Psalm 45/Notes/Phrasal.v. 8.110789

From Psalms: Layer by Layer
Jump to: navigation, search

v. 8 – The prepositional phrase מֵֽחֲבֵרֶֽיךָ could be interpreted as a comparison, as "exclusive difference" (Staszak 2024 §6.15), i.e., an extension of detachment, or as source.[1]

The comparative reading is found in the CSB: "God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy more than your companions."[2] The detachment/exclusive difference is found in Luther 2017: "God, your God, anointed with joyful oil like none of your companions."[3] The source interpretation has been suggested by a number of commentators, to read "God has anointed you with the oil of rejoicing of your companions."[4]

Although a common function of מִן is comparison, it makes little sense in the psalm that the king's colleagues would also be anointed by God, though only to a lesser degree (Gaster 1955, 244). Similarly, though attractive in light of the following wedding scene (vv. 11-16), the friends as those who provide the oil is also unlikely. The best interpretation thus seems to be the exclusive difference/detachment reading of מִן. Staszak (2024, 202) explains this function as an extension of comparative/superlative מִן, which, rather then finding its comparee on the scale, it is off the scale completely, so that direct comparison is impossible and the characteristic belongs exclusively to the standard of comparison, in this case "you," the king. This function is extremely rare following a verb, however, as Staszak (2024, 203) only lists the present verse and 2 Chr 20:27: שִׂמְּחָ֥ם יְהוָ֖ה מֵֽאוֹיְבֵיהֶֽם "the Lord had given them cause to rejoice over their enemies" (NIV) ➞ "the Lord caused them to rejoice to the exclusion of their enemies' rejoicing."[5] Thus the present prepositional phrase should be rendered "God has anointed you without/to the exclusion of your companions."

  1. ↑ See the outlier in the Vulgate's prae consortibus tuis, which could possibly be read as "in the presence of your fellows," if not anteriority ➞ superiority.
  2. ↑ Cf. the Peshitta's and Targum Psalms' unambigious ܝܬܝܪ ܡܢ and יתיר מן "more than."
  3. ↑ Gott, dein Gott, gesalbt mit Freudenöl wie keinen deiner Gefährten. Cf. the CJB's "in preference to your companions."
  4. ↑ ... who rejoiced in the joy of your wedding (משחך אלהים בשמן הששון של חבריך, ששמחו בשמחת כלולותיך; Weisman 1996, 200; cf. Ḥakham 1979, 259 n. 9).
  5. ↑ Following an adjective, cf. Gen 36:7; Exod 18:18; Num 11:14; Deut 1:17; 17:8; 30:11; Ps 38:5.