Psalm 49/Diagrams/Placeholders/6-7
vv. 6-7 - Preferred
(Preferred, but not confirmed); edit diagram
SimpleGrammar
DiscourseUnit [vv. 6-7]
Fragment
Clause
Predicate
verb: אִירָא should I fear
adverb: לָמָּה why
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase <gloss="in evil days">
Preposition
preposition: בִּ in
Object
ConstructChain <gloss="evil days">
noun: ימֵי days of
noun: רָע evil
SubordinateClause
Conjunction
conjunction: whenever <status="elided">
Clause
Subject
Nominal
ConstructChain <gloss="the iniquity of my persecutors">
noun: עֲוֺן iniquity
Nominal
Apposition
Nominal
ConstructChain
noun: עֲקֵבַ heels>>persecutors
suffix-pronoun: י me
Nominal <status="alternative revocalization">
verb-participle: עֹקְבַ persecutors
suffix-pronoun: י me
Nominal
article: הַ (those) who
noun:
Adjectival
ClauseCluster
Clause
Predicate
verb-participle: בֹּטְחִים trust
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: עַל on>>in
Object
ConstructChain <gloss="their wealth">
noun: חֵיל wealth
suffix-pronoun: ָם them
Conjunction
conjunction: וּ and
Clause
Predicate
verb: יִתְהַלָּלוּ boast
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בְ in
Object
ConstructChain <gloss="abundance of their riches">
noun: רֹב abundance
noun: עָשְׁר riches
suffix-pronoun: ָם them
Predicate
verb: יְסוּבֵּ surrounds
Object
pronoun: נִי me
DiscourseUnit [vv. 6-7]
Fragment
Clause
Predicate
verb: אִירָא should I fear
adverb: לָמָּה why
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase <gloss="in evil days">
Preposition
preposition: בִּ in
Object
ConstructChain <gloss="evil days">
noun: ימֵי days of
noun: רָע evil
SubordinateClause
Conjunction
conjunction: whenever <status="elided">
Clause
Subject
Nominal
ConstructChain <gloss="the iniquity of my persecutors">
noun: עֲוֺן iniquity
Nominal
Apposition
Nominal
ConstructChain
noun: עֲקֵבַ heels>>persecutors
suffix-pronoun: י me
Nominal <status="alternative revocalization">
verb-participle: עֹקְבַ persecutors
suffix-pronoun: י me
Nominal
article: הַ (those) who
noun:
Adjectival
ClauseCluster
Clause
Predicate
verb-participle: בֹּטְחִים trust
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: עַל on>>in
Object
ConstructChain <gloss="their wealth">
noun: חֵיל wealth
suffix-pronoun: ָם them
Conjunction
conjunction: וּ and
Clause
Predicate
verb: יִתְהַלָּלוּ boast
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בְ in
Object
ConstructChain <gloss="abundance of their riches">
noun: רֹב abundance
noun: עָשְׁר riches
suffix-pronoun: ָם them
Predicate
verb: יְסוּבֵּ surrounds
Object
pronoun: נִי me
{{Diagram/Display | Chapter=49|DiagramID=vv-6-7-None }}
Grammar Notes
Note for v. 6
In v. 6a, the MT's עון עקבי יסובני, lit. "the iniquity of my heels surrounds me", is unusual and difficult.
- OPTION 1: Taken as "the iniquity of my heels surrounds me" (cf. WYC), v. 6a could be understood as the psalmist's own "false steps and errors of conduct" leading him to evil days, i.e., the time of his ruin.[1] Similarly (although not identically), the LXX understands it as from the Heb. "heel", having τῆς πτέρνης μου in v. 6a ("The lawlessness at my heel will surround me"; NETS; cf. NKJV; KJ21; LEB). On close pursuit of a sufferer, which includes watching his feet or the souls of their feet (or restricting the movement of his feet), see Job 13:27 (a difficult and debated verse; Seow, 2013, 664–665; cf. MEV: "Why should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my stalkers surrounds me?").
