Psalm 4/Particles
From Psalms: Layer by Layer
Particles
Negative markers
- אַל תֶּחֱטָאוּ (v.5a),
Independent personal pronouns
- אַתָּה (v.9b),
Prepositions
| 2a | ב | |||||
| 2b | ב | ל | ||||
| 2c | ||||||
| 3a | ל | עד | ||||
| 3b | ||||||
| 3c | ||||||
| 4a | ל | |||||
| 4b | ב | אל | ||||
| 5a | ||||||
| 5b | ב | על | ||||
| 6a | ||||||
| 6b | אל | |||||
| 7a | ||||||
| 7b | על | |||||
| 8a | ב | |||||
| 8b | מן | |||||
| 9a | ב | |||||
| 9b | ל | |||||
| 9c | ל |
ב
- A בְּ preposition initiates both the opening and closing tricola (vv.2a, 9a). A contrast is indicated: the psalm begins in calling out (בקראי) and distress (בצר) and ends in peace (בשׁלום)
- ב + קראי connects v.2 and v.4
- ב + לב connects v.5b and v.8a
ל
- ל prepositions (along with phonological alliteration) closely join v.9b (לבדד) and v.9c (לבטח)
מִן
- This preposition in Ps. 4:7 is often understood to indicate comparison. However, occurring as it does with a noun indicating time (עֵת), it more probably indicates "detachment from a point in time."[1] The phrase מֵעֵת occurs also in Isa. 48:16; Ezek. 4:10, 11; 1 Chron. 9:25, and in each case the preposition functions temporally. Ps. 4:8 might therefore be translated, "You have put joy in my heart // ever since their grain and wine increased," or "You put joy in my heart // when their grain and wine increased." In other words, the many (רבים) who are calling on Yahweh (v.7ab) have had their prayer answered and have experienced Yahweh's blessing on their harvest. This gives the psalmist joy (v.8ab). (This interpretation follows from the likely fact that the speaker in v.7b is the same as in v.7a; see above.),
Waw/Vav
Coordinating Words
- v.2c. חָנֵּנִי וּשְׁמַע
- v.5a. רִגְזוּ וְאַל־תֶּחֱטָאוּ
- v.5b. אִמְרוּ בִלְבַבְכֶם עַל־מִשְׁכַּבְכֶם וְדֹמּוּ
- v.8b. דְּגָנָם וְתִירוֹשָׁם
- v.9a. אֶשְׁכְּבָה וְאִישָׁן
Coordinating Lines
- v.6a --waw + impv.--> 6b
Coordinating Units
- v.3abc --waw + impv.--> v.4ab
Waw + imperative (v.4a) may be used to "express inferences."[2] On the other hand, the waw may be "disjunctive." Thus a marginal reading in the LXX tradition translates it as αλλα.[3] Other features in the text appear to support a seam in the text at this point (e.g.., the length of v.4a, the anaphoric repetition of words (בקראי, שׁמע), and the inclusio that binds together vv.4-5 (ודעו --- ודמו) as a section.,
Other particles
- כִּי (v.9b)