Psalm 3/Full

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Hebrew (BHS)

מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִ֑ד בְּ֜בָרְח֗וֹ מִפְּנֵ֤י׀ אַבְשָׁל֬וֹם בְּנֽוֹ׃ יְ֭הוָה מָֽה־רַבּ֣וּ צָרָ֑י רַ֜בִּ֗ים קָמִ֥ים עָלָֽי׃ רַבִּים֘ אֹמְרִ֪ים לְנַ֫פְשִׁ֥י אֵ֤ין יְֽשׁוּעָ֓תָה לּ֬וֹ בֵֽאלֹהִ֬ים סֶֽלָה׃ וְאַתָּ֣ה יְ֭הוָה מָגֵ֣ן בַּעֲדִ֑י כְּ֜בוֹדִ֗י וּמֵרִ֥ים רֹאשִֽׁי׃ ק֭וֹלִי אֶל־יְהוָ֣ה אֶקְרָ֑א וַיַּֽעֲנֵ֙נִי מֵהַ֖ר קָדְשׁ֣וֹ סֶֽלָה׃ אֲנִ֥י שָׁכַ֗בְתִּי וָֽאִ֫ישָׁ֥נָה הֱקִיצ֑וֹתִי כִּ֖י יְהוָ֣ה יִסְמְכֵֽנִי׃ לֹֽא־אִ֭ירָא מֵרִבְב֥וֹת עָ֑ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר סָ֜בִ֗יב שָׁ֣תוּ עָלָֽי׃ ק֨וּמָ֤ה יְהוָ֙ה׀ הוֹשִׁ֨יעֵ֤נִי אֱלֹהַ֗י כִּֽי־הִכִּ֣יתָ אֶת־כָּל־אֹיְבַ֣י לֶ֑חִי שִׁנֵּ֖י רְשָׁעִ֣ים שִׁבַּֽרְתָּ׃ לַיהוָ֥ה הַיְשׁוּעָ֑ה עַֽל־עַמְּךָ֖ בִרְכָתֶ֣ךָ סֶּֽלָה׃

Greek (Rahlfs-Hanhart LXX)

ψαλμὸς τῷ Δαυιδ ὁπότε ἀπεδίδρασκεν ἀπὸ προσώπου Αβεσσαλωμ τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ κύριε τί ἐπληθύνθησαν οἱ θλίβοντές με πολλοὶ ἐπανίστανται ἐπ᾽ ἐμέ πολλοὶ λέγουσιν τῇ ψυχῇ μου οὐκ ἔστιν σωτηρία αὐτῷ ἐν τῷ θεῷ αὐτοῦ διάψαλμα σὺ δέ κύριε ἀντιλήμπτωρ μου εἶ δόξα μου καὶ ὑψῶν τὴν κεφαλήν μου φωνῇ μου πρὸς κύριον ἐκέκραξα καὶ ἐπήκουσέν μου ἐξ ὄρους ἁγίου αὐτοῦ διάψαλμα ἐγὼ ἐκοιμήθην καὶ ὕπνωσα ἐξηγέρθην ὅτι κύριος ἀντιλήμψεταί μου οὐ φοβηθήσομαι ἀπὸ μυριάδων λαοῦ τῶν κύκλῳ συνεπιτιθεμένων μοι ἀνάστα κύριε σῶσόν με ὁ θεός μου ὅτι σὺ ἐπάταξας πάντας τοὺς ἐχθραίνοντάς μοι ματαίως ὀδόντας ἁμαρτωλῶν συνέτριψας τοῦ κυρίου ἡ σωτηρία καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν λαόν σου ἡ εὐλογία σου

Phonology

Vowels

Definition Feature being studied	Occurrences Sections where this feature is present or absent	Clustering	Intersection	Connections	Structure
a-vowels		v.2a; v.4a; v.6a; v.9	clusters at beginning of sections 1, 2, and 3; end of psalm		aperture (v.2a; v.4a; v.6a); inclusio (v.2a, v.9)
o-vowels		second section: vv.4b-5b(4x)		first and last words of v.5 are phonologically parallel: קוֹלִי//קָדְשׁוֹ	strengthens parallelism (v.5ab); gives cohesion to second section
stressed hireq yod		first section: vv.2b-3b (6x); second section: 4a-5a (5x)			gives cohesion to the first and second sections (vv.2-3)

This feature is considered relevant for this psalm.,

Consonants

Definition Feature being studied	Occurrences Sections where this feature is present or absent	Clustering	Intersection	Connections	Structure
gutturals (א, ע, ה, ח)		v.8bc(8x)
sibilants (שׁ, שׂ, ס, ז, צ)		v.6(4x); v.7b(3x); v.8d(3x)			gives cohesion to third section (vv.6-7)
velars (ק, כּ, גּ)		rare in first section; clusters in vv.4-6 (9x) and v.8(4x)			gives cohesion to vv.4-6; highlights parallel between 8a and 8c
nasals (מ, נ)		vv.2-3 (10x)			gives cohesion to the first section
sonorants (מ, נ, ל, ר, י, ו)		אֹמְרִ֪ים לְנַ֫פְשִׁ֥י (v.3b), וּמֵרִ֥ים רֹאשִֽׁי׃ (v.4b)	clusters at boundary: end of first section (v.3b) and beginning of second section (v.4a)	The alliteration of sonorants, as well as rhyme and syntactic similarity, clearly indicates a connection between these phrases in v.3b and v.4b. "Both the rhyme and the syntactical similarity (participle with noun complement referring to the poet) contrast effectively with the dissimilarity in content of v. 3a (referring to the hostile activity of the psalmist's foes) and 4b (speaking of Yahweh's defensive activity on behalf of the psalmist)."	anadiplosis?

This feature is considered relevant for this psalm.,

Sound combinations

Definition Feature being studied	Occurrences Sections where this feature is present or absent	Clustering	Intersection	Connections	Structure
ō + stressed hireq yod	אֹמְרִים (v.3a), בֵאלֹהִים (v.3b), כְּבוֹדִי (v.4b), רֹאשִׁי (v.4b), קוֹלִי (v.5a)	vv.4b-5a			Gives cohesion to the second section
תָּ	יְשׁוּעָתָה (v.3b), וְאַתָּה (v.4a), הִכִּיתָ (v.8c), שִׁבַּרְתָּ (v.8d)	vv.3b-4a; v.8cd	cluster on either side of first major sectional division	reinforces connection between lines 8c and 8d	anadiplosis (vv.3b-4a)
liquid + /ay/ diphthong	צָרָי (v.2a), עָלָי (v.2b), עָלָֽי (v.7b)	v.2ab		reinforces connection between lines 2ab; the situation described in v.7 recalls that of v.2; the phonological repetition reinforces this connection	forms bicolon (v.2)
ים ending	רַ֜בִּ֗ים (v.2b), קָמִ֥ים (v.2b), רַבִּים֘ (v.3a), אֹמְרִ֪ים (v.3a), בֵֽאלֹהִ֬ים (v.3b), רְשָׁעִ֣ים (v.8d),	vv.2-3(5x)			gives cohesion to the first section (vv.2-3)
sonorant + labial	רַבּ֣וּ (v.2a), רַ֜בִּ֗ים (v.2b), רַבִּים֘ (v.3a), לְנַפְשִׁי (v.3a), לּ֬וֹ בֵֽאלֹהִ֬ים (v.3b), מָגֵן בַּעֲדִי (v.4a), מֵרִבְב֥וֹת (v.7a), שִׁבַּֽרְתָּ (v.8d), בִרְכָתֶ֣ךָ (v.9b)	vv.2-3(5x)		the beginning of the psalm (vv.2-3) has ב + ר, and the end of the psalm (v.8d, 9b) as the reverse (ר + ב)	gives cohesion to the first section (vv.2-3)

This feature is considered relevant for this psalm.,

Infrequent letters or sounds

• ג - one time
• ז - none (only in superscription)
• ח - one time (additional occurrence in superscription)
• ט - none
• פ - one time
• שׂ - none

Phonological Overview

,

Patterns in beginnings

• רַבּ (v.2ab, 3a)
• שׁ (v.8c)
• a-vowels clustered at beginning of sections 1 (v.2a), 2 (v.4a), 3 (v.6a), and end of psalm (v.9),

Patterns in endings

• lines ending in liquid + ay diphthong (v.2ab, 7b)
• lines ending in hireq yod (vv.3ab-4ab, 6b, 8c)
• words ending in ים- (vv.2b-3ab, 4b, 8d)
• last word of 4a and first word of 4b end in דִי-,

Similar sounds in adjacent lines

vv.2-3

• alliteration: r + b
• rhyme: ē + m ending

vv.2ab.

• end rhyme: liquid + /ay/ diphthong (צָרָ֑י // עָלָֽי׃)

vv.3-4.

• מֵרִים רֹאשִׁי (v. 4b) sounds very much like אֹמרִים לְנַפְשִׁי (v. 3b): nasal (מ) + liquid (ר) + ē + nasal (מ) + liquid (ר/ל) + sibilant (שׁ) + ē.

vv.3b-4

• מָגֵ֣ן (v.4a), rhymes with אֵ֤ין (v.3b)

v.4ab.

