Psalm 46/Notes/Lexical.v. 3.837816

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In terms of notable vocabulary in v. 3, the verbs מור and מוט are of significance. As noted above, the hiphil inf. cons. בהמיר is understood as coming from מור I, meaning a "process by which objects take on different characteristics--to change" (SDBH).[1] Hence, here, v. 3a should be read as "though the earth change" (cf. NRSV, NASB1995, KJ21 [“though the earth be removed”], etc.).[2]

  1. ↑ Cf. Mic 2:4; for the intransitive hiphil, see Ps 15:4; BDB.
  2. ↑ Additionally, a possible Akk. parallel is of interest here. I.e., "< *mur, whose root meaning may be preserved in its byform *mrr “to break” or “to split,” as seen in the following example:... 'if the earth is split(?) more than usual (preceded by earthquake omens)' (ACh Adad 20:56). Compare CAD M/1 268, which lists three meanings for mararu: 1. 'to break a field for cultivation,' 2.II/2 'to be split(?),' 3.IV 'to be broken'" (Tsumura 2014: 157, n. 7; but Tsumura does not emend the text and reads the verb in question as "change").