Psalm 3 Verse-by-Verse
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Welcome to the DRAFT Verse-by-Verse Notes for Psalm 3!
The Verse-by-Verse Notes present scholarly, exegetical materials (from all layers of analysis) in a verse-by-verse format. They often present alternative interpretive options and justification for a preferred interpretation. The Verse-by-Verse Notes are aimed at consultant-level users.
The discussion of each verse of this psalm includes the following items.
- A link to the part of the overview video where the verse in question is discussed.
- The verse in Hebrew and English.[1]
- An expanded paraphrase of the verse.[2]
- A grammatical diagram of the verse, which includes glosses for each word and phrase.[3]
- A series of notes on the verse, which contain information pertaining to the interpretation of the psalm (e.g., meaning of words and phrases, poetic features, difficult grammatical constructions, etc.).
Superscription (v. 1)
v. 1
Watch the Overview video on v. 1.
| v. | Hebrew | Close-but-clear |
|---|---|---|
| 1a | מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִ֑ד | A psalm by David, |
| 1b | בְּ֝בָרְח֗וֹ מִפְּנֵ֤י ׀ אַבְשָׁל֬וֹם בְּנֽוֹ׃ | when he fled from the presence of Absalom, his son. |
Expanded Paraphrase
A psalm by David(, the anointed king of Israel, whose throne is in Jerusalem). (After David sinned against YHWH [see 2 Sam. 11]), (YHWH said that he would bring trouble upon David from David's own house [2 Sam. 12:11]). (One of the members of David's house is Absalom, his son). (Absalom plotted a rebellion), (gained a large following), (and was anointed as king in place of David). (If David stayed in Jerusalem, he and his men would be captured by Absalom and the city would be destroyed [2 Sam. 15:14]. Thus,) (David fled from Absalom.) (He prayed this psalm during the time) when he fled from the presence of Absalom, his son.
Grammatical Diagram
Notes
- Analytical Summary: Ps. 3:1 gives information about the genre (mizmor - "psalm"), the author ("David"), and the historical circumstances in which the psalm originated (cf. 2 Sam. 15ff).
Attack (vv. 2-3)
v. 2
Watch the Overview video on v. 2.
| v. | Hebrew | Close-but-clear |
|---|---|---|
| 2a | יְ֭הוָה מָֽה־רַבּ֣וּ צָרָ֑י | YHWH, how my adversaries have multiplied. |
| 2b | רַ֝בִּ֗ים קָמִ֥ים עָלָֽי׃ | Many are those opposing me. |
Expanded Paraphrase
YHWH, how my adversaries (led by my son, Absalom,) have multiplied. Many are those opposing me.
Grammatical Diagram
Notes
- Analytical Summary: Psalm 3:2 is a distressed presentation to YHWH of an increasingly threatening problem.
v. 3
Watch the Overview video on v. 3.
| v. | Hebrew | Close-but-clear |
|---|---|---|
| 3a | רַבִּים֮ אֹמְרִ֪ים לְנַ֫פְשִׁ֥י | Many are those saying about my soul, |
| 3b | אֵ֤ין יְֽשׁוּעָ֓תָה לּ֬וֹ בֵֽאלֹהִ֬ים סֶֽלָה׃ | “There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah. |
Expanded Paraphrase
Many are those (who assume that you no longer delight in me, that you have rejected me [cf. 2 Sam. 15:26; 16:8]. For this reason, they are) saying about my soul, “There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah.
Grammatical Diagram
Notes
- The key word "salvation,"[4] repeated in v. 8a ("save me") and v. 9a ("salvation"). In Hebrew, the occurrence of this noun in v. 3b is morphologically and prosodically marked.[5] The effect is to draw attention to it as "the key motif in the psalm."[6]
Defense (vv. 4-7)
vv. 4-5
v. 4
Watch the Overview video on v. 4.
| v. | Hebrew | Close-but-clear |
|---|---|---|
| 4a | וְאַתָּ֣ה יְ֭הוָה מָגֵ֣ן בַּעֲדִ֑י | But you, YHWH, are a shield around me, |
| 4b | כְּ֝בוֹדִ֗י וּמֵרִ֥ים רֹאשִֽׁי׃ | my honour and the one who lifts my head. |
Expanded Paraphrase
But (despite what they say, I do have salvation in God, because) you, YHWH, are a shield around me, (and just as a shield protects a person in battle,) (so you will protect me from my enemies.) (You will also restore) my honour (which has been turned to shame) (ever since my own son usurped my throne,) and the one who lifts my head (a gesture that symbolizes the restoration of confidence.) (I had lost all confidence in my flight from Jersualem,) (but you have restored my confidence).
