Psalm 3/Verbs

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)

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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.