• גֵ֣ן בַּעֲדִ֑י (v.4a) sounds like כְּ֜בוֹדִ֗י (v.4b) (guttural + dental + ē ending)

v.4b-5a.

• repetition of ō + ē (כְּ֜בוֹדִ֗י / ק֭וֹלִי)

v.5ab

• ק + /o/ vowel (ק֭וֹלִי // קָדְשׁ֣וֹ)

vv.5b-6a.

• rhyme: נִי

v.6ab.

• rhyme: נִי

v.8abcd.

• alternating alliteration: velars (ק/כּ) in lines a and c (ק֨וּמָ֤ה // כִּֽי־הִכִּ֣יתָ אֶת־כָּל); sibilant (שׁ) in lines b and d (הוֹשִׁ֨יעֵ֤נִי // שִׁנֵּ֖י רְשָׁעִ֣ים שִׁבַּֽרְתָּ)

vv.8d-9a.

• alliteration: guttural + sibilant (רְשָׁעִ֣ים / הַיְשׁוּעָ֑ה),

Other observations

Overview
This text manifest much sonic correspondence, including semantic symbolism (e.g., “rise up”— enemies, 1b, versus Yahweh, 7a), frequent rhyme patterns (e.g., formed by the pronominal suffix "me/my", e.g., v. 2) and an irregular but audible lineal rhythmic flow.

Miscellaneous Notes

• v.8c. alliteration of dentals + plosive velars creates a sound of striking which reflects the semantic content

Rhythm and Line Length
The following table shows the length of each line in terms of syllables, words, and stress units. Syllable counts are from Fokkelman (and are thus based on his slightly emended text [see below]), and stress-unit counts are from Craigie. If any particular line stands out according to two or more of these measurements, that line is considered marked. Lines 8a, 8b, 8c, and 9b are marked in this respect.

Ref	Syllables	Words	Stress Units
2a	7	4	3
2b	6	3	3
3a	8	3	3
3b	9	4	3
4a	9	4	4
4b	8	3	3
5a	7	4	3
5b	8	3	3
6a	9	3	3
6b	11	4	3
7a	7	4	3
7b	8	4	4
8a	4	2	2
8b	7	2	2
8c	11	6	3
8d	9	3	3
9a	7	2	2
9b	9	3	2

• Poetic “terseness” is clearly audible throughout the psalm, for example: (a) verbless cola in vv. 2, 4; (b) all other clausal (cola) units are relatively short (in comparison with prose); (c) there are few inter-clausal connectives (conjunctions)—thus, the ones that do occur are significant (e.g., כִּי in vv. 6b and 8c).

Lexical Semantics

References to God

Definition Feature being studied	Occurrences Sections where this feature is present or absent	Clustering	Intersection	Connections	Structure
אֱלֹהִים	vv. 3b, 8b	absent in sections 2-3	end of first section (v.3b); beginning of fourth section (v.8b)	The two occurrences are connected; both occur alongside references to "deliverance" (ישׁועתה/הושׁיעני). Whereas the psalmist's enemies say there is "no deliverance for him with God" (v.3b), the psalmist cries out to "my God" for "deliverance" (v.8b).	This feature forms/reinforces a (chiastic) correspondence between sections 1 and 4.
יהוה	vv. 2a, 4a, 5a, 6b, 8a, 9a		beginning of sections 1 (v.2a), 2 (v.4a), and 4 (v.8a); end of psalm (v.9a)		Initiates new sections (structural anaphora), especially when used in direct address (vv. 2a, 4a, 8a)

The repeated divine name acts as the precatory backbone throughout the text (יהוה–x6, אלהי–v. 7a). The use of the divine name may form a pattern:

יהוה / אלהים / יהוה

יהוה / יהוה

יהוה / אלהים / יהוה

This feature is considered relevant for this psalm.,

Tetragrammaton

The tetragrammaton, when used in direct address (v.2a, 4a, 8a), is used to initiate new sections (anaphora). The other divine epithet (אלהים) is used less frequently to perform a distinct function, i.e., to forge a connection between v.3b and v.8b.,

Repeated words

Definition Feature being studied	Occurrences Sections where this feature is present or absent	Clustering	Intersection	Connections	Structure
רבב	רַבּוּ (v.2a), רַבִּים (v.2b), רַבִּים (v.3a), רִבְבוֹת (v.7a)	vv.2-3	The initial cluster occurs at the beginning of the Psalm.	The occurrence at v.7a forms a connection with the cluster in vv.2-3. The fear which the Psalmist felt (vv. 2-3) is now dissipated (v. 7).
קום	קָמִים (v.2b), קוּמָה (v.8a)	absent in sections 2-3	קוּמָה (v.8a) is the first word of the fourth section	The Psalmist calls on Yahweh to rise up (קום) because his enemies are rising up (קום) around him.	This feature forms/reinfornces a contrastive correspondence between the first and fourth sections.
עם	רִבְבוֹת עָם (v.7a), עַמְךָ (v.9b)	absent in sections 1-2	Both occurrences are in the second half of the Psalm. The final occurrence (v.9b) coincides with the conclusion of the Psalm.	The two occurrences may be connected and implicitly contrasted: the thousands of people surrounding the Psalmist vs. Yahweh's people.
ישׁע	יְשׁוּעָתָה (v.3b), הוֹשִׁיעֵנִי (v.8b), הַיְשׁוּעָה (v.9a)	absent in sections 2-3	end of first section (v.3b), beginning of fourth/final section (v.8b), conclusion of Psalm (v.9a)	Repetition of ישׁע in v.8b forms a connection with v.3b. This connection is reinforced by the recurrence of אלהים within these same lines.	Recurrence of this feature forms/reinforces a contrastive correspondence between the first and fourth/final sections.

The noun יְשׁוּעָה is highlighted, not only by its repetition (vv. 3b, 9a; verbal form in 8b) but by its morphology. The first occurrence of the word (v. 3b) has a unique ending (תָה- cf. Ps. 80:3; Jon. 2:10). This is a remain of an earlier case ending which is, according to GKC, "used merely for the sake of poetical emphasis.". Perhaps it is used here to mark the thematic importance of this word, "deliverance," which is "the key motif in the psalm." The second occurrence of the word (v. 9a) is the only word in the psalm to have the definite article (ה).

1
2a		יהוה	רבב
2b			רבב	קום
3a			רבב
3b					ישׁע	אלהים
4a		יהוה
4b
5a		יהוה
5b
6a
6b		יהוה
7a			רבב				עם
7b
8a		יהוה		קום		אלהים
8b					ישׁע
8c
8d
9a	יהוה				ישׁע
9b							עם

This feature is considered relevant for this psalm.,

Semantically/thematically related words

Definition Feature being studied	Occurrences Sections where this feature is present or absent	Clustering	Intersection	Connections	Structure
words associated with warfare	יְֽשׁוּעָתָה/הַיְשׁוּעָ֑ה (vv.3b, 9a); מָגֵן (v.4a); עַם (vv.7a, 9b; cf. Num. 20:20; Ps. 18:44); שָׁתוּ (v.7b; cf. Isa. 22:7); הִכִּ֣יתָ (v.8c); שִׁבַּֽרְתָּ (v.8d)
words for enemies/wicked	צָרָי (v.2a), קָמִים (v.2b), אֹיְבַי (v.8c), רְשָׁעִים (v.8d)	v.2ab and v.8cd	The small cluster at v.2ab is in the opening line of the Psalm (the lament/complaint).	In v.2ab, the enemies are rising against the Psalmist; in 8cd, Yahweh is rising against the enemies.	This feature reinforces the contrastive correspondence between sections 1 and 4.

This feature is considered relevant for this psalm.,

Other

Semantic Density
This refers to lexical or syntactic elements that have two (or more) possible senses, both of which could apply in the context of occurrence, e.g., “my glory”—objective and/or subjective pronoun (4b); “lift head” in deliverance and/or judicial vindication (4b); “holy hill”—reference to Temple Mount and/or God’s heavenly sanctuary (5b); verb tenses in vv. 6-7, narrative sequence (NET) and/or habitual state (NIV); כִּי explanatory and/or emphatic (8c); “blessing” of deliverance, answered prayer, and/or general well-being (shalom) (9b).