Grammatical Diagram
Notes
- The sound play in v. 4ab. Several of the words in this verse sound like words in the previous verse. "The enemies' taunt that there is no salvation for the psalmist in God (v. 3) is answered... by the psalmist's confident assertion of Yahweh's power to protect him ( v. 4)."[7]
v. 5
Watch the Overview video on v. 5.
| v. | Hebrew | Close-but-clear |
|---|---|---|
| 5a | ק֭וֹלִי אֶל־יְהוָ֣ה אֶקְרָ֑א | Whenever I cry out to YHWH with my voice, |
| 5b | וַיַּֽעֲנֵ֨נִי מֵהַ֖ר קָדְשׁ֣וֹ סֶֽלָה׃ | he responds to me from his holy mountain. Selah. |
Expanded Paraphrase
(The reason I can claim that YHWH is the one who protects me is that, time and time again,) Whenever I cry out to YHWH with my voice (during times of trouble like that which I am facing now), he responds to me from his holy mountain (and rescues me from my enemies.) Selah.
Grammatical Diagram
Notes
- The tense and aspect of the verbs. Some translations render both verbs as past perfective ("I cried... he answered"),[8] but they are more likely timeless/gnomic and imperfective ("I cry... he answers")[9]
vv. 6-7
v. 6
Watch the Overview video on v. 6.
| v. | Hebrew | Close-but-clear |
|---|---|---|
| 6a | אֲנִ֥י שָׁכַ֗בְתִּי וָֽאִ֫ישָׁ֥נָה | I lay down and fell asleep. |
| 6b | הֱקִיצ֑וֹתִי כִּ֖י יְהוָ֣ה יִסְמְכֵֽנִי׃ | I woke up, for YHWH supports me. |
Expanded Paraphrase
(After YHWH restored my confidence,) I lay down and (as an expression of confidence and security) fell asleep. (Sleeping puts one in a vulnerable position,) (however, I was not harmed in my sleep. Instead,) I woke up, for YHWH supports me. (He protected me throughout the night.)
Grammatical Diagram
Notes
v. 7
Watch the Overview video on v. 7.
| v. | Hebrew | Close-but-clear |
|---|---|---|
| 7a | לֹֽא־אִ֭ירָא מֵרִבְב֥וֹת עָ֑ם | I will not be afraid of myriads of people |
| 7b | אֲשֶׁ֥ר סָ֝בִ֗יב שָׁ֣תוּ עָלָֽי׃ | who have taken position against me all around. |
Expanded Paraphrase
(With YHWH as my protector,) I will not be afraid of myriads of people who have taken position against me all around (in order to harm me).
Grammatical Diagram
Notes
Victory (vv. 8-9)
v. 8
Watch the Overview video on v. 8.
| v. | Hebrew | Close-but-clear |
|---|---|---|
| 8a | ק֘וּמָ֤ה יְהוָ֨ה ׀ הוֹשִׁ֘יעֵ֤נִי אֱלֹהַ֗י | Rise up, YHWH. Save me, my God. |
| 8b | כִּֽי־הִכִּ֣יתָ אֶת־כָּל־אֹיְבַ֣י לֶ֑חִי | For you have struck all of my enemies on the jaw. |
| 8c | שִׁנֵּ֖י רְשָׁעִ֣ים שִׁבַּֽרְתָּ׃ | You have broken the teeth of wicked people. |
Expanded Paraphrase
Rise up, YHWH. Save me, my God. (You should do this) for you have struck all of my enemies on the jaw (an expression of dominance and scorn, and) you have broken the teeth of wicked people (thereby rendering them harmless.) (Since you have done this to all of my enemies in the past,) (I am calling on you to do it again).
