may go up on the mountain of YHWH? And who may stand within his holy place?

DECREE
(vv. 3–4)

Only those with integrity and purity may enter into YHWH’s presence.
v. 4 One with clean hands and a pure heart, who has not delighted in falsehood, nor taken an oath deceitfully.
v. 5 He will receive blessing from YHWH and privilege from the God of his salvation.

ASSURANCE
(vv. 5–6)

The one seeking YHWH with these qualities will indeed receive the privilege of enjoying his presence.
 YHWH
v. 6 Such is the generation—those seeking him, those who seek your face—of Jacob. Selah.
v. 7 Lift up your heads, gates, and be lifted up, eternal doorways, so that the glorious king might enter!

COMMAND
(vv. 7–10)

Get ready for the king’s entrance and welcome him in
because
"Who is this, the glorious king? YHWH of armies, he is the glorious king. Selah." (v. 10)
 Congregation
v. 8 Who is this, the glorious king? YHWH, a mighty one and a warrior; YHWH, a battle warrior.
v. 9 Lift up your heads, gates, and lift up, eternal doorways, so that the glorious king might enter!
v. 10 Who is this, the glorious king? YHWH of armies, he is the glorious king. Selah.

Speech Act Analysis Chart

The following chart is scrollable (left/right; up/down).

  Legend

Verse Hebrew CBC Sentence type Illocution (general) Illocution with context Macro speech act Intended perlocution (Think) Intended perlocution (Feel) Intended perlocution (Do)
Verse number and poetic line Hebrew text English translation Declarative, Imperative, or Interrogative

Indirect Speech Act: Mismatch between sentence type and illocution type		 Assertive, Directive, Expressive, Commissive, or Declaratory

Indirect Speech Act: Mismatch between sentence type and illocution type		 More specific illocution type with paraphrased context Illocutionary intent (i.e. communicative purpose) of larger sections of discourse

These align with the "Speech Act Summary" headings		 What the speaker intends for the address to think What the speaker intends for the address to feel What the speaker intends for the address to do



If an emendation or revocalization is preferred, that emendation or revocalization will be marked in the Hebrew text of all the visuals.

