Psalm 33 Emotional
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Psalm 33
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Emotional Analysis
This layer explores the emotional dimension of the biblical text and seeks to uncover the clues within the text itself that are part of the communicative intent of its author. The goal of this analysis is to chart the basic emotional tone and/or progression of the psalm.
For a detailed explanation of our method, see the Emotional Analysis Creator Guidelines.
Emotional Analysis Chart
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) | Proposition (Emotional Analysis) | The Psalmist Feels | Emotional Analysis Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | רַנְּנ֣וּ צַ֭דִּיקִים בַּֽיהוָ֑ה | Shout for joy in YHWH, righteous people! | Righteous people shout for joy to YHWH. | • Enthusiasm for praise. • Joy in YHWH. |
• Enthusiasm is indicated in the repeated calls to praise in vv. 1-3. • "Joy" is part of the lexical semantics of the Hebrew word רנן (BDB, HALOT, DCH). |
| לַ֝יְשָׁרִ֗ים נָאוָ֥ה תְהִלָּֽה׃ | Praise is fitting for upright people. | Praise is fitting for upright people. | |||
| 2 | הוֹד֣וּ לַיהוָ֣ה בְּכִנּ֑וֹר | Give YHWH praise with a lyre! | The people praise YHWH. | • The psalmist is thankful to YHWH. | |
| בְּנֵ֥בֶל עָ֝שׂ֗וֹר זַמְּרוּ־לֽוֹ׃ | Make a song for him with a ten-string harp! | The people make a song for YHWH. | |||
| 3 | שִֽׁירוּ־ל֭וֹ שִׁ֣יר חָדָ֑שׁ | Sing a new song to him! | The people sing a song to YHWH. | • Enthusiasm for praising YHWH. • Appreciation expressed in skillful response to what YHWH has done. |
• The lexical semantics of the word "blast" (תְּרוּעָה) indicates that its most important feature is not who or what is making the sound, but how loud the sound is. See the note in Lexical Semantics. The heightened volume expresses joy or gladness in this cultic context (TDOT vol 13, 414-415). • An emotion close to "appreciation" is "impressed." The difference between “impressed” and “appreciation” is that the latter connotes that the action of the object benefitted the subject somehow, whereas the former does not. In this Psalm, there are oblique references to YHWH's past acts (cf. v. 7 and Story Behind) and his saving power which have benefitted his people, and so "appreciation" is present. |
| הֵיטִ֥יבוּ נַ֝גֵּ֗ן בִּתְרוּעָֽה׃ | Play skillfully with a blast! | The people play music. | |||
| 4 | כִּֽי־יָשָׁ֥ר דְּבַר־יְהוָ֑ה | Because YHWH’s word is upright, | YHWH's word is upright. | • Confident that YHWH's word is certain. | • Gen 15:4: YHWH's word (דְבַר־יְהוָ֤ה) promised Abram that his son would be his heir. |
| וְכָל־מַ֝עֲשֵׂ֗הוּ בֶּאֱמוּנָֽה׃ | and all of his work is [done] in faithfulness. | YHWH does work in faithfulness. | |||
| 5 | אֹ֭הֵב צְדָקָ֣ה וּמִשְׁפָּ֑ט | He loves righteousness and justice; | YHWH loves righteousness and justice. | • Appreciation for YHWH's good character. • Awe at the scope of YHWH's activity, which extends beyond Israel. • Confident that YHWH's acts of loyal-love will overcome the chaos of the world. |
• Gen 15:6: Abram believed YHWH (בַּֽיהוָ֑ה, cf. Ps 33:1) and it was considered to him as righteousness (צְדָקָֽה). • In Gen 1:27-28, YHWH commands the first couple to "be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth" (וּמִלְא֥וּ אֶת־הָאָ֖רֶץ) as his image-bearers. Yet in Gen 6:11 we learn that "now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled (וַתִּמָּלֵ֥א הָאָ֖רֶץ) with violence." Thus, the HB contains a tension between YHWH's ideal for the earth and its present state, which may be explained by humanity's failure to bear YHWH's image. • An emotion close to "appreciation" is "impressed." The difference between “impressed” and “appreciation” is that the latter connotes that the action of the object benefitted the subject somehow, whereas the former does not. In this Psalm, there are oblique references to YHWH's past acts (cf. v. 7 and Story Behind) and his saving power which have benefitted his people, and so "appreciation" is present. |
| חֶ֥סֶד יְ֝הוָ֗ה מָלְאָ֥ה הָאָֽרֶץ׃ | the earth is full of YHWH’s loyal-love. | The earth is full of YHWH's loyal-love. | |||
