Psalm 46 Speech Act

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Psalm 46/Speech Act
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Speech Act Analysis

What is Speech Act Analysis?

The Speech Act layer presents the text in terms of what it does, following the findings of Speech Act Theory. It builds on the recognition that there is more to communication than the exchange of propositions. Speech act analysis is particularly important when communicating cross-culturally, and lack of understanding can lead to serious misunderstandings, since the ways languages and cultures perform speech acts varies widely.

For a detailed explanation of our method, see the Speech Act Analysis Creator Guidelines.

Summary Visual

Speaker Verses Macro Speech Acts Addressee
Israel's community, singing on behalf of their city. v. 1 For the music director. By the Korahites. As young women. A psalm.
PROFESSION OF CONFIDENCE
(vv. 1–4)
 Israel's community
v. 2 God is a refuge and stronghold for us. He is readily available, as a help, in great trouble.
God is a refuge and stronghold for his people. He is for them and easily available to them.
Supporting statements
• God's people will not fear, even if the greatest catastrophes are unleashed.
• They will not fear even if chaotic waters rage against them.
v. 3 Therefore, we will not fear though the earth change and the mountains topple into the heart of the deepest sea.
v. 4 Though its waters foam in rage. Though mountains quake at its surging. Selah.
v. 5 [There is] a river whose streams gladden the city of God—the holy dwelling of the Most High.
PROFESSION OF CONFIDENCE
(vv. 5–7)
v. 6 God is in its midst. It cannot be moved. God helps it at the approach of morning.
God’s city is well protected and is indestructible.
Supporting statements
• A river provides water for the city.
• God comes to help the city at daybreak.
v. 7 [When] nations raged, [and] kingdoms fell down, [then] he thundered with his voice, [then] the earth would melt!
v. 8 YHWH, [the God] of Hosts, is with us. The God of Jacob is a fortress for us. Selah.
PROFESSION OF CONFIDENCE
(v. 8)
God is his people's fortress.
God v. 9 Come! Perceive the works of YHWH who has wrought great devastation in the land.
EXHORTATION
(vv. 9–11)
 Israel’s community and the nations.
v. 10 The one who terminates wars to the end of the earth breaks the bow and snaps the spear. He burns transport wagons with fire.
The audience is instructed to consider God’s works and acknowledge God’s supremacy.
Supporting statements
• God terminates all wars and conflicts.
• He disarms all hostile forces.
• God is exalted above all.
v. 11 Be still and acknowledge that I am God! I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted throughout the earth.
Israel's community, singing on behalf of their city. v. 12 YHWH, [the God] of Hosts, is with us. The God of Jacob is a fortress for us. Selah.
PROFESSION OF CONFIDENCE
(v. 12)
God is his people's fortress.
 Israel's community

Speech Act Analysis Chart

The following chart is scrollable (left/right; up/down).

  Legend

Verse Hebrew CBC Sentence type Illocution (general) Illocution with context Macro speech act Intended perlocution (Think) Intended perlocution (Feel) Intended perlocution (Do)
Verse number and poetic line Hebrew text English translation Declarative, Imperative, or Interrogative

Indirect Speech Act: Mismatch between sentence type and illocution type		 Assertive, Directive, Expressive, Commissive, or Declaratory

Indirect Speech Act: Mismatch between sentence type and illocution type		 More specific illocution type with paraphrased context Illocutionary intent (i.e. communicative purpose) of larger sections of discourse

These align with the "Speech Act Summary" headings		 What the speaker intends for the address to think What the speaker intends for the address to feel What the speaker intends for the address to do