Verbs

Verb forms

Definition Feature being studied	Occurrences Sections where this feature is present or absent	Clustering	Intersection	Connections	Structure
imperative	קוּמָה (v.8a), הוֹשִׁיעֵנִי (v.8b)	v.8ab	beginning of fourth section	parallel imperatives strengthen parallel between lines 8a and 8b	Microstructure: structures lines 8ab into a unit. Macrostructure: may mark the emotional climax of the psalm.
wayyiqtol	וַיַּעֲנֵנִי (v.5b), וָאִישָׁנָה (v.6b)	sections 2-3; absent in sections 1 and 4
yiqtol	אֶקְרָא (v.5a), יִסְמְכֵנִי (v.6b), אִירָא (v.7a)	sections 2-3; absent in sections 1 and 4		possible connection between אֶקְרָא (v.5a) and אִירָא (v.7a), which are phonologically and morphologically similar.
qatal	רַבּוּ (v.2a), שָׁכַבְתִּי (v.6a), הֱקִיצוֹתִי (v.6b), שָׁתוּ (v.7b), הִכִּיתָ (v.8c), שִבַּרְתָּ (v.8d)	v.6ab, v.8cd; absent in section 2	beginning of psalm	parallel qatals strengthen parallelism between lines (v.6ab and v.8cd)	structures lines into units (bicola; vv.6ab, 8cd). On a macrostructural level, may form inclusio: the first (רַבּוּ) and final verbs of the psalm are qatal (שִבַּרְתָּ).
participle	קָמִים (v.2b), אֹמְרִים (v.3a), מֵרִים (v.4b)	vv. 2-4(3x)	clustered around first major sectional division	The participle in v.4, describing Yahweh, forms a contrastive connection with the participles in vv.2-3 describing the psalmist's enemies. This connection is reinforced phonologically (אֹמְרִים לְנַפְשִׁי / מֵרִים רֹאשִׁי).	gives cohesion to first section (vv.2-3); anadiplosis (v.3a, 4b)

• vv. 2b-3a. Are the participles in 2b (קָמִים) and 3a (אֹמְרִים) grammatical subjects or predicates? Either option is possible. If subjects, then the adjective רַבִּים is the predicate in both clauses and both clauses are nominal, sentences of the type S-V-SC. If, however, the participles are grammatical predicates, then the adjective רַבִּים is the subject in both clauses. This is apparently the interpretation of the LXX, which translates רַבִּים in the nominative case (πολλοί) and the participles as present-tense verbs (ἐπανίστανται / λέγουσιν).
• v. 5. The prefixed verbal form in line [5]a could be an imperfect, yielding the translation “I cry out,” but the verb form in the next line (a vav consecutive with the preterite, “and he answered me”) suggests this is a brief narrative of what has already happened. Consequently the verb form in v. [5]a might be understood as a preterite, “I cried out” (see Ps 30:8). This appears to be the interpretation of the LXX, which translates both verbs as past-perfectives (ἐκέκραξα καὶ ἐπήκουσέν).

However, the strict identification of wayyiqtol with preterite (past-perfective) semantics is unlikely given the many counter examples. According to BHRG, "in poetry, a wayyiqtol sometimes refers to an actual present." Similarly, Waltke and O'Connor cite examples (including Ps. 3:5) where "after regular yiqtol referring to a present-time situation, wayyiqtol represents a (con)sequential or explanatory situation in the same time frame." GKC allows for an even broader interpretation, noting that "the imperfect consecutive may represent all varieties in the relations of tense and mood, which... follow from the idea of the imperfect." This would include "future actions" (cf. Ps. 49:15; 94:22f). Indeed, wayyiqtol seems "capable of expressing nearly any combination of tense, mood and aspect." Interpreting the verbs in Psalm 3:5 as expressing future tense ("to Yahweh I will call, and he will answer") may thus be one way to make sense of this verse. David's confident declaration that Yahweh will answer his call harmonizes well with the notes of assurance that sound throughout vv. 4-7.

• v.6a. The three verbal forms that appear in succession here (perfect + vav consecutive with preterite + perfect) are most naturally taken as narrational (compare NIV).
• v.6b. Because the LORD was protecting him, he awoke safely from his sleep. “Protects”—or “supports”; “sustains”; in this explanatory causal clause the imperfect verbal form probably has a habitual or present progressive nuance, for the psalmist is confident of God’s continual protection.
• v. 8cd. The qatal verbs in this verse may refer to gnomic events. The Psalmist grounds (כִּי) his petition (8ab) in Yahweh's characteristic behavior. Alternatively, "IBHS 30.5.4cd argues that after the imperatives the qatal verbs in v. 7 are precative (cf. DG 60c; NIVI). But the contextual argument can work either way: a restatement of the basis for the prayer is quite appropriate and means the כִּי can have its regular meaning “because” rather than having to be purely emphatic (IBHS 39.3.4e). The כִּי also makes it hard to take the line as an anticipatory testimony to Yhwh’s having answered the plea."

This feature is considered relevant for this psalm.,

Person, gender and number

Definition Feature being studied	Occurrences Sections where this feature is present or absent	Clustering	Intersection	Connections	Structure
1st person	אֶקְרָא (v.5a), שָׁכַבְתִּי (v.6a), וָאִישָׁנָה (v.6a), הֱקִיצוֹתִי (v.6c), אִירָא (v.7a)	v.6(3x); absent in sections 1 and 4			gives cohesion to sections 2-3
2nd person	קוּמָה (v.8a), הוֹשִׁיעֵנִי (v.8b), הִכִּיתָ (v.8c), שִבַּרְתָּ (v.8d)	v.8(4x); absent elsewhere	fourth section of psalm	strengthens parallelism between v.8ab and v.8cd	gives cohesion to the fourth section
plural	רַבּוּ (v.2a), קָמִים (v.2b), אֹמְרִים (v.3a), שָׁתוּ (v.7b)	vv.2-3		in every case, the subject of the plural verb is the psalmist's enemies	gives cohesion to the first section (vv.2-3)

This feature is considered relevant for this psalm.,

Paragogic letters

Definition Feature being studied	Occurrences Sections where this feature is present or absent	Clustering	Intersection	Connections	Structure
paragogic ה	וָאִישָׁנָה (v.6a), קוּמָה (v.8a)

,

Verb stem types (binyanim)

Definition Feature being studied	Occurrences Sections where this feature is present or absent	Clustering	Intersection	Connections	Structure
Piel	שִׁבַּרְתָּ (v.8d)	final verb of the Psalm
Hiphil	מֵרִים (v.4a), הֱקִיצוֹתִי (v.6b), הוֹשִיעֵנִי (v.8b), הִכִּיתָ (v.8c)	v.8bc
Qal	רַבּוּ (v.2a), קָמִים (v.2b), אֹמְרִים (v.3a), אֶקְרָא (v.5a), וַיַּעֲנֵנִי (v.5b), שָׁכַבְתִּי (v.6a), וָאִישָׁנָה (v.6a), יִסְמְכֵנִי (v.6b), אִירָא (v.7a), שָׁתוּ (v.7b), קוּמָה (v.8a)	2-3a; 5-8a; absent after 8a, where there is a cluster of non-Qal verbs.

For every four consecutive Qal verbs, there is one Hiphil verb. The pattern ( Q , Q , Q , Q , H ) is repeated three times before the Psalm ends with two hiphil verbs and a piel verb.

Verb Morphology

Verse	Verb	Stem	Conjugation	Person	Gender	Number	Paragogic Suffix	Pronominal Suffix	Root
1 (ss)	בּבֹרְחוֹ	Q	inf. const.					3ms	ברח
2a	רַבּוּ	Q	qatal	3	c	p			רבב
2b	קָמִים	Q	ptc		m	p			קוּם
3a	אֹמְרִים	Q	ptc		m	p			אמר
4b	מֵרִים	H	ptc		m	s			רוּם
5a	אֶקְרָא	Q	yiqtol	1	c	s			קרא
5b	וַיַּעֲנֵנִי	Q	wayyiqtol	3	m	s		1cs	ענה
6a	שָׁכַבְתִּי	Q	qatal	1	c	s			שׁכב
6b	וָאִישָׁנָה	Q	wayyiqtol	1	c	s	ה		ישׁן
6c	הֱקִיצוֹתִי	H	qatal	1	c	s			קיץ
6d	יִסְמְכֵנִי	Q	yiqtol	3	m	s		1cs	סמך
7a	אִירָא	Q	yiqtol	1	c	s			ירא
7b	שָׁתוּ	Q	qatal	3	c	p			שׁית
8a	קוּמָה	Q	impv		m	s	ה		קוּם
8b	הוֹשִׁיעֵנִי	H	impv		m	s		1cs	ישׁע
8c	הִכִּיתָ	H	qatal	2	m	s			נכה
8d	שִבַּרְתָּ	D	qatal	2	m	s			שׁבר

This feature is considered relevant for this psalm.