| 6 | בִּדְבַ֣ר יְ֭הוָה שָׁמַ֣יִם נַעֲשׂ֑וּ | The heavens were made by YHWH’s word, | YHWH's word made the heavens. | • Impressed at YHWH's vast power over creation. • Contemplative of a greater reality than the present danger. |
• Gen 15:5: YHWH challenges Abram to number the stars, but he cannot. The stars are innumerable. • YHWH says his word "shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose (מַֽחֲשָׁבָ֑ה) (Jer 18:11). • The English word "impressed" denotes that the subject retains his own importance in the presence of the object; the word "awe," which is probably closer to the emotion of the psalm, implies that the subject diminishes in importance with respect to the object. • "Impressed" is an emotion close to "appreciation." The difference between “impressed” and “appreciation” is that the latter connotes that the action of the object benefitted the subject somehow, whereas the former does not. In this Psalm, there are oblique references to YHWH's past acts (cf. v. 7 and Story Behind) and his saving power which have benefitted his people, and so "appreciation" is present. |
| וּבְר֥וּחַ פִּ֝֗יו כָּל־צְבָאָֽם׃ | and all their hosts [were made] by the breath of his mouth. | YHWH's breath made the sun, moon, and stars. | |||
| 7 | כֹּנֵ֣ס כַּ֭נֵּד מֵ֣י הַיָּ֑ם | He is the one who gathers the sea water as a heap! | YHWH gathers the sea water. | • Impressed at YHWH's power over the forces of chaos. • Thankfulness at YHWH's saving acts for his people. • Safe in the face of danger. • Confidence and joy due to YHWH's former great acts of protection. |
• Cf. Story Behind for Flood and Exodus background. • Ps. 89:9: "You rule over the surging sea, when its waves mount up, you still them." See also vv. 10-18 for many verbal and thematic parallels with Ps 33. • This is the only instance in the HB of YHWH keeping the "deeps" in a storehouse. YHWH keeps the rain (Deut 28:12), wind (Jer 10:13 [51:6]), and snow and hail (Job 38:22) in storehouses. • YHWH keeps his vengeance and retribution (Deut 24:32) and his weapons of wrath (Jer 50:25) in storehouses. • The English word "impressed" denotes that the subject retains his own importance in the presence of the object; the word "awe," which is probably closer to the emotion of the psalm, implies that the subject diminishes in importance with respect to the object. • The verse consists of two exclamations, which, along with the content of the verse, suggests that the psalmist feels confidence and joy. |
| נֹתֵ֖ן בְּאֹצָר֣וֹת תְּהוֹמֽוֹת׃ | He is the one who places the deep oceans into storehouses! | YHWH gathers the subterranean waters and puts them away. | |||
| 8 | יִֽירְא֣וּ מֵ֭יְהוָה כָּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ | All the earth should be afraid of YHWH! | People are afraid of YHWH. | • Reverent fear and dread of YHWH. • Humility in YHWH's sight. • Superiority to/concern for the nations. |
• After the crossing of the Red Sea and the destruction of the Egyptians, the people "feared YHWH" and believed "in YHWH" (בַּֽיהוָ֔ה) (Exod 14:31). • The second verb means "to fear in the sense of being intimidated by something superior and more powerful" (Ross 2011, 733). • The psalmist likely feels superiority to the nations due to his place in the covenant people of YHWH, who have YHWH's special revelation. He may feel concern for the nations, wishing that they would respond to YHWH in the proper way (cf. Ps 22:27-28; 67; Isa 2:2-3; 24:14-16; 25:6-7; 49:6), though this is not explicit in the psalm. |
| מִמֶּ֥נּוּ יָ֝ג֗וּרוּ כָּל־יֹשְׁבֵ֥י תֵבֵֽל׃ | All the dwellers of the inhabited world should be in dread because of him! | People are in dread of YHWH. | |||
| 9 | כִּ֤י ה֣וּא אָמַ֣ר | For he spoke, | YHWH spoke, and things existed. | • Impressed at YHWH's power over creation and history. | • The English word "impressed" denotes that the subject retains his own importance in the presence of the object; the word "awe," which is probably closer to the emotion of the psalm, implies that the subject diminishes in importance with respect to the object. |
| וַיֶּ֑הִי | and it was; | ||||