- OPTION 2 (preferred): On the other hand, some ancient witnesses and modern translators understand עקב as referring to the psalmist's enemies. Hence, BDB identifies עקב as a verbal adjective, i.e., "over-reacher" (cf. SDBH: "= person who takes advantage of other people -- deceiver; persecutor; enemy."; cf. Jer 17:9; עָקֹ֥ב הַלֵּ֛ב מִכֹּ֖ל). This reading is reflected in Syr., which has ܥܘܠܐ ܕܒ̈ܥܠܕܒܒܝ ܟܪܟܢܝ ("the wickedness of my enemies surrounds me"; Taylor 2020, 189). TgPs here is rather expansive, reading (in v. 6b) אלהן דחובת סורחני בסופי יחזרינני ("Why should I fear on the day of the visitation evil, except when guilt for my sin surrounds me at my end?")[2]
Most of modern scholars follow the MT, as is, or revocalize it as עֹקְבַי. E.g., Kraus takes עון עקבי יסובני as "the wickedness of swindlers."[3] Revocalizing MT as עֹקְבַי, Craigie translates it as "iniquity of my treacherous foes;"[4] “the iniquity of those who cheat me” [ESV]; “wicked deceivers” [NIV].[5] On Ps 41:10 (גם־איש שלומי ׀ אשר־בטחתי בו אוכל לחמי הגדיל עלי עקב), Craigie explains "10.c. The expression [עלי עקב] is curious, the preceding verb (lit. 'making great') seeming out of place with the noun 'heel'; though the idiom is rare, the sense is clear enough. Dahood translates 'spun slanderous tales,' which is possible, though it rests on rare nuances (if they can be sustained) of both the Hebrew verb and noun in question.[6] The Ugaritic evidence in support of the sense 'malign, slander' for Hebrew should be removed from the discussion. In Ugaritic, the noun ʿqb 'heel,' is well established, but the verb ʿqb has the sense 'hinder, hold back.' In the text cited by Dahood, 3 Aqht rev. 19 (=CTA.18.i. 19), mʿqbk does not clearly mean 'he who maligns you'; the more obvious sense is 'he who hinders you.'"[7]
Goldingay offers the following explanation: "Verse 5 [v. 6] immediately makes clear that the psalm’s question *Why? is not a mere theoretical one but one that relates to fear. The parallelism works by the first colon mentioning fear and trouble (*bad) and raising the question of what the psalmist fears and what kind of trouble is meant and the second colon making this more specific. Verse 5b [6b] also makes even clearer that the psalmist has in mind circumstances like those regularly presupposed by prayer psalms, whether or not the psalm issues from a current experience like that. The psalmist knows that from time to time it is possible to be under pressure on all sides from the *waywardness of “assailants”—here uniquely ʿăqēbîm from the word for “heel.” These may be people who try to trip others up and use devious methods to do so, or they may be cheats more generally (see 41:9 [10])."[8]
Here, the MT's עון עקבי is taken as is, without revocalization, to mean "the iniquity of my persecutors" (cf. BDB; SDBH).
- OPTION 1 (preferred): Here, v. 6b is taken as a temporal circumstantial clause subordinate to v. 6a (למה אירא; "why should I be afraid?" and v. 7 as a relative clause subordinate to v. 6b.[9] Contextually, a subordinate reading makes sense, even if it is not marked grammatically.
- OPTION 2: Vv. 6b and 7 can be taken as temporal circumstantial clauses subordinate to v. 6a (למה אירא; "why should I be afraid?").
- OPTION 3: The LXX and Vulg. treat v. 6b as an asyndetic clause, which "would be a perhaps unexpectedly inelegant construction."[10]
- OPTION 4: Some translations (e.g., NIV; NKJV; ESV; NASB, etc.) take v. 6b and 6c as temporal circumstantial clauses, subordinate to v. 6a, but v. 7 as being in apposition to עֲקֵבַ֣י. This is possible, but there is nothing in the text suggesting the psalmist's persecutors and those who trust in riches are the same group. NJPS takes “the waywardness of my persecutors that surrounds me” as the obj. of the verb “to be afraid” (cf. LSV), but this "would be an unusual and unexpectedly elegant construction."[11] "Verse 6 [7] sharpens the point in parallel abbʹaʹ cola, with both the verb and the noun expression in the second colon taking further those in the first."[12]
Lexical Notes
No Lexical notes to display for this diagram.
