Psalm 46/Notes/Phrasal.v. 8.840098

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V. 8 contains several construct phrases (for which see the Grammatical Diagram above). The name יהוה צבאות is thought to be short for YHWH, the God of Hosts.[1] In "the God of Hosts" (reconstructed as אלהי צבאות), the first member, "God", would be the one who possesses and commands heavenly hosts or armies.[2] In the name יהוה צבאות, the two elements are in apposition, with the second member, "[the God of] Hosts", specifying the status or role (or even characteristic) of the first member, "YHWH" (and "God"). In other words, God here is cast as a warrior who leads his heavenly armies into battle.[3] Without restoring "the God of", some, however, render this name as "Yhwh Armies"[4] and others take it as "YHWH of Hosts".

  1. ↑ JM §131o.
  2. ↑ Cf. E. Peterson's translation in The Message as “God-of-Angel-Armies” as a combative image of God (Peterson 2003: 958).
  3. ↑ For apposition, see further BHRG §29.3.
  4. ↑ Cf. Goldingay 2007: npn.