Psalm 44/Notes/Lexical.V. 24.951255
From Psalms: Layer by Layer
- The meaning of לָנֶצַח: The term נֵצַח is typically understood as "endurance, everlastingness, endlessness" (DCH). However, it has been noted that this meaning is difficult in instances where it is found alongside temporal questions of "How long?" (Pss 13:2; 74:10; 79:5; 89:47). It has been suggested that, based on a root meaning of "pre-eminent," נֵצַח can communicate a superlative sense (Thomas 1956, 108). If so, then the sense here would be, "Do not reject utterly." However, as the traditional rendering of "forever" is intelligible—even in difficult cases—by means of literary device, this temporal rendering is preferred (cf. NIDOTTE, 3:139–40).