Nouns

Number

Definition Feature being studied	Occurrences Sections where this feature is present or absent	Clustering	Intersection	Connections	Structure
singular	יְהוָה (v.2a), לְנַפְשִׁי (v.3a), ‎יְשׁוּעָתָה (v.3b), יְהוָה (v.4a), מָגֵן (v.4a), כְּ֜בוֹדִי (v.4b), רֹאשִי (v.4b), קוֹלִי (v.5a), יְהוָה (v.5a), מֵהַר (v.5b), קָדְשׁוֹ (v.5b), יְהוָה (v.6b), עָם (v.7a), יְהוָה (v.8a), לֶחִי (v.8c), לַיהוָה (v.9a), הַיְשׁוּעָה (v.9a), עַמְּךָ (v.9b), בִרְכָתֶךָ (v.9b)	vv.3-7, v.9			Gives cohesion to sections 2-3
plural	צָרָי (v.2a), רַבִּ֗ים (v.2b), רַבִּ֗ים (v.3a), בֵאלֹהִים (v.3b), מֵרִבְבוֹת (v.7a), אֱלֹהַי (v.8b), אֹיְבַי (v.8c), שִׁנֵּי (v.8d), רְשָׁעִים (v.8d)	vv.2-3(4x), v.8(4x); absent or rare in sections 2-3		the clusters in vv.2-3 and v.8 are connected: in vv.2-3, the psalmist complains of his many enemies; in v.8, he calls on Yahweh to deal with them.	Gives cohesion to sections 1 and 4; reinforces structural correspondence between these sections

This feature is considered relevant for this psalm.,

Gender

Definition Feature being studied	Occurrences Sections where this feature is present or absent	Clustering	Intersection	Connections	Structure
feminine	לְנַפְשִׁי (v.3a), יְשׁוּעָתָה (v.3b), מֵרִבְבוֹת (v.7a), שִׁנֵּי (v.8d), הַיְשׁוּעָה (v.9a), בִרְכָתֶךָ (v.9b)	v.3, v.9	end of first section; end of final section	reinforces parallelisms (vv.3ab, 8cd [msg//fpl], 9ab)	Microstructure: forms parallel lines into units (bicola). Macrostructure: epiphora (v.3, v.9).

This feature is considered relevant for this psalm.,

Definiteness

Definition Feature being studied	Occurrences Sections where this feature is present or absent	Clustering	Intersection	Connections	Structure
definite article	הַיְשׁוּעָה (v.9a)		end of the psalm		May mark the thematic significance of this word

This feature is considered relevant for this psalm.,

Pronominal suffixes

Definition Feature being studied	Occurrences Sections where this feature is present or absent	Clustering	Intersection	Connections	Structure
1cs	צָרָי (v.2a), לְנַפְשִׁי (v.3a), כְּ֜בוֹדִי (v.4b), רֹאשִי (v.4b), קוֹלִי (v.5a), אֱלֹהַי (v.8b), אֹיְבַי (v.8c)	vv.4b-5a			Gives cohesion to section 2 (vv.4-5)
2ms	עַמְּךָ (v.9b), בִרְכָתֶךָ (v.9b)	v.9b	end of psalm
3ms	קָדְשׁוֹ (v.5b)

Noun Morphology

Verse	Noun	Category	Gender	Number	Suffix	"Declension"	Definiteness	Root
1 (ss)	מִזְמוֹר	common	m	s		abs.		זמר
	לְדָוִד	proper	m	s		abs.	*
	מִפְּנֵי	common	m	p		cs.		פנה
	אַבְשָׁלוֹם	proper	m	s		abs.	*
	בְּנֽוֹ	common	m	s	3ms	abs.	*	בן
2a	יְהוָה	proper	m	s		voc.	*
	צָרָי	common	m	p	1cs	abs	*	צרר
2b	רַבִּ֗ים	adj	m	p		abs.		רבב
3a	רַבִּ֗ים	adj	m	p		abs.		רבב
	לְנַפְשִׁי	common	f	s	1cs	abs.	*	נפשׁ
3b	‎יְשׁוּעָתָה	abstract	f	s		abs.		ישׁע
	בֵאלֹהִים	common	m	p		abs.		אלה
4a	יְהוָה	proper	m	s		voc.	*
	מָגֵן	common	m	s		abs.		גנן
4b	כְּ֜בוֹדִי	abstract	m	s	1cs	abs.	*	כבד
	רֹאשִי	common	m	s	1cs	abs.	*	ראשׁ
5a	קוֹלִי	common	m	s	1cs	abs.	*	קול
	יְהוָה	proper	m	s		abs.	*
5b	מֵהַר	common	m	s		cs.	*	הרר
5b	קָדְשׁוֹ	abstract	m	s	3ms	abs.	*	הרר
6b	יְהוָה	proper	m	s		abs.	*
7a	מֵרִבְבוֹת	collective	f	p		cs.		רבב
	עָם	collective	m	s		abs.		עמם
8a	יְהוָה	proper	m	s		voc.	*
8b	אֱלֹהַי	common	m	p	1cs	voc.	*	אלה
8c	אֹיְבַי	common	m	p	1cs	abs.	*	איב
	לֶחִי	common	m	s		abs.		לחה
8d	שִׁנֵּי	common	f	p		cs.		שׁנן
	רְשָׁעִים	common	m	p		abs.		רשׁע
9a	לַיהוָה	proper	m	s		abs.
	הַיְשׁוּעָה	abstract	f	s		abs.	*	ישׁע
9b	עַמְּךָ	collective	m	s	2ms	abs.	*	עמם
	בִרְכָתֶךָ	abstract	f	s	2ms	abs.	*	ברך

This feature is considered relevant for this psalm.,

Suffixes as objects

Definition Feature being studied	Occurrences Sections where this feature is present or absent	Clustering	Intersection	Connections	Structure
1cs	וַיַּעֲנֵנִי (v.5b), יִסְמְכֵנִי (v.6b), הוֹשִׁיעֵנִי (v.8b)		occurs in every instance in the b-line of a poetic line

,

Addressee change

Yahweh is addressed in 5 lines toward the beginning of the Psalm and 5 lines toward the end of the Psalm. He is not addressed in vv. 5-7.
This feature is considered relevant for this psalm.,

Speaker change

David is the speaker throughout the Psalm, though in v. 3b there is the embedded direct speech of his enemies. In vv. 5-7, the speaker alternates from 1st person in the a-lines to 3rd person in the b-lines (1 // 3 / 1 // 3 / 1 // 3). This middle section (vv. 5-7) is bracketed by David addressing Yahweh in the 2nd person (vv. 4, 8).
This feature is considered relevant for this psalm.,

Subject change

Character Features

Ref.	Speaker	Addressee	Person	Subject/Agent
2a	David	Yahweh	3	Enemies
2b	David	Yahweh	3	Enemies
3a	David	Yahweh	3	Enemies
3b	Enemies		3	David's deliverance
4a	David	Yahweh	2	Yahweh
4b	David	Yahweh	2	Yahweh
5a	David		1	David
5b	David		3	Yahweh
6a	David		1	David
6b	David		3	Yahweh
7a	David		1	David
7b	David		3	Enemies
8a	David	Yahweh	2	Yahweh
8b	David	Yahweh	2	Yahweh
8c	David	Yahweh	2	Yahweh
8d	David	Yahweh	2	Yahweh
9a	David		3	Yahweh's deliverance
9b	David	Yahweh	2	Yahweh's blessing

This feature is considered relevant for this psalm.

Particles

Negative markers

1
2a
2b
3a
3b			אֵין
4a
4b
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a				לֹא
7b
8a
8b
8c
8d
9a
9b

,

Independent personal pronouns

1
2a
2b
3a
3b
4a			אַתָּה
4b
5a
5b
6a				אֲנִי
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
8c
8d
9a
9b

,

Prepositions

1			ל	ב	מן
2a
2b						על
3a			ל
3b			ל	ב
4a							בעד
4b
5a								אל
5b					מן
6a
6b
7a					מן
7b						על
8a
8b
8c
8d
9a			ל
9b						על

• The use of ל in v.9a in connection with the noun ישׁועה forges a connection with v.3b. While David's enemies say that he has (ל) no deliverance, David declares that deliverance is Yahweh's (ל).,

Waw/Vav

Coordinating Words

• v.4a. כְּבוֹדִי וּמֵרִים
• v.6a. שָׁכַבְתִּי וָֽאִישָׁנָה

Coordinating Lines

• v.5a --(waw + verb [וַיַּֽעֲנֵנִי])--> v.5b
• The majority of lines are joined asyndetically (2b, 3a, 3b, 4b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7a, 8a, 8b, 8d, 9a, 9b)
• some MT manuscripts, along with the Syriac Peshitta, have a conjunction before שִׁנֵּי in 8d.
• some MT manuscripts, along with the LXX and the Syriac Peshitta, have a conjunction before עַל in 9b.

