Psalm 34 Speech Act

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Psalm 34/Speech Act
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Speech Act Analysis

What is Speech Act Analysis?

The Speech Act layer presents the text in terms of what it does, following the findings of Speech Act Theory. It builds on the recognition that there is more to communication than the exchange of propositions. Speech act analysis is particularly important when communicating cross-culturally, and lack of understanding can lead to serious misunderstandings, since the ways languages and cultures perform speech acts varies widely.

For a detailed explanation of our method, see the Speech Act Analysis Creator Guidelines.

Summary Visual

Speaker Verses Speech Act Sections Addressee
David v. 1 By David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelek, and Abimelek drove him out, and he went. Others
v. 2 I will bless YHWH at all times. His praise will continually be in my mouth.

TESTIMONY
(vv. 2–11)

Taste and see that YHWH is good!
Supporting statements
YHWH rescued me, and he can rescue you, too!
v. 3 My soul boasts in YHWH. May the afflicted hear and be glad!
v. 4 Extol YHWH with me, and let us exalt his name together!
v. 5 I sought YHWH and he answered me and he rescued me from all my terrors.
v. 6 Gaze at him and glow, and do not let your faces be ashamed!
v. 7 This is a poor man who called out and YHWH heard and saved him from all his troubles.
v. 8 YHWH’s angel encamps all around those who fear him and he delivers them.
v. 9 Taste and see that YHWH is good! Happy is the man who seeks refuge in him.
v. 10 Fear YHWH, you holy ones of his! For those who fear him have no lack.
v. 11 Young lions have suffered want and been hungry, but those who seek YHWH will not lack any good.
v. 12 Come, children! Listen to me! I will teach you the fear of YHWH.

TEACHING
(vv. 12–23)

I will teach you the fear of YHWH…
v. 13 Who is the person who desires life, who wants to live a long time, who loves to see good?
v. 14 Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit!
v. 15 Turn away from evil and do good! Seek peace and pursue it!
v. 16* YHWH’s eyes are directed towards the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cries for help.
v. 17* YHWH’s face is against those who do evil, so as to remove the memory of them from the earth.
v. 18 They called for help, and YHWH heard, and he delivered them from all their troubles.
v. 19 YHWH is near to the broken-hearted and he saves the crushed in spirit.
v. 20 The hardships of the righteous are many, but YHWH rescues him from all of them.
v. 21 He protects all his bones. Not one of them has broken.
v. 22 Hardship finishes off a wicked person, and those who hate a righteous person bear their guilt
v. 23 YHWH redeems his servants’ lives, and no one who seeks refuge in him will ever bear guilt.

Speech Act Analysis Chart

The following chart is scrollable (left/right; up/down).

  Legend

Verse Hebrew CBC Sentence type Illocution (general) Illocution with context Macro speech act Intended perlocution (Think) Intended perlocution (Feel) Intended perlocution (Do)
Verse number and poetic line Hebrew text English translation Declarative, Imperative, or Interrogative

Indirect Speech Act: Mismatch between sentence type and illocution type
Assertive, Directive, Expressive, Commissive, or Declaratory

Indirect Speech Act: Mismatch between sentence type and illocution type
More specific illocution type with paraphrased context Illocutionary intent (i.e. communicative purpose) of larger sections of discourse

These align with the "Speech Act Summary" headings
What the speaker intends for the address to think What the speaker intends for the address to feel What the speaker intends for the address to do



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.

Psalm 034 - Speech table.jpg