Psalm 44/Notes/Lexical.V. 8.539497
From Psalms: Layer by Layer
- The meaning of הוֹשַׁעְתָּנוּ: 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 הֱבִישׁוֹתָ: While most modern translations render this verb as "to put to shame," some translations opt for "to put to confusion" (NRSV, REB; cf. also Vulg., confudisti). The verb בושׁ can indeed express confusion, in the sense of the embarrassment and dismay that occur when a situation goes contrary to one's expectations (TWOT, 98). When applied to the context of military defeat, the term can express a disgrace that involves nuances of "confusion, disillusionment, humiliation, and brokenness which the word connotes" (Ibid).