Coordinating Sections

• Section 1 --(waw + pronoun[וְאַתָּה])--> Section 2
• the first waw to appear in the Psalm (not until v. 4a!) is disjunctive,

Other particles

• The conjunction כִּי appears twice (6b, 8c), both times as a coordinating conjunction
  • In the first instance (6b), כִּי is clearly causal.
  • Its function in the second instance (8c) is not as clear. Elsewhere in the psalms the particle כִּי, when collocated with a perfect verbal form and subordinated to a preceding imperative directed to God, almost always has an explanatory or causal force (“for, because”) and introduces a motivating argument for why God should respond positively to the request (see Pss 5:10; 6:2; 12:1; 16:1; 41:4; 55:9; 56:1; 57:1; 60:2; 69:1; 74:20; 119:94; 123:3; 142:6; 143:8). (On three occasions the כִּי is recitative after a verb of perception [“see/know that,” see Pss 4:3; 25:19; 119:159]). If כִּי is taken as explanatory here, then the psalmist is arguing that God should deliver him now because that is what God characteristically does. However, such a motivating argument is not used in the passages cited above. The motivating argument usually focuses on the nature of the psalmist’s dilemma or the fact that he trusts in the Lord. For this reason it is unlikely that כִּי has its normal force here. Most scholars understand the particle כִּי as having an asseverative (emphasizing) function here (“indeed, yes”; NEB leaves the particle untranslated). If the particle כִּי is taken as explanatory, then the perfect verbal forms in v. 7b would describe God’s characteristic behavior. However, the particle probably has an asseverative force here. If so, the perfects may be taken as indicating rhetorically the psalmist’s certitude and confidence that God will intervene.

Figurative

Metaphor

• "shield" = metaphor of divine protection (can be translated with another cultural metaphor or replaced with direct reference to protection)
• “glory” and “lift up my head” indicate that God will give him “success” in this conflict and that he will be “honored” because of his victory. The phrase מֵרִים רֹאשִׁי could be understood to refer to a general strengthening of the psalmist by God during difficult circumstances. However, if one takes the suggestion of the superscription that this is a Davidic psalm written during the revolt of Absalom, the phrase “lift the head” could refer to the psalmist’s desire for restoration to his former position (cf. Gen 40:13 where the same phrase is used).,

Metonymy

• “sustains me” = God empowers him to overcome this conflict
• “strike against the jaw” = indicates an aggressive action against his enemies; can be stated in a more culturally appropriate manner.,

Hyperbole

• “tens of thousands” = hyperbole; can be translated with anything that indicates a large number (against impossible odds),

Rhetorical questions

There are no rhetorical questions in this Psalm. The opening interrogative (מָה) functions as "an introduction to an exclamation" rather than an introduction to a rhetorical question.

Context

Figures of Speech

This psalm is loaded with picturesque speech: (enemies) “rising up against me” (2b), “shield” (4a), “my glory” (4b), “lift up my head” (4b), “holy hill” (5b), “lie down—sleep—wake up” (6a), (enemies) “set all around against me” (7b), and the concluding graphically hyperbolic, symbolic language: “strike the jaw—and break the teeth” of the wicked (8b).,

Other

Canonical Context
The pair of psalms that begin the Psalter also serves as its introduction by revealing two of its most prominent themes—namely, that Yahweh watches over the righteous, and that his chosen Messiah rules over all things. These interrelated theological truths form the foundation of all blessings for God’s people. Psalm 3 begins the Psalter proper then with an individual prayer, or “petition” of the type that predominates in Book One (Psalms 1-41).

Mathematical

Fokkelman's prosody and syllable counts

The following table is from Fokkelman's Major Poems of the Hebrew Bible Volume 2, Appendix I.

Strophe	Verse	Syllables per word	Syllables per line	Syllables per strophe
1	2	2.1.2.2 / 2.2.2	7 + 6 = 13	30
	3	2.3.3 / 1.4.1.3	8 + 9 = 17
2	4	3.2.2.2 / 3.3.2	9 + 8 = 17	32
	5	2.1.2.2 / 4.2.2	7 + 8 = 15
3	6	2.3.4 / 4.1.2.4	9 + 11 = 20	35
	7	1.2.3.1 / 2.2.2.2	7 + 8 = 15
4	8ab	2.2 / 4.3	4 + 7 = 11	31
	8cd	1.3.1.1.3.2! / 3! 3.3	11 + 9 = 20
5	9	3.4 / 2! 3.4	7 + 9 = 16	16

• "18 cola with 144 syllables: average per colon 8.00"
• "Psalm 3 needs a more drastic emendation than is necessary in other cases, but nothing in the meaning is changed or manipulated... I add the copula w^e - to the last B-cola, vv.8d and 9b, supported by MSS and Peshitta; and in v.8c I add the suffix -am to the noun "jaw", as do Peshitta and Targum."
• "The sequence of strophe totals 30-32-35-31-16 is a variation of, or may be shown up as, 4 x 32 plus 16. The figure 16 is the exact double of the perfect 8, with 32 in turn the double of 16."
• "The verses with a total of 17 or 20 mirror each other as regards their cola figures:"

v. 3 – 8 + 9 = 17

v. 4 – 9 + 8 = 17

v. 6 – 9 + 11 = 20

v. 8cd – 11 + 9 = 20,

Cola distribution

Bicola

• v.2ab
• v.3ab
• v.4ab
• v.5ab
• v.6ab
• v.7ab
• v.8ab?
• v.8cd?
• v.9ab

Alternatively, v. 8 may be an A/B/B' tricolon. The question is whether the first two clauses of v. 8 are to be considered as two cola or as a single colon. If parallelism (semantic and syntactic) is "the principal guide," then the former option is to be preferred. The length of the lines, in this case, is admittedly short – 8a would be the shortest in the psalm – yet not much shorter, in terms of syllables, than the lines in v. 9. The short length of v. 8a (4 syllables) falls within the range proposed by Fokkelman and may be explained as an indication of discontinuity (peak/climax?) in the text. Perhaps the paseq after יהוה supports the decision to see a division at this point? If the text is divided at this point, then the four lines should probably distributed into two bicola, though a tetracolon may also be a possibility.,

Classifying parallelisms

v. 2ab.

יְ֭הוָה מָֽה־רַבּ֣וּ צָרָ֑י

רַ֜בִּ֗ים קָמִ֥ים עָלָֽי

• Syntax - If the participle קָמִים is regarded as the predicate, the two lines are chiastic with respect to the order of arguments (V-S//S-V).
• Morphology - Both predicates (רַבּוּ//קָמִים) are Qal plural. Both lines end with a first person pronominal suffix (י).
• Lexical associations - רַבּוּ and רַבִּים are clearly associated (from the same root רבב), although they are not syntactically parallel.
• Semantic relationship between cola - Paradigmatic, synonymous. There is a kind of intensification from the a-line, where the foes are merely described in terms of their quantity, to the b-line, where the foes are taking action ("rising against") the psalmist. The first verb (רַבּוּ) is stative and the second verb (קָמִים) is active.
• Phonology - רַבּוּ//רַבִּים (alliteration); צָרָי//עָלָי (assonance/end-rhyme); ē + m ending (rhyme)
• Prosody - Syllables: 7//6. Stressed syllables: 3//3.

v. 3ab.

רַבִּים֘ אֹמְרִ֪ים לְנַ֫פְשִׁ֥י

אֵ֤ין יְֽשׁוּעָ֓תָה לּ֬וֹ בֵֽאלֹהִ֬ים סֶֽלָה׃

• Syntax – The two lines are syntactically dependent, together forming a sentence of the type S-V-IO-O. The a-line has S-V-IO, and the b-line has O, which is itself an embedded clause.
• Semantic relationship between cola – the a-line introduces the direct speech of the b-line.
• Phonology – בִּים, -רִים, -שִׁי // -הִים- (assonance/end-rhyme)
• Prosody – Syllables: 8//9. Stressed syllables: 3//4.

v. 4ab.

וְאַתָּ֣ה יְ֭הוָה מָגֵ֣ן בַּעֲדִ֑י

כְּ֜בוֹדִ֗י וּמֵרִ֥ים רֹאשִֽי׃

• Syntax – (S-SC//SC)
• Morphology – parallel noun phrases (מגן בעדי//כבודי ומרים ראשי); first person singular suffix (בעדִי//ראשִי)
• Semantic relationship between cola: Paradigmatic (AB//B'). There is an intensification from the static metaphor of the a-line (מָגֵן) to imagery that is more dynamic in the b-line (מָרִים רֹאשִׁי).
• Phonology – גֵ֣ן בַּעֲדִ֑י (v.4a) sounds like כְּ֜בוֹדִ֗י (v.4b) (guttural + dental + ē ending)
• Prosody – Syllables: 9//8. Stressed Syllables: 4//3.

v. 5ab.

ק֭וֹלִי אֶל־יְהוָ֣ה אֶקְרָ֑א

וַיַּֽעֲנֵ֙נִי מֵהַ֖ר קָדְשׁ֣וֹ סֶֽלָה׃

• Syntax – The arrangement of constituents is chiastic (M-V//V-M). The unusual word order (DEF/CAN), according to Lunn, has a discourse function (see above).
• Morphology – The 1st-person constituents of the a-line (קוֹלִי...אֶקְרָא) are parallel to 3rd person constituents in the b-line (וַיַּֽעֲנֵנִי...קָדְשׁוֹ). Perhaps more striking is the pairing of verb conjugations (yiqtol//wayyiqtol).
• Lexical association – קָרָא//עָנָה
• Semantic relationship between cola – Syntagmatic (action → consequence).
• Phonology – Both the first word of the a-line (קוֹלִי) and the last word of the b-line (קָדְשׁוֹ) begin with -קֹ, forming a phonological inclusio.
• Prosody – Syllables: 7//8. Stressed Syllables: 3//3.

v. 6ab.