Emendations/Revocalizations legend
*Emended text* Emended text, text in which the consonants differ from the consonants of the Masoretic text, is indicated by blue asterisks on either side of the emendation.
*Revocalized text* Revocalized text, text in which only the vowels differ from the vowels of the Masoretic text, is indicated by purple asterisks on either side of the revocalization.
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 לְדָוִ֗ד מִ֫זְמ֥וֹר By David. A psalm. Fragment Assertive Introducing the author and genre of the poem          
  לַֽ֭יהוָה הָאָ֣רֶץ וּמְלוֹאָ֑הּ תֵּ֝בֵ֗ל וְיֹ֣שְׁבֵי בָֽהּ׃ The earth and its fullness belong to YHWH, the world and the inhabitants in it, Declarative Assertive Reminding YHWH's people that he is the one who has all authority over creation Reminding YHWH's people that he is the one who has all authority over creation • The audience will know YHWH alone is worth of worship
• The audience will know YHWH can determine how he is to be worshipped		 • The audience will feel confident in the stability of YHWH's reign    
2 כִּי־ה֭וּא עַל־יַמִּ֣ים יְסָדָ֑הּ because he has founded it upon the seas    
  וְעַל־נְ֝הָר֗וֹת יְכוֹנְנֶֽהָ׃ and keeps it established upon the currents.    
3 מִֽי־יַעֲלֶ֥ה בְהַר־יְהוָ֑ה Who may go up on the mountain of YHWH? Interrogative Assertive Decreeing the necessary requirements to enter into YHWH's presence • The audience will examine themselves according to these qualities and requirements  
  וּמִי־יָ֝קוּם בִּמְק֥וֹם קָדְשֽׁוֹ׃ And who may stand within his holy place? Interrogative Assertive Decreeing the necessary requirements to enter into YHWH's presence Decreeing the necessary requirements to enter into YHWH's presence  
4 נְקִ֥י כַפַּ֗יִם וּֽבַר־לֵ֫בָ֥ב One with clean hands and a pure heart, Declarative Assertive Explaining the qualities of the person who can enter YHWH's presence.  
  אֲשֶׁ֤ר׀ לֹא־נָשָׂ֣א לַשָּׁ֣וְא *נַפְשׁוֹ* who has not delighted in falsehood,  
  וְלֹ֖א נִשְׁבַּ֣ע לְמִרְמָֽה׃ nor taken an oath deceitfully.  
5 יִשָּׂ֣א בְ֭רָכָה מֵאֵ֣ת יְהוָ֑ה וּ֝צְדָקָ֗ה מֵאֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׁעֽוֹ׃ He will receive blessing from YHWH and privilege from the God of his salvation. Declarative Assertive Assuring the blessing of entrance for the person with these qualities Assuring the blessing of entrance for the person with these qualities • The audience will know YHWH can determine who will approach his presence • The audience will feel hopeful they can be counted among this generation of Jacob  
6 זֶ֭ה דּ֣וֹר דֹּרְשָׁ֑יו מְבַקְשֵׁ֨י פָנֶ֖יךָ יַעֲקֹ֣ב סֶֽלָה׃ Such is the generation—those seeking him, those who seek your face—of Jacob. Selah. Declarative Assertive Explaining that those who possess these qualities and seek YHWH's presence are the true current generation of Jacob • The audience will seek YHWH • In perlocutionary fashion: "[v. 6] functions to call its readers to become Jacob" (Sumpter 2014, 49)
7 שְׂא֤וּ שְׁעָרִ֨ים׀ רָֽאשֵׁיכֶ֗ם Lift up your heads, gates, Imperative Directive Commanding true Jacob to anticipate and welcome the king's entrance Commanding true Jacob to anticipate and welcome the king's entrance • The audience will anticipate the entrance of YHWH's ark  
  וְֽ֭הִנָּשְׂאוּ פִּתְחֵ֣י עוֹלָ֑ם and be lifted up, eternal doorways, • The audience will welcome the entrance of YHWH's ark  
  וְ֝יָב֗וֹא מֶ֣לֶךְ הַכָּבֽוֹד׃ so that the glorious king might enter! • The audience will feel awe at the king's glory  
8 מִ֥י זֶה֮ מֶ֤לֶךְ הַכָּ֫ב֥וֹד Who is this, the glorious king? Interrogative Directive Challenging Jacob to reflect on YHWH's identity • The audience will think YHWH is the glorious king • The audience will reflect on YHWH's identity • The repeated questions with the addressee opportunity to pause and reflect on the answer, until it becomes crystal clear. See further discussion in story behind.
  יְ֭הוָה עִזּ֣וּז וְגִבּ֑וֹר YHWH, a mighty one and a warrior; Declarative Assertive Explaining YHWH's identity as the glorious king • The audience will feel confidence in YHWH's might  
  יְ֝הוָ֗ה גִּבּ֥וֹר מִלְחָמָֽה׃ YHWH, a battle warrior. Declarative Assertive Explaining YHWH's identity and merits  
9 שְׂא֤וּ שְׁעָרִ֨ים׀ רָֽאשֵׁיכֶ֗ם Lift up your heads, gates, Imperative Directive Commanding true Jacob to anticipate and welcome the king's entrance • The audience will anticipate the entrance of YHWH's ark  
  וּ֭שְׂאוּ פִּתְחֵ֣י עוֹלָ֑ם and lift up, eternal doorways, • The audience will welcome the entrance of YHWH's ark  
  וְ֝יָבֹא מֶ֣לֶךְ הַכָּבֽוֹד׃ so that the glorious king might enter! • The audience will feel awe at the king's glory  
10 מִ֤י ה֣וּא זֶה֮ מֶ֤לֶךְ הַכָּ֫ב֥וֹד Who is this, the glorious king? Interrogative Directive Challenging Jacob to reflect on YHWH's identity • The audience will think YHWH is the glorious king • The audience will reflect on YHWH's identity  
  יְהוָ֥ה צְבָא֑וֹת ה֤וּא מֶ֖לֶךְ הַכָּב֣וֹד סֶֽלָה׃ YHWH of armies, he is the glorious king. Selah. Declarative Assertive Explaining YHWH's identity as the glorious king • The audience will feel confidence in YHWH's might