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.
Verse Text (Hebrew) Text (CBC) Sentence type Illocution (general) Illocution with context Macro speech act 1 Macro speech act 2 Intended perlocution (Think) Intended perlocution (Feel) Intended perlocution (Do) Speech Act Notes
1 לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ לִבְנֵי־קֹ֑רַח עַֽל־עֲלָמ֥וֹת שִֽׁיר׃ For the music director. By the Korahites. As young women. A psalm. Superscription
2 אֱלֹהִ֣ים לָ֭נוּ מַחֲסֶ֣ה וָעֹ֑ז God is a refuge and stronghold for us. Declarative Assertive Establishing God as protector for the people. Asserting grounds for the commitment not to fear in v. 3. Professing confidence in order to celebrate God's ability to protect in crises. Listeners will believe that God is a source of protection. Listeners will be confident in God. Listeners will be faithful to God.
עֶזְרָ֥ה בְ֝צָר֗וֹת נִמְצָ֥א מְאֹֽד׃ He is readily available, as a help, in great trouble. Declarative Assertive Establishing God as protector for the people.
3 עַל־כֵּ֣ן לֹא־נִ֭ירָא בְּהָמִ֣יר אָ֑רֶץ Therefore, we will not fear though the earth change Declarative Commissive Committing not to fear in light of various scenarios of danger. Committing to act and feel according to the established grounds in v. 2.
וּבְמ֥וֹט הָ֝רִ֗ים בְּלֵ֣ב יַמִּֽים׃ and the mountains topple into the heart of the deepest sea.
4 יֶהֱמ֣וּ יֶחְמְר֣וּ מֵימָ֑יו Though its waters foam in rage.
יִֽרְעֲשֽׁוּ־הָרִ֖ים בְּגַאֲוָת֣וֹ סֶֽלָה׃ Though mountains quake at its surging. Selah.
5 נָהָ֗ר פְּלָגָ֗יו יְשַׂמְּח֥וּ עִיר־אֱלֹהִ֑ים קְ֝דֹ֗שׁ מִשְׁכְּנֵ֥י עֶלְיֽוֹן׃ [There is] a river whose streams gladden the city of God—the holy dwelling of the Most High. Declarative Assertive Describing the security of the city of God. Offering evidence of God acting as protector. Professing confidence in order to celebrate God's ability to protect in crises.
6 אֱלֹהִ֣ים בְּ֭קִרְבָּהּ God is in its midst. Declarative Assertive Stating the security of the city of God.
בַּל־תִּמּ֑וֹט It cannot be moved. Declarative Assertive Stating the security of the city of God.
יַעְזְרֶ֥הָ אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים לִפְנ֥וֹת בֹּֽקֶר׃ God helps it at the approach of morning. Declarative Assertive Stating the security of the city of God.
7 הָמ֣וּ ג֭וֹיִם [When] nations raged, Declarative Assertive Describing God's response to scenarios of danger in the past. Offering evidence of God acting as protector.
מָ֣טוּ מַמְלָכ֑וֹת [and] kingdoms fell down,
נָתַ֥ן בְּ֝קוֹל֗וֹ [then] he thundered with his voice,
תָּמ֥וּג אָֽרֶץ׃ [then] the earth would melt! Declarative Assertive Describing God's power.
8 יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֣וֹת עִמָּ֑נוּ YHWH, [the God] of Hosts, is with us. Declarative Assertive Stating God's role in people's lives. Professing confidence in God as protector. Professing confidence in order to celebrate God's ability to protect in crises.
עִמָּ֑נוּ מִשְׂגָּֽב־לָ֝נוּ אֱלֹהֵ֖י יַעֲקֹ֣ב סֶֽלָה׃ The God of Jacob is a fortress for us. Selah. Declarative Assertive Stating God's role in people's lives.
9 לְֽכוּ־ Come! Imperative Directive Alerting listeners to the following command. Exhorting listeners to inspect evidence of God's acts as a protector. Exhorting listeners to inspect God's works. Listeners will acknowledge God's works. Listeners will be in reverent fear of God. Listeners will surrender to God.
חֲ֭זוּ מִפְעֲל֣וֹת יְהוָ֑ה Perceive the works of YHWH Imperative Directive Commanding listeners to inspect God's works.
אֲשֶׁר־שָׂ֖ם שַׁמּ֣וֹת בָּאָֽרֶץ׃ who has wrought great devastation in the land.
10 מַשְׁבִּ֥ית מִלְחָמוֹת֮ עַד־קְצֵ֪ה הָ֫אָ֥רֶץ The one who terminates wars to the end of the earth Declarative Assertive Stating God's deeds in the land. Offering evidence of God acting as protector.
קֶ֣שֶׁת יְ֭שַׁבֵּר breaks the bow
יְ֭שַׁבֵּר וְקִצֵּ֣ץ חֲנִ֑ית and snaps the spear.
עֲ֝גָל֗וֹת יִשְׂרֹ֥ף בָּאֵֽשׁ׃ He burns transport wagons with fire. Declarative Assertive Stating God's deeds in the land.
11 הַרְפּ֣וּ "Be still • "Imperative" • "Directive" • "Commanding listeners to acknowledge God." "Exhorting listeners to surrender to God."" Exhorting listeners to surrender and acknowledge God's supremacy. "Listeners will acknowledge God's status.""
וּ֭דְעוּ כִּי־אָנֹכִ֣י אֱלֹהִ֑ים and acknowledge that I am God! • "Imperative" • "Directive" • "Commanding listeners to acknowledge God."
אֱלֹהִ֑ים אָר֥וּם בַּ֝גּוֹיִ֗ם I will be exalted among the nations; • "Declarative" • "Assertive" • "Promising God's exaltation." "Professing confidence in God's own triumph as grounds for surrender.""
אָר֥וּם בָּאָֽרֶץ׃ I will be exalted throughout the earth.” • "Declarative" • "Assertive" • "Promising God's exaltation."
12 יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֣וֹת עִמָּ֑נוּ YHWH, [the God] of Hosts, is with us. Declarative Assertive Stating God's role in people's lives. Professing confidence in God as protector. Professing confidence in order to celebrate God's ability to protect in crises. Listeners will believe that God is a source of protection. Listeners will be confident in God. Listeners will be faithful to God.
מִשְׂגָּֽב־לָ֝נוּ אֱלֹהֵ֖י יַעֲקֹ֣ב סֶֽלָה׃ The God of Jacob is a fortress for us. Selah. Declarative Assertive Stating God's role in people's lives.