אֲנִ֥י שָׁכַ֗בְתִּי וָֽאִ֫ישָׁ֥נָה

הֱקִיצ֑וֹתִי כִּ֖י יְהוָ֣ה יִסְמְכֵֽנִי׃

• Syntax – Each line has 2 clauses (S-V-V//V-c-S-V+o)
• Morphology – The bicolon begins and ends with a first person pronoun (אֲנִי//נִי). The perfective intransitive qal verbs of the a-line are parallel with the perfective intransitive hiphil verb in the b-line. As in the previous bicolon (5ab), there is a switch from 1st person verbs to a third person verb (יִסְמְכֵֽנִי) in the b-line.
• Lexical associations – (שׁכב ישׁן // קיץ)
• Semantic relationship between cola – Syntagmatic, temporal progression (a: lying down → falling asleep → b: waking up). The כִּי clause in the b-line probably grounds only the action of waking up (הֱקִיצוֹתִי) and not the actions of the a-line as well.
• Phonology – נִי (rhyme)
• Prosody – Syllables: 9//11. Stressed Syllables: 3//4.

v. 7ab.

לֹֽא־אִ֭ירָא מֵרִבְב֥וֹת עָ֑ם

אֲשֶׁ֥ר סָ֜בִ֗יב שָׁ֣תוּ עָלָֽי׃

• Syntax – The lines are syntactically dependent; the second is a relative clause modifying the final constituent of the a-line (עם).
• Morphology – A qal imperfect 1cs verb (אִירָא) in the a-line parallels a qal perfect 3cp verb (שָׁתוּ) in the b-line, thus continuing the pattern of alternation between 1st and 3rd person.
• Semantic relationship between cola – Syntagmatic, base-attribution. There is an intensification from the a-line, where the people are merely said to exist in great number, to the b-line, where they actively and aggressively surround the psalmist (cf. 2ab).
• Prosody – Syllables: 7//8. Stressed Syllables: 3//4.

v. 8ab.

ק֨וּמָ֤ה יְהוָ֙ה׀

הוֹשִׁ֨יעֵ֤נִי אֱלֹהַ֗י

• Syntax – Parallel (V - voc // V+o - voc)
• Morphology – Parallel imperatives (קוּמָה//הוֹשִׁיעֵנִי) and vocatives (יְהוָה//אֱלֹהַי). The a-line impv. is qal, and the b-line impv. is hiphil. The paired lexical items לֶחִי//שִׁנֵּי are morphological opposites: לֶחִי m.s.abs. // שִׁנֵּי f.pl.cstr.
• Lexical association – יהוה//אלהים
• Semantic relationship between cola – Syntagmatic (action → purpose). The psalmist calls on Yahweh to rise up (a) in order to rescue him (b).
• Prosody – Syllables: 4//7. Stressed Syllables: 2//2.

v. 8cd.

כִּֽי־הִכִּ֣יתָ אֶת־כָּל־אֹיְבַ֣י לֶ֑חִי

שִׁנֵּ֖י רְשָׁעִ֣ים שִׁבַּֽרְתָּ׃

• Syntax – Chiastic (V - O - M // O - V)
• Morphology – This is the only pairing of two non-qal verbs in the psalm. The contrast between relatively unique verb stems (hiphil//piel) is highlighted by the fact that the morphology of the verbs is otherwise the same (qatal 2ms).
• Lexical association – נכה//שׁבר; איב//רשׁע; לחי//שׁן
• Semantic relationship between cola – Syntagmatic (action → consequence). The shattering of teeth results from the striking of the jaw.
• Phonology – alliteration of כ/ח in the a-line and of שׁ in the b-line.
• Prosody – Syllables: 11//8. Stressed Syllables: 3//3.

v. 9ab.

לַיהוָ֥ה הַיְשׁוּעָ֑ה

עַֽל־עַמְּךָ֖ בִרְכָתֶ֣ךָ סֶּֽלָה׃

• Syntax – Parallel verbless clauses (SC-S//SC-S)
• Morphology – The parallel nouns are both feminine singular (ישועה//ברכה). The third person reference to Yahweh in the a-line becomes 2nd person pronominal suffixes in the b-line.
• Semantic relationship between cola – Syntagmatic (fact → consequence). The fact that Yahweh can save means that his people will be blessed. The rescue of God's king results in blessing for God's people.
• Prosody – Syllables: 6//7. Stressed Syllables: 2//2.,

Selah

סֶלָה appears 3 times according to the MT, Vulgate, and Targum (3b, 5b, 9b) but only twice in the LXX, which omits the final occurrence in 9b.

• Each time, סֶלָה appears at the end of a poetic line.
• Each time, it may be argued, סֶלָה appears at the end of a section, concluding sections 1, 2, and 4.
• סֶלָה appears once at the end of the Psalm.,

Quotations / direct speech

Naturally, the entire psalm is expressed as direct speech, a prayer to the Lord, especially vv. 2 and 8; moreover, it also incorporates a direct quote that ironically (but typically for psalmic discourse) illustrates popular negative opinion about the psalmist (v. 3b).

Jacobson makes the following generalization about the discourse function of enemies' speech directed against the psalmist: "Because enemy quotations in which the enemies attack the Psalmist are both less frequent and more subtle than the quotations in which the enemies attack God, less uniform conclusions can be drawn about their formal role. These quotations do not seem to occur as the culmination of the they-complaint nor do they function as significantly at the turning point of the psalm. Nor does the content of these quotations play a central role in the psalms in which they occur." Psalm 3 appears to be an exception to Jacobson's general observation, since in Psalm 3 the enemies' speech (v. 3b) does appear at the culmination of the complaint (vv. 2-3), a turning point in the psalm.

Jacobson also comments on the rhetorical function of enemies' speech directed against the psalmist: "When the psalmist quotes words in which the enemy originally performed an illocutionary act, the psalmist is re-performing that original illocutionary action for her current audience–God–in order to persuade God (perlocutionary act) to answer her prayer.",

Elision

• v.2ab. The left-dislocated vocative (יהוה) and exclamation (מה) may "apply to the second colon as well as the first." It may be similarly gapped in v.3a as well.,

Chiasms

• v.2ab – (V S // S V)
• v.5ab – (M V // V M)
• v.8cd – (a b c // c' b' a'),

Lunn on Word order

The following table has been adapted from Nicholas Lunn's Word-Order Variation in Biblical Hebrew Poetry, Appendix 2. For a key to the various symbols and abbreviations, click here.

Ref.	Text	Constituent Order	Colon-Type
2	‎יְ֭הוָה מָֽה־רַבּ֣וּ צָרָ֑י // רַ֜בִּ֗ים קָמִ֥ים עָלָֽי׃	[Voc] Q-V S // S Vpt M	CAN//Ptcp
3	‎רַבִּים֘ אֹמְרִ֪ים לְנַ֫פְשִׁ֥י / אֵ֤ין יְֽשׁוּעָ֓תָה לּ֬וֹ בֵֽאלֹהִ֬ים סֶֽלָה	S Vpt M / Eneg S Comp M Selah	Ptcp/Nom
4	‎וְאַתָּ֣ה יְ֭הוָה מָגֵ֣ן בַּעֲדִ֑י // כְּ֜בוֹדִ֗י וּמֵרִ֥ים רֹאשִֽׁי׃	w-Spn [Voc] Comp / Comp	Nom/Nom
5	‎ק֭וֹלִי אֶל־יְהוָ֣ה אֶקְרָ֑א / וַיַּֽעֲנֵ֙נִי מֵהַ֖ר קָדְשׁ֣וֹ סֶֽלָה׃	M M V // w-V-o M Selah	DEF/CAN
6	‎אֲנִ֥י שָׁכַ֗בְתִּי וָֽאִ֫ישָׁ֥נָה / הֱקִיצ֑וֹתִי / כִּ֖י יְהוָ֣ה יִסְמְכֵֽנִי	Spn V w-V / V / C S V-o	MKD-CAN/CAN/MKD
7	‎לֹֽא־אִ֭ירָא מֵרִבְב֥וֹת עָ֑ם / אֲשֶׁ֥ר סָ֜בִ֗יב שָׁ֣תוּ עָלָֽי	Vng M / R M V M	CAN/MKDR
8ab	‎ק֨וּמָ֤ה יְהוָ֙ה׀ // הוֹשִׁ֨יעֵ֤נִי אֱלֹהַ֗י	V [Voc] // V-o [Voc]	CAN//CAN
8cd	‎כִּֽי־הִכִּ֣יתָ אֶת־כָּל־אֹיְבַ֣י לֶ֑חִי // שִׁנֵּ֖י רְשָׁעִ֣ים שִׁבַּֽרְתָּ׃	C-V O O // O V	CAN//DEF
9	‎לַיהוָ֥ה הַיְשׁוּעָ֑ה / עַֽל־עַמְּךָ֖ בִרְכָתֶ֣ךָ סֶּֽלָה׃	Comp S / Comp S Selah	Nom/Nom

,

Middle word (maqqef)

• total: 55; middle: שָׁכַבְתִּי
• total w/selah: 58; middle: וָֽאִישָׁנָה הֱקִיצוֹתִי
• total w/ superscription and selah: 64; middle: מֵהַר קָדְשׁוֹ,

Middle word (independent lexemes)

• total: 61; middle: וָֽאִישָׁ֥נָה
• total w/selah: 64; middle: שָׁכַבְתִּי וָֽאִישָׁנָה
• total w/superscription and selah: 70; middle: קָדְשׁוֹ סֶלָה,

Middle line

v.6ab. אֲנִ֥י שָׁכַ֗בְתִּי וָֽאִ֫ישָׁ֥נָה הֱקִיצ֑וֹתִי כִּ֖י יְהוָ֣ה יִסְמְכֵֽנִי׃
In terms of syllables, this is also the longest line the psalm (20 syllables).