| הֽוּא־צִ֝וָּ֗ה | he commanded, | YHWH commanded, and events happened. | |||
| וַֽיַּעֲמֹֽד׃ | and it came about. | ||||
| 10 | יְֽהוָ֗ה הֵפִ֥יר עֲצַת־גּוֹיִ֑ם | YHWH has thwarted the nations’ plan; | YHWH stops the nation's plan. | • Fear at the threat of the nations. • Anger and frustration at the nations' insolence. • Relieved that YHWH will stop the nations. |
• Before the flood, YHWH saw that "all the form/purpose (יֵ֨צֶר֙) of the intentions (מַחְשְׁבֹ֣ת) of his (i.e., the peoples') heart (לִבֹּ֔ו) was only evil all the time" (Gen 6:5). • The nations collude against the people of YHWH (Ps 2:1; 83:1-7). • The preferred reading is to take the verbs translated as "thwarts" and "blocks" as timeless (gnomic) present-tense, in which case they can apply to both past and present actions (cf. the discussion of these verbs in Verbal Semantics). |
| הֵ֝נִ֗יא מַחְשְׁב֥וֹת עַמִּֽים׃ | he has blocked the peoples’ intentions. | YHWH stops the peoples' intentions. | |||
| 11 | עֲצַ֣ת יְ֭הוָה לְעוֹלָ֣ם תַּעֲמֹ֑ד | YHWH’s plan stands forever; | YHWH's plan takes place. | • Reassured that YHWH will take care of the things that are beyond the psalmist's control, including the prosperity of future generations. | • YHWH's plans are of a different sort than those of people: "For my thoughts (מַחְשְׁבֹותַי֙) are not your thoughts (מַחְשְׁבֹ֣ותֵיכֶ֔ם), neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts" (Isa 55:8-9 ESV). • YHWH's plans overpower the nations so that in their defeat their cry will be heard to the Red Sea (Jer 49:20-21; cf. 50:45:46; 51:29; Micah 4:12). • YHWH's plans and intentions for his people are good, i.e., "For I know the plans (הַמַּחֲשָׁבֹ֗ת) I have for you, declares the LORD, plans (מַחְשְׁבֹ֤ות) for shalom and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope" (Jer 29:11 ESV; cf. Ps 40:6). |
| מַחְשְׁב֥וֹת לִ֝בּ֗וֹ לְדֹ֣ר וָדֹֽר׃ | the intentions of his heart [stand] forever and ever. | YHWH's intentions take place. | |||
| 12 | אַשְׁרֵ֣י הַ֭גּוֹי | Happy is the nation | A nation has YHWH for its god. | • Happy that he is a part of YHWH's people. • Confident that he is valued due to his relationship with YHWH. • Reassured that his people have access to power that the other nations do not. | |
| אֲשֶׁר־יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהָ֑יו | whose god is YHWH, | ||||
| הָעָ֓ם ׀ | [happy are] the people | YHWH chooses a nation to be YHWH's permanent possession. | |||
| בָּחַ֖ר לְנַחֲלָ֣ה לֽוֹ׃ | [whom YHWH] chose as a permanent possession for himself. | ||||
| 13 | מִ֭שָּׁמַיִם הִבִּ֣יט יְהוָ֑ה | YHWH looked from heaven: | YHWH looks from heaven, | • Humbled by his position under YHWH. • Conscientious that YHWH is watching him and others. • Fear at what YHWH sees in him. • Confident that YHWH will judge the wickedness of the peoples. |
• While YHWH's power and judgment should induce fear in all people (cf. v. 8) since "there is none who does good" (Pss. 14:1-3; 53:1-3). At the same time, those who are a protected by YHWH should feel relief that YHWH is watching and will judge those who oppose his plan. • In the dedication of the Temple, Solomon declared, “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above or on earth beneath" (1 Ki 8:23 ESV). |
| רָ֝אָ֗ה אֶֽת־כָּל־בְּנֵ֥י הָאָדָֽם׃ | he saw all of humanity, | YHWH sees people. | |||
| 14 | מִֽמְּכוֹן־שִׁבְתּ֥וֹ הִשְׁגִּ֑יחַ אֶ֖ל כָּל־יֹשְׁבֵ֣י הָאָֽרֶץ׃ | he gazed from his dwelling place, at all the dwellers of the earth, | YHWH looks from YHWH's home at people on earth. | • Humbled by his position under YHWH. • Conscientious that YHWH is watching him and others. • Fear at what YHWH sees in him. • Confident that YHWH will judge the wickedness of the peoples. |
• The word "dwelling" is an infinitive construct verb from the root meaning "to sit" (DCH) or to "dwell, inhabit" (SDBH). When applied to YHWH, the language of sitting "usually signifies his kingship" (cf. Pss 9:7: 29:10; 55:19; 107:13; Ross 2011, 736). |
| 15 | הַיֹּצֵ֣ר יַ֣חַד לִבָּ֑ם | the one who forms all their hearts, | YHWH forms people. | • Vulnerable before YHWH who has formed his heart. • Reassured that YHWH is mindful of all the works of his people and the nations; there is nothing that escapes his notice. Even the smallest things are evaluated by him. • Confident that the world has a perfect judge in YHWH. |