Phrase-Level
No Phrasal notes to display for this diagram.
Verbal Notes
No Verbal notes to display for this diagram.
Textual Notes
No Textual notes to display for this diagram.
Add Exegetical Note
vv. 6-7 - Alternative 2
(Alternative); edit diagram
SimpleGrammar
DiscourseUnit [vv. 6-7]
Fragment <status="alternative">
Clause
Predicate
verb: אִירָא should I fear
adverb: לָמָּה why
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase <gloss="in evil days">
Preposition
preposition: בִּ in
Object
ConstructChain <gloss="evil days">
noun: ימֵי days of
noun: רָע evil
Fragment <status="alternative">
Clause
Subject
ConstructChain <gloss="the iniquity of my persecutors">
noun: עֲוֺן iniquity
noun: עֲקֵבַ heels>>persecutors
suffix-pronoun: י me
Predicate
verb: יְסוּבֵּ surrounds
Object
pronoun: נִי me
Fragment <status="alternative">
Clause
Subject
Clause
Subject
article: הַ the
pronoun: ones
Predicate
verb-participle: בֹּטְחִים trust
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: עַל on>>in
Object
ConstructChain <gloss="their wealth">
noun: חֵיל wealth
suffix-pronoun: ָם them
Conjunction
conjunction: וּ and
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בְ in
Object
ConstructChain <gloss="abundance of their riches">
noun: רֹב abundance
noun: עָשְׁר riches
suffix-pronoun: ָם them
Predicate
verb: יִתְהַלָּלוּ boast
DiscourseUnit [vv. 6-7]
Fragment <status="alternative">
Clause
Predicate
verb: אִירָא should I fear
adverb: לָמָּה why
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase <gloss="in evil days">
Preposition
preposition: בִּ in
Object
ConstructChain <gloss="evil days">
noun: ימֵי days of
noun: רָע evil
Fragment <status="alternative">
Clause
Subject
ConstructChain <gloss="the iniquity of my persecutors">
noun: עֲוֺן iniquity
noun: עֲקֵבַ heels>>persecutors
suffix-pronoun: י me
Predicate
verb: יְסוּבֵּ surrounds
Object
pronoun: נִי me
Fragment <status="alternative">
Clause
Subject
Clause
Subject
article: הַ the
pronoun: ones
Predicate
verb-participle: בֹּטְחִים trust
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: עַל on>>in
Object
ConstructChain <gloss="their wealth">
noun: חֵיל wealth
suffix-pronoun: ָם them
Conjunction
conjunction: וּ and
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בְ in
Object
ConstructChain <gloss="abundance of their riches">
noun: רֹב abundance
noun: עָשְׁר riches
suffix-pronoun: ָם them
Predicate
verb: יִתְהַלָּלוּ boast
{{Diagram/Display | Chapter=49|DiagramID=vv-6-7-Alternative-2 }}
Grammar Notes
No Grammar notes to display for this diagram.
Note for v. 6
In v. 6a, the MT's עון עקבי יסובני, lit. "the iniquity of my heels surrounds me", is unusual and difficult.
- OPTION 1: Taken as "the iniquity of my heels surrounds me" (cf. WYC), v. 6a could be understood as the psalmist's own "false steps and errors of conduct" leading him to evil days, i.e., the time of his ruin.[13] Similarly (although not identically), the LXX understands it as from the Heb. "heel", having τῆς πτέρνης μου in v. 6a ("The lawlessness at my heel will surround me"; NETS; cf. NKJV; KJ21; LEB). On close pursuit of a sufferer, which includes watching his feet or the souls of their feet (or restricting the movement of his feet), see Job 13:27 (a difficult and debated verse; Seow, 2013, 664–665; cf. MEV: "Why should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my stalkers surrounds me?").
