Psalm 39 Academics
Psalm 39
Academic Resources
Explore our academic Psalms resources for Psalm 39, including our Layer-by-Layer analysis, select Exegetical Issues, and Overview Videos.
Overview 
- This page will introduce and provide orientation to Psalm 39 as a whole. It covers the message, structure, background and participants of the psalm.
Layer-by-Layer Analysis 
- The heart of our process is our layer-by-layer exegetical analysis, where we unfold the semantics, story behind, discourse, and poetics of each psalm.
Welcome to the Layers Page for Psalm 39
On this page you will find our layer-by-layer resources.
Grammar & Semantics
Semantics is the study of how language is used to represent meaning. The goal of semantic analysis is to understand the meaning of words and how they relate to each other in context. Our Semantics analysis consists of the following sub-layers:
- Grammar & Textual Criticism
- Lexical Semantics
- Phrase-Level Semantics
- Verbal Semantics
Story Behind
The Story Behind the Psalm shows how each part of the psalm fits together into a single coherent whole. Here, we analyze the meaning of sentences and larger units of discourse, up to and including the entire psalm. This also include historical background and figurative imagery.
Discourse
Our Discourse Layer moves beyond semantic-level meaning, and analyzes features of the text dependent on the speaker, addressee, and macrosyntax.
Poetics
Exploring the Psalms as poetry is crucial for understanding and experiencing the psalms and thus for faithfully translating them into another language.
Verse-by-Verse Notes 
- Explore the psalm verse-by-verse and section-by-section.
Psalm 39 Exegetical Issues 
- These issues examine the top three tough questions for each psalm, explaining different scholarly interpretations, and offering our perspective.
- The Masoretic Text of Psalm 39:5 reads as follows:[1] הוֹדִ֘יעֵ֤נִי יְהוָ֨ה ׀ קִצִּ֗י וּמִדַּ֣ת יָמַ֣י מַה־הִ֑יא אֵ֝דְעָ֗ה מֶה־חָדֵ֥ל אָֽנִי
- The ESV represents a typical modern translation of this verse: "O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!"[2]
- How should the expressions "my end" and "the measure of my days" be understood? Do they refer to the end of the psalmist's life or to the end of his allotted period of suffering?
- Psalm 39:3 contains the phrase מִטּוֹב, whose meaning is disputed. For instance, the CSB understands the phrase מִטּ֑וֹב to modify the absence of speech implied by הֶחֱשֵׁ֣יתִי "I kept silent." The TOB interprets the מִן in מִטּ֑וֹב as comparative "more than." The CEB interprets the מִן in מִטּ֑וֹב as privative, that is "away from good," i.e., producing no good. We evaluate each of these three possibilities in the exegetical issue page.
- The end of Psalm 39:4 introduces quoted speech. The extent of the quotation is debated. Some translations and commentators limit the speech to v. 5, while others claim that it extends through vv. 5–6a; vv. 5–6; vv. 5–7; or the rest of the psalm, vv. 5–14. Also possible (though not represented in modern translations consulted) is to understand the quotation to consist of vv. 5–12. We evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each of these interpretations of the quoted speech in this exegetical issue page.
Psalm 39 Videos 
- There are no videos currently available for this psalm.