Grammatical Diagram
Notes
v. 9
Watch the Overview video on v. 9.
| v. | Hebrew | Close-but-clear |
|---|---|---|
| 9a | לַיהוָ֥ה הַיְשׁוּעָ֑ה | Salvation is YHWH’s. |
| 9b | עַֽל־עַמְּךָ֖ בִרְכָתֶ֣ךָ סֶּֽלָה׃ | Your blessing is on your people. Selah. |
Expanded Paraphrase
Salvation is YHWH’s (and YHWH is my God). (Therefore, despite what my enemies say, I do have salvation in God.) Your blessing is on your people (on those who align themselves with your chosen king) (and not on those who rebel against you). Selah.
Grammatical Diagram
Notes
Legends
Grammatical diagram
The grammar layer visually represents the grammar and syntax of each clause. It also displays alternative interpretations of the grammar. (For more information, click "Grammar Legend" below.)
| Visualization | Description |
|---|---|
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The clause is represented by a horizontal line with a vertical line crossing through it, separating the subject and the verb. |
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The object is indicated by a vertical line that does not cross the horizontal line of the clause. Infinitives and participles may also have objects. If the direct object marker (d.o.m.) is present in the text, it appears in the diagram immediately before the object. If the grammar includes a secondary object, the secondary object will appear after the object, separated by another vertical line that does not cross the horizontal line of the clause. |
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The subject complement follows the verb (often omitted in Hebrew) separated with a line leaning toward the right. It can be a noun, a whole prepositional phrase or an adjective. The later two appear modifying the complement slot. |
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When a noun further describes or renames the object, it is an object complement. The object complement follows the object separated by a line leaning toward the right. |
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In a construct chain, the noun in the absolute form modifies the noun in the construct form. |
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Participles are indicated in whatever position in the clause they are in with a curved line before the participle. Participles can occur as nominal, where they take the place of a noun, predicate, where they take the place of a verb, or attributive, where they modify a noun or a verb similar to adjectives or adverbs. |
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Infinitives are indicated by two parallel lines before the infinitive that cross the horizontal line. Infinitive constructs can appear as the verb in an embedded clause. Infinitive absolutes typically appear as an adverbial. |
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The subject of the infinitive often appears in construct to it. In this situation, the infinitive and subject are diagrammed as a construct chain. |
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The object of the infinitive is indicated by a vertical line that does not cross the horizontal line of the infinitival clause. |
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Modifiers are represented by a solid diagonal line from the word they modify. They can attach to verbs, adjectives, or nouns. If modifying a verb or adjective, it is an adverb, but if modifying a noun, it is an adjective, a quantifier, or a definite article. If an adverb is modifying a modifier, it is connected to the modifier by a small dashed horizontal line. |
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Adverbials are indicated by a dashed diagonal line extending to a horizontal line. These are nouns or infinitives that function adverbially (modifying either a verb or a participle), but are not connected by a preposition. |
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Prepositional phrases are indicated by a solid diagonal line extending to a horizontal line. The preposition is to the left of the diagonal line and the dependent of the preposition is on the horizontal line. They can modify verbs (adverbial) or nouns (adjectival). |
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Embedded clauses are indicated by a "stand" that looks like an upside-down Y. The stand rests in the grammatical position that the clause fulfills. Extending from the top of the stand is a horizontal line for the clause. If introduced by a complementizer, for example כִּי, the complementizer appears before the stand. Embedded clauses can stand in the place of any noun. |
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When clauses are joined by a conjunction, they are compound clauses. These clauses are connected by a vertical dotted line. The conjunction is placed next to the dotted line. |
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Within a clause, if two or more parts of speech are compound, these are represented by angled lines reaching to the two compound elements connected by a solid vertical line. If a conjunction is used, the conjunction appears to the left of the vertical line. Almost all parts of speech can be compound. |
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Subordinate clauses are indicated by a dashed line coming from the line dividing the subject from the predicate in the independent clause and leading to the horizontal line of the subordinate clause. The subordinating conjunction appears next to the dashed line. |
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Relative clauses also have a dashed line, but the line connects the antecedent to the horizontal line of the relative clause. The relative particle appears next to the dashed line. |
