Psalm 3/Summary

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