Psalm 32/Notes/Lexical.v. 4.201293

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v. 4 – The noun לָשָׁד only occurs here and Num 11:8 (if indeed the same lexeme—see SDBH). If לָשָׁד in Ps 32:4 and לָשָׁד in Num 11:8 are the same word, then the use of this word in Num 11:8 can shed light on its meaning in Ps 32:4.

In Num 11:8, it apparently refers to "a cake" of oil, in the comparison of the taste of manna as: "And the taste of it was like the taste of cakes baked with oil (לְשַׁ֥ד הַשָּֽׁמֶן)" (ESV), though this is not a certainty. The lexicons offer "fatty cake, butter cake" (HALOT), "juice" (BDB), and "cake, delicacy" (DCH) for the word in Num 11:8. Both Aramaic translations (Targum Psalms and the Peshitta) have "like the taste of kneading with oil."[1] At least in the case of the Peshitta, it has been noted that the translator, when he did not understand a word, often replaced it with a similar-sounding Syriac lexeme (Weitzman 1999, 37), in this case liš for the MT's lǝšad (cf. Hebr. לושׁ). The LXX has "[a type of] cake of oil" and the Vulgate "bread of oil."[2] Targum Neofiti varies between "cake" and "moisture, juice" of oil,[3] while Fragment Targums contains "a cake with honey."[4] The Samaritan translator was apparently not familiar with the word לשׁד in Num 11:8 since the Samaritan Targum simply provides the same word: "[lšd] of oil",[5] though the Samaritan Arabic Versions read "the sowing/cultivation? of oil/fat," while some manuscripts contain the equally obscure "the threshing [of oil/fat],"[6] perhaps influenced by the Arabic root lšš (لشش ; cf. Ugar. l-š, 'to soil, plaster'). Finally, the Old Babylonian lišdu apparently means "cream" (CAD vol 9, 215), which would support the sense of 'moisture." In sum, the head noun of the construct chain לְשַׁ֥ד הַשָּֽׁמֶן in Num 11:8 refers either to a cake-like product containing oil, or the physical consistency of oil (i.e., "moisture"). The latter appears most plausible in connection with our present psalm, unless we are to posit two different lexemes.

For the difficulties of the ancient versions of Ps 32:4, see the grammar notes. Targum Psalms is the only version to render the word according to the MT's syntax, with "my juice/moisture was changed,"[7] probably on analogy with Num 11:8. With bones "wearing out" in the previous verse, the "drying out" effect of one's moisture (vigor) being changed like "drought of summer" (see the following phrase, בְּחַרְבֹ֖נֵי קַ֣יִץ), one can draw the parallel with Ps 22:16: "My strength has dried up like a potsherd and my tongue clings to the roof of my mouth."[8]

  1. ↑ כִטעֵים דְלִיש בְמִשחָא, ܐܝܟ ܛܥܡܐ ܕܠܝܫ ܒܡܫܚܐ.
  2. ↑ ἐγκρὶς ἐξ ἐλαίου and panis oleati, respectively.
  3. ↑ שׁישׁין and רוטבה.
  4. ↑ שישיין בדבש.
  5. ↑ לשׁד משחה
  6. ↑ الزرع السمين and الدرس, respectively.
  7. ↑ איתהפיך רוטבי.
  8. ↑ Interestingly, a few verses before the only other appearance of לָשָׁד, in Numbers 11:6, we also have mention of one's strength "drying up," though, ironically, the solution was not found in the manna or לְשַׁ֥ד הַשָּֽׁמֶן (Num 11:8).