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Sentence fragments are represented by a horizontal line with no vertical lines. They are most frequently used in superscriptions to psalms. They are visually similar to discourse particles and vocatives, but most often consist of a noun phrase (that does not refer to a person or people group) or a prepositional phrase. |
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In the body of the psalm, a horizontal line by itself (with no modifiers or vertical lines) can indicate either a discourse particle or a vocative (if the word is a noun referring to a person or people group). A discourse particle is a conjunction or particle that functions at the discourse level, not at the grammatical level. Vocatives can appear either before or after the clause addressed to them, depending on the word order of the Hebrew. |
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Apposition is indicated by an equal sign equating the two noun phrases. This can occur with a noun in any function in a sentence. |
| Hebrew text colors | |
|---|---|
| Default preferred text | The default preferred reading is represented by a black line. The text of the MT is represented in bold black text. |
| Dispreferred reading | The dispreferred reading is an alternative interpretation of the grammar, represented by a pink line. The text of the MT is represented in bold pink text, while emendations and revocalizations retain their corresponding colors (see below). |
| Emended text | Emended text, text in which the consonants differ from the consonants of the Masoretic text, is represented by bold blue text, whether that reading is preferred or dispreferred. |
| Revocalized text | Revocalized text, text in which only the vowels differ from the vowels of the Masoretic text, is represented by bold purple text, whether that reading is preferred or dispreferred. |
| (Supplied elided element) | Any element that is elided in the Hebrew text is represented by bold gray text in parentheses. |
| ( ) | The position of a non-supplied elided element is represented by empty black parentheses. For example, this would be used in the place of the noun when an adjective functions substantivally or in the place of the antecedent when a relative clause has an implied antecedent. |
| Gloss text colors | |
|---|---|
| Gloss used in the CBC | The gloss used in the Close-but-Clear translation is represented by bold blue text. |
| Literal gloss >> derived meaning | A gloss that shows the more literal meaning as well as the derived figurative meaning is represented in blue text with arrows pointing towards the more figurative meaning. The gloss used in the CBC will be bolded. |
| Supplied elided element | The gloss for a supplied elided element is represented in bold gray text. |
Shapes and colours on grammatical diagram
(For more information, click "Phrase-level Legend" below.)
| Visualization | Description |
|---|---|
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The prepositional phrase is indicated by a solid green oval. |
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The construct chain is indicated by a solid yellow oval. |
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When the conjunction ו appears at the phrase-level (not clause-level), it is indicated by a solid light purple oval. |
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The article is indicated by a solid blue oval. |
Expanded paraphrase
(For more information, click "Expanded Paraphrase Legend" below.)
| Expanded paraphrase legend | |
|---|---|
| Close but Clear (CBC) translation | The CBC, our close but clear translation of the Hebrew, is represented in bold text. |
| Assumptions | Assumptions which provide background information, presuppositions, entailments, and inferences are represented in italics. |
References
3
- ↑ The Hebrew text comes from Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible, which presents the text of the Leningrad Codex (the Masoretic text). The English text is our own "Close-but-clear" translation (CBC). The CBC is a “wooden” translation that exists to provide a window into the Hebrew text. It is essentially an interlinear that has been put into English word-order. It is also similar to a “back-translation” (of the Hebrew) often used in Bible translation checking. It is important to remember that the CBC is not intended to be a stand-alone translation, but is rather a tool for using the Layer by Layer materials. The CBC is used as the primary display text (along with the Hebrew) for most analytical visualisations. It is also used as the display text for most videos.
- ↑ A legend for the expanded paraphrase is available near the bottom of this page, in the section titled "Legends."
- ↑ Legends for both the grammatical diagram and the shapes and colours on the grammatical diagram are available near the bottom of this page, in the section titled "Legends."
- ↑ "Salvation" (ESV, NASB); "Help" (KJV, RSV); "Deliverance" (NASB77); "Victory" (NEB)
- ↑ In terms of morphology, it has a unique ending (תָה- cf. Ps. 80:3; Jon. 2:10). This is a remain of an earlier case ending which is, according to GKC, "used merely for the sake of poetical emphasis" (GKC §90g.). In terms of prosody, this word has a relatively rare accent (shalshelet qetannah), which "occurs in only eight cases" (Yeivin 1980:272).
- ↑ Goldingay 2006:114).
- ↑ Kselman 1987
- ↑ KJV, NASB, ESV, NET. Cf. LXX (ἐκέκραξα... καὶ ἐπήκουσέν).
- ↑ Cf. CSB, NIV, NEB, GNT, CEV. These translations might instead be interpreted as present tense. To remove any ambiguity, we have chosen to translate "whevenver I call... he answers."