Psalm 45 Poetic Structure
The Divine King's Majesty
Psalm 45
Poetic Structure
In poetic structure, we analyse the structure of the psalm beginning at the most basic level of the structure: the line (also known as the “colon” or “hemistich”). Then, based on the perception of patterned similarities (and on the assumption that the whole psalm is structured hierarchically), we argue for the grouping of lines into verses, verses into sub-sections, sub-sections into larger sections, etc. Because patterned similarities might be of various kinds (syntactic, semantic, pragmatic, sonic) the analysis of poetic structure draws on all of the previous layers (especially the Discourse layer).
Poetic Macro-structure
If an emendation or revocalization is preferred, that emendation or revocalization will be marked in the Hebrew text of all the visuals.
| Emendations/Revocalizations legend | |
|---|---|
| *Emended text* | Emended text, text in which the consonants differ from the consonants of the Masoretic text, is indicated by blue asterisks on either side of the emendation. |
| *Revocalized text* | Revocalized text, text in which only the vowels differ from the vowels of the Masoretic text, is indicated by purple asterisks on either side of the revocalization. |
Notes
Significant macrostructural indicators discussed by a number of commentators involve an inclusio formed by the psalmist's first-person speech in vv. 2 and 18. Some have attempted to include the structural function of עַל־כֵּן,[1] such that the initial element of the inclusio would include vv. 2-3, as we have preferred.
Alternatively, Fokkelman[2] and van der Lugt[3] discern two halves thematically divided by concerns of the king (vv. 2-10) followed by that of the bride and the wedding (vv. 11-18). Nevertheless, this does not account for the king as the addressee in vv. 14-18, and the thematic shift in the final two verses.
Preferable, then, is the A-B-A // A'-B'-A' structure outlined above, in which the עַל־כֵּן and forever of vv. 3 and 8 form an inclusio, which then finds its conclusion in vv. 17–18.
Line Divisions
Line division divides the poem into lines and line groupings. We determine line divisions based on a combination of external evidence (Masoretic accents, pausal forms, manuscripts) and internal evidence (syntax, prosodic word counting and patterned relation to other lines). Moreover, we indicate line-groupings by using additional spacing.
When line divisions are uncertain, we consult some of the many psalms manuscripts which lay out the text in lines. Then, if a division attested in one of these manuscripts/versions influences our decision to divide the text at a certain point, we place a green symbol (G, DSS, or MT) to the left of the line in question.
| Poetic line division legend | |
|---|---|
| Pausal form | Pausal forms are highlighted in yellow. |
| Accent which typically corresponds to line division | Accents which typically correspond to line divisions are indicated by red text. |
| | | Clause boundaries are indicated by a light gray vertical line in between clauses. |
| G | Line divisions that follow Greek manuscripts are indicated by a bold green G. |
| DSS | Line divisions that follow the Dead Sea Scrolls are indicated by a bold green DSS. |
| M | Line divisions that follow Masoretic manuscripts are indicated by a bold green M. |
| Number of prosodic words | The number of prosodic words are indicated in blue text. |
| Prosodic words greater than 5 | The number of prosodic words if greater than 5 is indicated by bold blue text. |
If an emendation or revocalization is preferred, that emendation or revocalization will be marked in the Hebrew text of all the visuals.
| Emendations/Revocalizations legend | |
|---|---|
| *Emended text* | Emended text, text in which the consonants differ from the consonants of the Masoretic text, is indicated by blue asterisks on either side of the emendation. |
| *Revocalized text* | Revocalized text, text in which only the vowels differ from the vowels of the Masoretic text, is indicated by purple asterisks on either side of the revocalization. |
Notes
- The line division above reflects Rahlfs' edition of the LXX, with the exception of where there are textual differences between the LXX and MT (see 11b, 14b-15; the LXX's line division of vv. 12b-13 is preferred, however—see the grammar notes) and v. 18, for which the following trifold division is found:
- I shall profess your name in all generations. (אַזְכִּ֣ירָה שִׁ֭מְךָ בְּכָל־דֹּ֣ר וָדֹ֑ר)
- Therefore peoples will praise you (עַל־כֵּ֥ן עַמִּ֥ים יְ֝הוֹדֻ֗ךָ)
- forever and ever. (לְעֹלָ֥ם וָעֶֽד׃)
- v. 4 - Contra the accents of the Tiberian tradition (see, e.g., Codex Aleppo), the Babylonian manuscript Berlin QU 680 contains the division:
- חֲגֽוֹר־חַרְבְּךָ֣ עַל־יָרֵ֣ךְ
- גִּבּ֑וֹר ה֝וֹדְךָ֗ וַהֲדָרֶֽךָ׃
- v. 10 - Contra the accents of the Tiberian tradition (see, e.g., Codex Aleppo), the Babylonian manuscript Berlin QU 680 contains the division:
- בְּנ֣וֹת מְ֭לָכִים בְּיִקְּרוֹתֶ֑יךָ נִצְּבָ֥ה
- שֵׁגַ֥ל לִֽ֝ימִינְךָ֗ בְּכֶ֣תֶם אוֹפִֽיר׃
- The implied syntax could involve the princesses standing (with the third feminine singular passive, נִצְּבָ֥ה).
- v. 15 - Contra the accents of the Tiberian tradition (see, e.g., Codex Aleppo), the Babylonian manuscript BL Or 2373 contains only a two-line verse:
- לִרְקָמוֹת֮ תּוּבַ֪ל לַ֫מֶּ֥לֶךְ
- בְּתוּל֣וֹת אַ֭חֲרֶיהָ רֵעוֹתֶ֑יהָ מ֖וּבָא֣וֹת לָֽךְ׃
- v. 15 - The manuscript Berlin QU 680 seems to follow the LXX's syntax of v. 15 (see the grammar notes), with the division
- לִרְקָמוֹת֮ תּוּבַ֪ל לַ֫מֶּ֥לֶךְ בְּתוּל֣וֹת
- אַ֭חֲרֶיהָ רֵעוֹתֶ֑יהָ מ֖וּבָא֣וֹת לָֽךְ׃