Psalm 33 Poetic Features
YHWH's Plan Stands Forever
Psalm 33
Poetic Features
In poetic features, we identify and describe the “Top 3 Poetic Features” for each Psalm. Poetic features might include intricate patterns (e.g., chiasms), long range correspondences across the psalm, evocative uses of imagery, sound-plays, allusions to other parts of the Bible, and various other features or combinations of features. For each poetic feature, we describe both the formal aspects of the feature and the poetic effect of the feature. We assume that there is no one-to-one correspondence between a feature’s formal aspects and its effect, and that similar forms might have very different effects depending on their contexts. The effect of a poetic feature is best determined (subjectively) by a thoughtful examination of the feature against the background of the psalm’s overall message and purpose.
Absence of YHWH
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. |
Feature
YHWH appears as a participant in every verse of this psalm except vv. 16-17 and v. 19. Verse 19 is not a complete sentence since it only contains infinitive verbs, and is therefore dependent upon v. 18, which mentions YHWH. This leaves vv. 16-17 as the only verses in the psalm that do not have YHWH as a participant. This makes them stand out within the psalm.
Immediately following vv. 16-17, the psalmist calls the audience to attention with a הִנֵּה discourse particle ("Consider", v. 18a).
Effect
After exclusively positive verses about YHWH for the whole psalm so far, there is an emotional shift in vv. 16-17, in which his name is entirely absent. There is nothing positive in the verses, which provide exclusively false hopes for victory.
This serves multiple functions. In addition to the explicit assertion about where people should not place their trust, the absence of YHWH is associated with the absence of victory. This creates a kind of poetic pause, which contrasts strongly with the command in v. 18 for the audience’s attention with a הִנֵּה.
If the standard sources of military strength (kings, warriors and horses) are not guarantors of victory, then the challenge of vv. 18-19 is more powerful. The call to consider that YHWH is paying attention may suggest that people were tempted to do the opposite: to trust in military strength, to doubt YHWH’s attentiveness, and to seek alternative means of rescue. Without directly accusing anybody of such a thought, the poetry of vv. 16-19 powerful argues both against all human means and for strict dependence on YHWH alone.
The Unexpected Enemies
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. |
Feature
At a macrosyntactic level, v. 10a is a thetic statement within the discourse of the psalm, meaning that it presents a unitary state of affairs that is unexpected and new. There are no overt clues in the first 9 verses of the psalm that the nations are a concern, that they have a plan, or that YHWH has thwarted their plan.
Additionally, the name YHWH is fronted at the very beginning of v. 10a, and this is the only time this phenomenon happens within the psalm, despite YHWH's name appearing 13 times. The result is prosodic stress: "YHWH thwarted the nations plan."
Furthermore, this instance of YHWH's name is the central appearance in the psalm. YHWH's name occurs 6 times before and 6 times after v. 10a.
Effect
At a structural level, YHWH’s name occurs 6 times in vv. 1-9 and 6 times in vv. 11-22. Six occurrences, in Hebrew poetry, is distinctively “imperfect,” meaning that both sections need the occurrence of YHWH in v. 10a in order to achieve a perfect seven occurrences of the divine name. Thus, verse 10a structurally binds the psalm together in the middle. The centrality of the divine name draws attention to v. 10a within the entire discourse of the psalm.
At a thematic level, v. 10a brings unexpected information to the discourse. Enemy plans and intentions in need of thwarting have not been explicitly mentioned.
As so many times in the Psalms, enemies did not need to be explicitly mentioned in order to nonetheless be present. Though present, they equally did not need to be feared, because YHWH would always thwart them.
This psalm draws on Creation (showing God’s absolute sovereignty), the Flood (God’s triumph over evil) and the Red Sea (God’s triumph over Egypt) to assert YHWH’s supreme power and authority on earth. The importance of God’s power over creation (vv. 4-9) is to establish his equal power over enemies and their plans (vv. 10-15): YHWH sees all and takes responsibility for his own, who fear him (vv. 16-19).
This is not simply a hymn in praise of YHWH. It reassures those singing that YHWH always has (and always will) thwart enemy plans. That is what gives them cause to rejoice even while they long and wait for him.
YHWH's Nation
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. |
Feature
At the centre point of Psalm 33 word play is employed juxtaposing the nations of the earth and the LORD and his nation.
V. 10 speaks of the nations' plan and intentions, which are contrasted with YHWH's plan and intentions in the next verse (v. 11).
V. 10 also refers specifically to the the nations (גוים) and peoples (עמים), which are contrasted with Israel, YHWH's nation (הגוי) and people (העם) in v. 12.
These verses are positioned at the structural centre of the psalm. Verses 11-12 are both preceded and followed by 10 verselines consisting of 72 words (van der Lugt 2006, 331).
This centre point may also be framed by further mirroring devices, with repeated expressions including the word "all" (כֹּל).
In v. 4b and v. 15b we have the repeated phrase all work(s). In 4b the all the work is YHWH's, while in 15b they are all the works of people. This appears to be a deliberate contrast.
Furthermore, in v. 8 all people are twice exhorted to fear YHWH, while and 14-15 YHWH twice regards all people. Thus, there is a deliberate contrast between all people beholding and fearing YHWH and YHWH regarding all people.
The distribution of these "all" terms appears in abb||bba sequence enclosing the centre point of vv. 10-12.
Effect
The word play in these central verses present a reversal, where the nations' plan and intentions do not last, but are thwarted.
This reversal is placed at the structural centre of the psalm as it also reflects the central message of the psalm to trust in YHWH's plan instead of military strength. This theme is also prominent in the contrast between vv. 16-17, which describes the futility of conventional warfare, and vv. 18-19, which advocates waiting on YHWH to save.
Furthermore, the repetitions of כל which sandwich the central verses illustrate the comprehensiveness of YHWH's ability to thwart the nations. The phrases "all the earth", "all dwellers of... " in vv. 8//13-14 highlight the scope of YHWH's power, while the repeition of כל in vv. 4b//15b demonstrates its effectiveness...this applies to every action (i.e., "work) undertaken by everybody!
Repeated Roots
The repeated roots table is intended to identify the roots which are repeated in the psalm.
| Repeated Roots legend | |
|---|---|
| Divine name | The divine name is indicated by bold purple text. |
| Roots bounding a section | Roots bounding a section, appearing in the first and last verse of a section, are indicated by bold red text. |
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Roots occurring primarily in the first section are indicated in a yellow box. |
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Roots occurring primarily in the third section are indicated in a blue box. |
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Roots connected across sections are indicated by a vertical gray line connecting the roots. |
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Section boundaries are indicated by a horizontal black line across the chart. |
