Psalm 44/Notes/Lexical.Vv. 16-17.690252
From Psalms: Layer by Layer
- v. 16 - The meaning of בֹֺּשֶׁת פָּנִים: The expression בֹֺּשֶׁת פָּנִים is common (Jer 7:19; Dan 9:7–8; Ezra 9:7; 2 Chr 32:21), and could denote the idiomatic sense of "blush" (TLOT, 206).
- v. 17 - The meaning of מְחָרֵף וּמְגַדֵּף: This word pair can be construed as a fixed expression (or hendiadys, so Goldingay 2007, 44). The verbal pair חרף and גדף also occurs in 2 Kgs 19:22 and Isa 37:23. If the participial forms are understood as a verbal hendiadys, then the verbal ideas would be parallel (i.e., "taunting and reviling"; Putnam 2002, §2.3.1). However, as the participles are functioning as substantives, then the second term of the nominal hendiadys should be understood as modifying the first (i.e., "the reviling taunter"; Ibid, §§1.8.1c[1]; 1.8.3b).
- v. 17 - The meaning of אוֹיֵב וּמִתְנַקֵּם: The exact phrase אוֹיֵב וּמִתְנַקֵּם also appears in Ps 8:3, and it is possible to understand the construction as a hendiadys (Baethgen 1904, 21). If the participial forms are understood as a verbal hendiadys, then the verbal ideas would be parallel (i.e., "adversarial and avenging"; Putnam 2002, §2.3.1). However, as the participles are functioning as substantives, then the second term of the nominal hendiadys should be understood as modifying the first (i.e., "the avenging enemy"; Ibid, §§1.8.1c[1]; 1.8.3b).
- While the term נקם typically refers to "vengeance" as a form of divine justice, it occasionally denotes purely human (negative) vengefulness (cf. Ps 8:3; NIDOTTE, 3:156).