Psalm 44/Notes/Lexical.V. 4.80424
From Psalms: Layer by Layer
- The meaning of הוֹשִׁיעָה: The verbal root ישׁע typically refers to the act of bringing help in the midst of trouble, rather than rescue out of it (NIDOTTE, 2:556). In the present context, the sense is that of God's provision of military victory over adversaries (Ibid, 2:560).
- The meaning of יְמִינְךָ and וּזְרוֹעֲךָ: The bodily terms יָמִין and זְרוֹעַ function in the contextual domain of strength to denote one's power (SDBH).
- The meaning of וְאוֹר פָּנֶיךָ: Within the contextual domain of body imagery, the "light (of one's face)" denotes a smile of favor (SDBH).
- אוֹר פָּנֶי-ךָ ("the light of your face") is entity–origin. The imagery of light is "associated with life, goodness, happiness, prosperity, security, favor, and wisdom" (SDBH). The idiom אוֹר פָּנֶיךָ "light of your [i.e., God's] face" indicates divine approval (TWOT, 25). Thus, the semantics of the figurative expression is more akin to characteristic-possessor.
- פָּנֶי-ךָ ("your face") possession (body part)–possessor. With פָנֶי used figuratively to refer to one's presence (DCH), the construct relationship would be closer to that of characteristic-possessor.