• Before the flood, YHWH saw that "all the form/purpose (יֵ֨צֶר֙) of the intentions (מַחְשְׁבֹ֣ת) of his (i.e., the peoples') heart (לִבֹּ֔ו) was only evil all the time" (Gen 6:5). • The verse consists of two exclamations, which, along with the content of the verse, suggests that the psalmist feels confidence. |
| הַ֝מֵּבִ֗ין אֶל־כָּל־מַעֲשֵׂיהֶֽם׃ | the one who discerns all their works. | YHWH discerns peoples' works. | |||
| 16 | אֵֽין־הַ֭מֶּלֶךְ נוֹשָׁ֣ע בְּרָב־חָ֑יִל | A king is not saved by a great force; | Force saves a king. | • Conscientious that great force does not bring deliverance or salvation. • Sobered that traditional means of warfare are ineffective. | |
| גִּ֝בּ֗וֹר לֹֽא־יִנָּצֵ֥ל בְּרָב־כֹּֽחַ׃ | a warrior is not delivered by great might. | Might delivers a warrior. | |||
| 17 | שֶׁ֣קֶר הַ֭סּוּס לִתְשׁוּעָ֑ה | A horse is a deceptive means for victory, | A horse is deceptive for victory. | • Sobered that traditional means of warfare are ineffective. • Reassured that even though the nations arrogantly trust in horses, YHWH is stronger. | |
| וּבְרֹ֥ב חֵ֝יל֗וֹ לֹ֣א יְמַלֵּֽט׃ | and it will not rescue by its great force. | A horse will rescue by its great force | |||
| 18 | הִנֵּ֤ה עֵ֣ין יְ֭הוָה אֶל־יְרֵאָ֑יו לַֽמְיַחֲלִ֥ים לְחַסְדּֽוֹ׃ | Consider: YHWH’s eye is upon those who fear him; upon those who wait for his loyal-love, | YHWH favors those who fear YHWH and those who wait for YHWH to act. | • Comforted that YHWH is looking after his people. • Reverence for YHWH. • Eager that YHWH will act to rescue and save his people. • Hopeful that YHWH will act. |
• Ross renders the word "wait" as "hope," saying that it "includes the ideas of waiting with some tension until the thing hoped for arrives (see Gen 8:2) and a confident expectation of trust (Ps 42:5)...here the object of the hope is 'the loyal love' of the LORD, i.e., the faithful, loving acts done in accordance with the covenant promises" (Ross 2011, 739). • The call to "Consider" serves "to call the especial attention of the hearer or reader to a certain statement" (Muraoka 1985, 140). It belies the psalmist's eagerness not only for his audience to know the content of the message, but also his eagerness for the content of the message to achieve its intended purpose. |
| 19 | לְהַצִּ֣יל מִמָּ֣וֶת נַפְשָׁ֑ם | to deliver their lives from death, | YHWH delivers people from death. | • Comforted that YHWH will save his people and give them life. | • Famine was a regular threat in the agrarian Middle East, and it could last for years. Jeremiah regularly used it in combination with the term "sword" (denoting battle) as a shorthand for YHWH's judgment. For more background, see Story Behind on this verse. |
| וּ֝לְחַיּוֹתָ֗ם בָּרָעָֽב׃ | and to keep them alive during famine. | YHWH keeps people alive. | |||
| 20 | נַ֭פְשֵׁנוּ חִכְּתָ֣ה לַֽיהוָ֑ה | We ourselves wait longingly for YHWH | YHWH's people desire YHWH, | • Longing for YHWH. • Confidence in YHWH's ability to protect. |
• As the prelude to the promise that Abram's descendants will be like the stars in the sky, YHWH tells Abram that he is Abram's shield, and that he should not be afraid (Gen 15:1). |
| עֶזְרֵ֖נוּ וּמָגִנֵּ֣נוּ הֽוּא׃ | –he is our help and our shield– | YHWH is helper and protector for YHWH's people. | |||
| 21 | כִּי־ב֭וֹ יִשְׂמַ֣ח לִבֵּ֑נוּ | because our hearts rejoice in him; | YHWH's people rejoice in YHWH. | • Anticipation of joy. • Reverence for YHWH's holy name. • Confidence in YHWH's ability to act | |
| כִּ֤י בְשֵׁ֖ם קָדְשׁ֣וֹ בָטָֽחְנוּ׃ | because we have come to trust in his holy name. | YHWH's people trust YHWH. | |||
| 22 | יְהִֽי־חַסְדְּךָ֣ יְהוָ֣ה עָלֵ֑ינוּ | YHWH, may your loyal-love be upon us, | YHWH does acts of loyal-love for YHWH's people. | • Fears that YHWH will not help. • Trusts in YHWH alone. • Hopes as a result of waiting. | |
| כַּ֝אֲשֶׁ֗ר יִחַ֥לְנוּ לָֽךְ׃ | just as we have been waiting for you! | YHWH's people wait for YHWH. |
Summary Visual
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