Psalm 39 Overview
Psalm 39
Welcome to the Overview of Psalm 39
This page will introduce and provide orientation to Psalm 39 as a whole. It includes the following sections:
Introduction to Psalm 39
Author
Book
- Book 1 of the Psalter (Chapters 1–41)
Psalm 39: A Brief Summary
"Everyone is but a breath" This title is a memorable phrase that helps remember the unique character and content of this psalm.
Purpose The Purpose was the psalmist's probable intent or reason for writing this psalm.
- To beg for relief from YHWH's affliction, in light of the brevity of life
Content The Content is a concise summary of the whole psalm's content.
- I tried to accept my affliction by keeping silent and not accusing God of injustice. My suffering only increased.
- Human life is so short. What sense is there in prolonged suffering?
- Grant me relief so I can at least enjoy the life that is allotted to mankind!
Message The Message is the main idea the psalmist probably wanted the audience to remember upon or after hearing the psalm.
- Just as life is brief, so should suffering be brief.
Psalm 39 At-a-Glance
These sections divide the content of the psalm into digestible pieces, and are determined based on information from many of our layers, including Semantics, Poetics, and Discourse. The columns, left to right, contain: the verse numbers; the main title of the section; a brief summary of the content of that section (quote marks indicate the text is taken directly from the English text of the psalm (as per our Close-but-Clear translation); and an icon to visually represent and remember the content.
Background Orientation for Psalm 39
Following are the common-ground assumptionsCommon-ground assumptions include information shared by the speaker and hearers. In our analysis, we mainly use this category for Biblical/Ancient Near Eastern background. which are the most helpful for making sense of the psalm.
- Silence was considered a wise response to difficult and perplexing situations of suffering (Lev 10:3; Ps 37:7; 131; Job 38:2; Prov 26:4),[1] such that the sufferer considered their silence to honor YHWH and that somehow they would be vindicated (see v. 3b).
- "YHWH has disciplined people with punishments on account of sin" (v. 12; cf. Pss 30, 32), but onlookers mock, foolishly "consider themselves superior" (Ps 38:17; cf. Pss 22:8–9; 39:9b; 69:11–13; Lam 2:17).
- The recognition and confession of the brevity of one's life functions as an appeal for present mercy (Ps 89:48–49).
Background Situation for Psalm 39
The background situation is the series of events leading up to the time in which the psalm is spoken. These are taken from the story triangle – whatever lies to the left of the star icon.
Participants in Psalm 39
There are 4 participants/characters in Psalm 39:
Profile List
| David (v. 1) |
| "a person" (v. 12) |
| YHWH (vv. 5, 13) |
| "Lord" (v. 8) |
| The wicked (v. 2) |
| "fools" (v. 9) |
| People (v.7) |
| "every person 'standing firm'" (v. 6) |
| "man" (v. 7) |
| "every person" (v. 12) |
Profile Notes
- The psalmist is identified as David in the superscription. He quotes himself twice (vv. 2, 5–6), being also the recipient of his inner speech in v. 2.
- YHWH is the addressee David's prayer (the psalm itself) and the quoted speech of vv. 5–6. He is the object of David's hope (v. 8) and is addressed as "YHWH" in vv. 5 and 13 and "Lord" in v. 8
- The wicked are mentioned only in passing (v. 2). David vows not to speak while in their presence, at the risk that they will either mock his afflicted state and consider him guilty, or mock the God who is apparently not answering his plea. If he were to speak, as fools, they would scorn him (v. 9).
- The impersonal group of the psalm are described as "every person 'standing firm'" in v. 6c, followed by the generic אִישׁ and third-person plural impersonals in v. 7. Finally, the generic אִישׁ and "every person" are repeated again in v. 12.
- ↑ "The more the words, the less the meaning (הָ֑בֶל), and how does that profit anyone? For who knows what is good for a person in life, during the few and meaningless days (מִסְפַּ֛ר יְמֵי־חַיֵּ֥י הֶבְל֖וֹ) they pass through like a shadow? Who can tell them what will happen under the sun after they are gone?" (Eccl 6:11–12, NIV).