Psalm 44/Notes/Lexical.V. 20.141678

• The meaning of צַלְמָוֶת: The etymology of צַלְמָוֶת is debated, with several English translations treating it as a compound of צֵל "shadow" and מָוֶת "death" (NIDOTTE, 3:807), hence, "shadow of death" (ESV, NASB, KJV, ASV). This understanding is also reflected in the LXX's σκιὰ θανάτου. Alternatively, some scholars treat צַלְמָוֶת as being cognate with ṣalāmu "to be dark," attested in Akkadian and Arabic (TWOT, 767). This understanding possibly underlies renderings of "deep darkness" (NIV, NRSV, CSB, NCV, REB). However, even if one affirms the etymology behind "shadow of death," the idiomatic sense of the term could be that of deepest darkness, as מָוֶת could be functioning as a superlative (Dahood 1966, 147; hence NJB's "shadow dark as death").