Psalm 37/Notes/Lexical.v. 9.406959

The verb ירשׁ (qal) occurs five times in Psalm 37 (vv. 9b, 11a, 22a, 29a, 34b). SDBH gives the gloss "take possession." Some English translations simply have "possess" (e.g., NLT, NET, GNT) and others have "inherit" (e.g., NIV, ESV, NJPS, CSB). Similarly, most German translations have "besitzen" (="possess") (HFA, ELB, EÜ, GNB, ZÜR), but at least one has "erben" (="inherit") (LUT). Despite the popularity of the gloss "inherit" for the verb ירשׁ (qal), this meaning is relatively rare in the Bible and appears to be late. As Lohfink writes, "Only in very late passages does this usage come to refer also to inheritance of the family’s wealth by whoever takes over family leadership when the father dies. Earlier contexts always involve 'acquisition' of something additional, without stipulating the specific mode of acquisition, usually purchase" (TDOT). This developed meaning of the verb ("inherit") might reflect Aramaic influence (cf. Aramaic ירת). In Ps 37, the verb is more accurately glossed as "possess" rather than "inherit." The word "possess," like the verb ירשׁ, can communicate both the initial act of taking possession (cf. 1 Kgs 21:15) or the continued act of possessing (cf. Josh 1:15b; 1 Chron 28:8). In Ps 37, both senses of "possess" are in view to some extent. On the one hand, the righteous are already living in the land, and many of them are probably land-owners. Thus, the psalm affirms that, whereas the wicked will lose possession of the land, the righteous will continue to possess it. On the other hand, the fact that the wicked lose possession of the land implies the righteous will gain land, i.e., they will "take possession." "The wicked, who have taken more than their fair share, will be destroyed in the end, leaving the meek in sole possession" (Kidner 1973, 150). Cf. Isa 57:13; 60:21; 65:9. The following Venn diagram explores some of the similarities and differences between the English word "inherit" and the Hebrew verb ירשׁ (qal).