Psalm 46/Notes/Grammar.v. 5.765712

In v. 5, נהר is taken as a verbless clause with an elided יש, followed by an asyndetic relative clause (v. 5b), with a fronted subject (פלגיו ; cf. Deut 8:9; 29:17; Ps 26:10; 144:7-8, 11; Prov 2:14-15; Eccl 10:16-17). In terms of information packaging, v. 5a is a presentational clause, indicating the beginning of a new section (vv. 5–7). Alternatively, v. 5b can be taken as an independent clause, after a sentence fragment (e.g., "A river! Its streams cause rejoicing for the city of God...", although this reading is not well-represented among modern translations. For the MT's 5a (נהר פלגיו), however, some versions use a different syntax, with the LXX and Pesh. both having genitive constructions (τοῦ ποταμοῦ τὰ ὁρμήματα and ܬ̈ܦܐ ܕܢܗܪ̈ܘܬܐ respectively) as subjects of the verb "to gladden". Hence, the LXX: "The river’s strong currents make glad the city of God ...' (NETS); Pesh.: "Streams of rivers will cause gladness in the city of our God ...". Some scholars have proposed to realign vv. 4-5. E.g., Briggs and Briggs connect נהר with v. 4 and the word “swelling” in it. Repositioned this way, נהר/"stream" becomes part of the sea in vv. 3-4 (cf. Pss 93:3) and פלגיו/'his brooks" are taken as God's (metaphoric) brooks of blessings. Such realignment is not reflected in ancient or modern translations.