If v.8 is considered a tricolon, then the middle line of the psalm would be v.6a.

Variants

Kinds of variants

Septuagint
v.3b. τῷ θεῷ αὐτοῦ (באלהיו)
v.9b. καὶ (ו) at the beginning of v.9b.
v.9b. omission of διάψαλμα at the end of the psalm,

Likely solutions

"Psalm 3 needs a more drastic emendation than is necessary in other cases, but nothing in the meaning is changed or manipulated... I add the copula w^e - to the last B-cola, vv.8d and 9b, supported by MSS and Peshitta; and in v.8c I add the suffix -am to the noun "jaw", as do Peshitta and Targum."

v.3b. The phonological repetition of ים in vv.2-3 (רַבִּים, רַבִּים, אֹמְרִים) suggests אלהים as the better reading

Summary

Line divisions

1 מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִד בְּבָרְחוֹ מִפְּנֵי אַבְשָׁלוֹם בְּנוֹ

2a יְהוָה מָה־רַבּוּ צָרָי

2b רַבִּים קָמִים עָלָי

3a רַבִּים אֹמְרִים לְנַפְשִׁי

3b אֵין יְשׁוּעָתָה לּוֹ בֵֽאלֹהִים סֶלָה

4a וְאַתָּה יְהוָה מָגֵן בַּעֲדִי כְּבוֹדִי וּמֵרִים רֹאשִׁי׃

5a קוֹלִי אֶל־יְהוָה אֶקְרָא

5b וַיַּֽעֲנֵנִי מֵהַר קָדְשׁוֹ סֶלָה

6a אֲנִי שָׁכַבְתִּי וָֽאִישָׁנָה

6b הֱקִיצוֹתִי כִּי יְהוָה יִסְמְכֵנִי

7a לֹֽא־אִירָא מֵרִבְבוֹת עָם

7b אֲשֶׁר סָבִיב שָׁתוּ עָלָי

8a קוּמָה יְהוָה

8b הוֹשִׁיעֵנִי אֱלהַי

8c כִּי־הִכִּיתָ אֶת־כָּל־אֹיְבַי לֶחִי

8d שִׁנֵּי רְשָׁעִים שִׁבַּרְתָּ׃

9a לַיהוָ֥ה הַיְשׁוּעָה

9b עַל־עַמְּךָ בִרְכָתֶךָ סֶּלָה

The length of lines 8a and 8b is, in this case, admittedly short – 8a would be the shortest in the psalm – yet not much shorter, in terms of syllables, than the lines in v. 9. The short length of v. 8a (4 syllables) falls within the range proposed by Fokkelman.,

Section divisions

The roughly chiastic strophic structure is diagrammed below:

A. Complaint/Lament (2-3)

B. Profession: Reliability of YHWH (4-5)

B’ Profession: David’s confidence (6-7)

A’ Appeal & Answer (8-9)

Alternatively, verse 9 may constitute a separate section. "There are four regular S[short]-strophes, i.e. quartets of cola, according to the AB–B'A' pattern, plus a surplus, the one-line strophe containing v.9.",

Communicative function

The following speech-act analysis is based on Wendland’s discussion in ‘’Studies in the Psalms.’’ All of the following categories and quotations are from Wendland.

"The individual lament may be typologically defined in terms of seven functional, or illocutionary, steps... Each step, or stage, which may occur more than once, is realized by one or both of a pair of sub-constituents that more precisely describe the type of religious interaction posited as taking place through the speech act.”

1. Invocation (v. 2aα)
   1. “Divine address... by means of a vocative.”
2. Complaint (vv. 2-3)
   1. “A conventional description of the problem or plight of the psalmist that occasioned his prayer” (v. 2).
   2. “A more specific expression of grievance concerning the situation of his suffering” (v. 3).
3. Profession (vv. 4-7)
   1. “Affirmation of trust and confidence in Yahweh and in his power to save” (vv. 4, 7).
   2. “Verbal recognition of God’s deliverance in the past” (vv. 5-6). (The inclusion of v. 5 in this subcategory depends on how one interprets the tense of the verbal forms; see above.)
4. Petition (v. 8)
   1. “The central plea or prayer to God for help” (v. 8ab).
   2. “The motivation for divine action, the reason why God should intervene to help the psalmist” (v. 8cd). (This depends, however, on how the כִּי is interpreted; see above).
5. Profession (v. 9)
   1. “Affirmation of trust and confidence in Yahweh and in his power to save” (v. 9).,

Range of emotions

Section 1 (vv.2-3): Fear
Section 2 (vv.4-5): Trust
Section 3 (vv.6-7): Trust, Serenity
Section 4 (vv.8-9): Trust, Anticipation,

Cohesion

Section 1

• Phonology: sonorant + labial; nasals; stressed hireq yod; ים ending
• Verbs: participles; plural
• Nouns: plural; enemies as subject (vv.2a-3a) and speaker (v.3b); Yahweh as addressee; divine names forming inclusio (v.2a, 3b)
• Particles: asyndeton
• Mathematical: bicolic; 7-9 syllables/line; 3 stress-units/line
• Pragmatic: Complaint/Lament

Section 2

• Phonology: ō + stressed hireq yod
• Verbs: first person verbs;
• Nouns: singular nouns; 1cs pronominal suffixes; Yahweh as addressee (v.4ab), subject (vv.4ab, 5b), and object (v.5a)
• Mathematical: bicolic; 7-9 syllables/line; 3-4 stress-units/line
• Pragmatic: Profession

Section 3

• Phonology: sibilants
• Verbs: 1st person
• Nouns: singular; alternating perspective (1st person --> 3rd person); no direct address to Yahweh
• Mathematical: bicolic; 7-11 syllables/line; 3-4 stress-units/line
• Pragmatic: Profession

Section 4

• Verbs: 2nd person verbs
• Nouns: Yahweh as addressee and subject
• Mathematical: bicolic; 2-3 stress-units/line
• Pragmatic: Petition/Profession,

Discontinuity & boundaries

Section 1 --> Section 2

• direct speech (v.3b)
• occurrence of selah (v.3b)
• waw + independent personal pronoun (v.4a)
• direct address (v.4a, anaphora)
• verbless clause (v.4ab)
• figurative language (v.4ab)
• change in subject --enemies (vv.2-3) --> Yahweh (v.4)
• change in rhythm (vv.2-3: 3 stress units; v.4a: 4 stress units)
• illocutionary shift: complaint --> profession

Section 2 --> Section 3

• DEF/CAN parallelism (v.5ab)
• occurrence of selah (v.5b)
• independent personal pronoun (v.6a, anaphora)

Section 3 --> Section 4

• enemies as subject (v.7b)
• imperatives
• direct address (anaphora)
• lexical recursion: ישׁע, קוּם
• abrupt change in rhythm/line length: 4 stress units and 8 syllables (v.7b) --> 2 stress units and 4 syllables (v.8a)
• illocutionary shift: profession --> petition

Section 4 --> Section 5 ?
a number of features may indicate a boundary at v.9:

• fronted divine name (v.9a, anaphora)
• change in subject: Yahweh (v.8) --> Yahweh's deliverance/blessing (v.9)
• illocutionary shift: petition (v.8) --> profession (v.9)
• change in rhythm; reduction in line length
• mention of new entity: Yahweh's people (v.9b, עַמְּךָ),

Feature clustering

Special features appear to cluster especially at the end of the psalm (vv.8-9).

v.8ab

• imperatives
• repetition of key lexical items (קום // ישׁע, cf. vv.2-3)
• vocatives
• repetition of divine names (יהוה // אלהי)
• Hiphil verb stem
• unique prosodic structure: syllables (4//7), stress-units (2//2)

v.8cd

• graphic imagery
• chiasm: a (הכית) b (איבי) c (לחי) // c' (שׁני) b' (רשׁעים) a' (שׁברת)
• alliteration of velars in 8c (cf. ק in v.8a)
• alliteration of שׁ in 8d (cf. שׁ in v.8b)
• alliteration of velars + gutturals + dentals in 8c creates striking sound that reflects the semantic content
• unique verb stems (Hiphil//Piel); the only piel in the psalm
• surprising verb form (qatal)
• length: in terms of words and syllables, v.8c is the longest in the psalm

v.9ab

• verbless clauses
• line length: 2 stress units per line
• repetition of divine name (יהוה, v.9a)
• marked word order (v.9a)
• repetition of key word ישׁע (v.9a)
• definite article (הישׁועה; the only occurrence in the psalm)
• repetition of ל preposition (v.9a; cf. v.3b)
• repetition of עם (v.9b; cf. v.7a)
• parallel feminine nouns,

