Psalm 4/Notes/Lexical.v. 2.137278

• In Ps 4:2, the word צֶדֶק probably belongs to the same lexical domain as words like "security" (יֶשַׁע; cf. the analogous phrase אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׁעִי) and "peace" (שָׁלוֹם, see v. 9) and to the contextual domain of "well-being." The poetic correspondence between v. 2 and v. 9 connects the notions of "righteousness" (v. 2) and "peace" (שָׁלוֹם, v. 9) (see Poetic Structure). Together, these two concepts "describe fortunate, well-ordered circumstances" (TDOT; e.g., Pss 35:27; 72:3; 85:11; Isa 48:18; 60:17; Isa 32:17). Thus, the gloss "prosperity" given among the glosses in SDBH is appropriate (cf. Weiser 1959, 80-81, who glosses it with the German word "Heil;" cf. HALOT: "salvation, well-being;" Gesenius 2013: "righteousness... presenting itself as salvation"). The prominent use of צֶדֶק in Ps 85 is instructive, because this psalm parallels Psalm 4 in some striking ways (in addition to "righteousness" and "peace," note the theme of harvest [cf. Ps 4:8] and YHWH's giving of "what is good" [cf. Ps 4:7]): "Love and faithfulness meet together; צֶדֶק and שָׁלֹום kiss each other. Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and צֶדֶק looks down from heaven. The Lord will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest. צֶדֶק goes before him and prepares the way for his steps" (Ps 85:11-14, NIV adapted).