Prominence

Climax: v.8
Peak: v.9,

Main message

The psalmist himself states the main message in what appears to be the thematic peak of the text: "Deliverance is Yahweh's" (v.9a).,

Connections between sections

Sections 1 & 4

• Lexical Semantics
  • ישׁע - Strophes A and A’ feature the noun/verb “deliver/ance” יָשַׁע / יְשׁוּעָה (vv. 3, 8, 9).
  • קוּם (v.2b; v.8a)
  • יהוה + אלהים (vv.2-3; v.8ab)
  • words for enemies/wicked: צָרָי (v.2a), קָמִים (v.2b), אֹיְבַי (v.8c), רְשָׁעִים (v.8d)
• Morphology
  • plural nouns: צָרָי (v.2a), רַבִּ֗ים (v.2b), רַבִּ֗ים (v.3a), בֵאלֹהִים (v.3b), אֱלֹהַי (v.8b), אֹיְבַי (v.8c), שִׁנֵּי (v.8d), רְשָׁעִים (v.8d)
  • feminine nouns: לְנַפְשִׁי (v.3a), יְשׁוּעָתָה (v.3b), שִׁנֵּי (v.8d), הַיְשׁוּעָה (v.9a), בִרְכָתֶךָ (v.9b)
• Pragmatics
  • Yahweh as addressee in both sections
  • petition (section 4) as resolution to the complaint (section 1)

Sections 2 & 3

• Pragmatics
  • both sections are professions of trust
• Morphology
  • 1st person verbs
  • singular nouns

v.3 & v.4
There is an interesting chiastic connection between v.3 and v.4 noted by Auffret and Keslman

^cבֵֽאלֹהִ֬ים׃ ^bאֵ֤ין יְֽשׁוּעָ֓תָה לּ֬וֹ ^aרַבִּים֘ אֹמְרִ֪ים לְנַ֫פְשִׁ֥י

^a'כְּ֜בוֹדִ֗י וּמֵרִ֥ים רֹאשִֽׁי׃ ^b'מָגֵ֣ן בַּעֲדִ֑י ^c'וְאַתָּ֣ה יְ֭הוָה

a and a' are related phonologically: the phrase מֵרִים רֹאשִׁי sounds very much like אֹמְרִים לְנַפְשִׁי. b and b' are also related phonologically (מָגֵן rhymes with אֵין) as well as semantically (יְֽשׁוּעָתָה corresponds to מָגֵן). c' corresponds to c in that both reference Yahweh (בֵאלֹהִים / יְהוָה). The chiastic relationship between the two verses is undergirded by the prosodic structure (3ab: 9 + 8 = 17 // 4ab: 8 + 9 = 17). Another point of connection that does not fit the chiasm but nevertheless reinforces the overall connection between these verses is the phonological repetition of תָּ in 3b (יְֽשׁוּעָתָה) and 4a (וְאַתָּה).

The connections between these verses have led some scholars to avoid a sectional division between v.3 and v.4. Kselman, for instance, proposes the following structure:

Section 1 (vv. 2-4)

Section 2 (vv. 5-7)

Section 3 (vv. 8-9)

While the connections between v.3 and v.4 cannot be denied, they need not result in the binding of these verses together into one section. Other features strongly suggest a sectional division at this point (see above). The connection may instead function as a hinge between sections 1 and 2 (anadiplosis).,

Large-scale structures

Structural symmetry is clearly evident, that is, a concentric pattern involving four strophes (stanzas) of two verses each, with an inner core (B-C) expressing the psalmist’s explicit trust in the LORD, being bracketed by a description of his current dire situation (A) and consequent appeal for help (D). Each strophe except the third (C) concludes in סֶלָה. The roughly chiastic strophic structure is diagrammed below:

A. Complaint/Lament (2-3)

B. Profession: Reliability of YHWH (4-5)

B’ Profession: David’s confidence (6-7)

A’ Appeal & Answer (8-9)

"There are also elements in the text that lend a certain legitimacy to the linear symmetry AB-A'B': the oppressive עָלַי emanating from the enemies and their predicate in vv.2b and 7b, and the subtle echo of רבב (ter in strophe 1) in v.7a; and there is יהוה in the vocative which occupies the second position in 4a\\8a, and the attributes 'shield' and 'head' (strophe 2) versus 'jaw' and 'teeth' (strophe 4).",

Translation

Dynamic Translation by Ryan Sikes

Yahweh, many are my enemies;

Many rising against me;

Many saying to my soul,

"Of rescue with God, he has no hope."

Yet you, Yahweh, are my shield all ‘round,

My honor, exalting me up from the ground.

My voice to Yahweh will call out,

He'll answer from his sacred mount.

I lay down to sleep and slept

I woke, for Yahweh keeps me kept.

I will not fear ten-thousand strong

Though on every side they throng.

Rise up, Yahweh!

Rescue me, my God!

You batter the mouths of malicious men!

You fracture the fangs of my foes!

The rescue is Yahweh’s!

Your blessing on your people.

Poetic Translation by Brad Willits

Title: Prayer for Protection

Oh Lord,¹ do you see how many are rising up against me?

Everyone wants to see me crushed!

They claim that you will not do anything for me.

But I know that is not true; you are my protector² Oh Lord!

You will give me victory and I will overcome.³

I call on you from the bottom of my heart

And you will answer me from the top of your Holy Mountain.

I will sleep like a baby¹¹ and wake up in peace,

Because you are ever with me.

I will not fear those who surround me in hatred

Though the odds seem impossible.¹²

I count on you Oh Lord for my deliverance.

Deal with those who hate me.

You are the only deliverer.

Bless your beloved¹³ people oh Lord.

Footnotes

1. This appellative maintains coherence in the prayer to God.
2. The idea of “protector” is more applicable to a modern audience.
3. A more modern way to talk about “glory” and “raising of the head.”
4. Idiomatic expression of peaceful sleep which is what the Psalmist has in mind.
5. Idiomatic expression to capture the reference to “ten thousand enemies.”
6. Added adjective to underline the sentiment of God’s protection; a question of love rather than power.,

Outline or visual representation

Outline 1

I. The situation. (1-2)

A. Adversaries increasing.

B. Many rising up against him.

C. Many saying, “There is no deliverance in God for him.”

II. The supplication. (3-4)

A. An affirmation of who God is:

1. My shield (shields went all around the body–total protection). See Ephesians 6:16.

2. My glory (look beyond present shame to see God’s glory manifested in your life).

3. The one who lifts up my head.

B. An affirmation of what God has done:

1. He cried.

2. God answered. The Holy Hill is Mt. Moriah where the temple was to be built.

III. The security. (5-6)

A. He laid down and slept in the midst of the battle.

B. He awoke sustained.

C. His fear was conquered.

IV. The salvation. (7-8)

A. God arises, and David is saved.

B. The enemy is smitten on the jaw and his teeth are shattered. (You face a toothless enemy!)

C. Salvation and blessing belong to God’s people.

Outline 2

1. Description of the situation from human perspective (vv. 2-3)

uses direct discourse (v. 3)

2. Description of the situation from divine perspective of faith (vv. 4-7)

reference to dialogue (v. 5)

3. Psalmist’s request for divine intervention (deliverance and blessing) (vv. 8-9)

Figure 1

Text (NIV)	Parallelisms + Sub-division titles
Title: Prayer for protection
A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.	Historic indication.
	Description of situation from human perspective
1 O Lord, how many are my foes!	Parallel 1: “foe”
How many rise up against me!	Parallel 1: “against me”
2 Many are saying of me,
“God will not deliver him.”
Selah	Description of situation from divine perspective of faith
3 But you are a shield around me, O LORD;
You bestow glory on me and lift up my head
4 To the LORD I cry aloud,	Couplet 1: Action
And he answers me from his holy hill.	Couplet 1: Result
Selah
5 I lie down and sleep;	Couplet 2: Action
I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.	Couplet 2: Result
6 I will not fear the tens of thousands
drawn up against me on every side.
	Psalmist’s request for divine intervention
7 Arise, O Lord!	Parallel: Arise
Deliver me, O my God!	Parallel: Deliver
Strike all my enemies on the jaw;	Parallel amplified: Strike
break the teeth of the wicked.
8 From the LORD comes deliverance.
May your blessing be on your people.
Selah

Authorship

This Psalm was authored by David.

Genre

Anderson classifies this psalm as an "Individual Lament"

Psalm 3 is classified in the superscription as a מִזְמוֹר.