- OPTION 2 (preferred): On the other hand, some ancient witnesses and modern translators understand עקב as referring to the psalmist's enemies. Hence, BDB identifies עקב as a verbal adjective, i.e., "over-reacher" (cf. SDBH: "= person who takes advantage of other people -- deceiver; persecutor; enemy."; cf. Jer 17:9; עָקֹ֥ב הַלֵּ֛ב מִכֹּ֖ל). This reading is reflected in Syr., which has ܥܘܠܐ ܕܒ̈ܥܠܕܒܒܝ ܟܪܟܢܝ ("the wickedness of my enemies surrounds me"; Taylor 2020, 189). TgPs here is rather expansive, reading (in v. 6b) אלהן דחובת סורחני בסופי יחזרינני ("Why should I fear on the day of the visitation evil, except when guilt for my sin surrounds me at my end?")[14]
Most of modern scholars follow the MT, as is, or revocalize it as עֹקְבַי. E.g., Kraus takes עון עקבי יסובני as "the wickedness of swindlers."[15] Revocalizing MT as עֹקְבַי, Craigie translates it as "iniquity of my treacherous foes;"[16] “the iniquity of those who cheat me” [ESV]; “wicked deceivers” [NIV].[17] On Ps 41:10 (גם־איש שלומי ׀ אשר־בטחתי בו אוכל לחמי הגדיל עלי עקב), Craigie explains "10.c. The expression [עלי עקב] is curious, the preceding verb (lit. 'making great') seeming out of place with the noun 'heel'; though the idiom is rare, the sense is clear enough. Dahood translates 'spun slanderous tales,' which is possible, though it rests on rare nuances (if they can be sustained) of both the Hebrew verb and noun in question.[18] The Ugaritic evidence in support of the sense 'malign, slander' for Hebrew should be removed from the discussion. In Ugaritic, the noun ʿqb 'heel,' is well established, but the verb ʿqb has the sense 'hinder, hold back.' In the text cited by Dahood, 3 Aqht rev. 19 (=CTA.18.i. 19), mʿqbk does not clearly mean 'he who maligns you'; the more obvious sense is 'he who hinders you.'"[19]
Goldingay offers the following explanation: "Verse 5 [v. 6] immediately makes clear that the psalm’s question *Why? is not a mere theoretical one but one that relates to fear. The parallelism works by the first colon mentioning fear and trouble (*bad) and raising the question of what the psalmist fears and what kind of trouble is meant and the second colon making this more specific. Verse 5b [6b] also makes even clearer that the psalmist has in mind circumstances like those regularly presupposed by prayer psalms, whether or not the psalm issues from a current experience like that. The psalmist knows that from time to time it is possible to be under pressure on all sides from the *waywardness of “assailants”—here uniquely ʿăqēbîm from the word for “heel.” These may be people who try to trip others up and use devious methods to do so, or they may be cheats more generally (see 41:9 [10])."[20]
Here, the MT's עון עקבי is taken as is, without revocalization, to mean "the iniquity of my persecutors" (cf. BDB; SDBH).
- OPTION 1 (preferred): Here, v. 6b is taken as a temporal circumstantial clause subordinate to v. 6a (למה אירא; "why should I be afraid?" and v. 7 as a relative clause subordinate to v. 6b.[21] Contextually, a subordinate reading makes sense, even if it is not marked grammatically.
- OPTION 2: Vv. 6b and 7 can be taken as temporal circumstantial clauses subordinate to v. 6a (למה אירא; "why should I be afraid?").
- OPTION 3: The LXX and Vulg. treat v. 6b as an asyndetic clause, which "would be a perhaps unexpectedly inelegant construction."[22]
- OPTION 4: Some translations (e.g., NIV; NKJV; ESV; NASB, etc.) take v. 6b and 6c as temporal circumstantial clauses, subordinate to v. 6a, but v. 7 as being in apposition to עֲקֵבַ֣י. This is possible, but there is nothing in the text suggesting the psalmist's persecutors and those who trust in riches are the same group. NJPS takes “the waywardness of my persecutors that surrounds me” as the obj. of the verb “to be afraid” (cf. LSV), but this "would be an unusual and unexpectedly elegant construction."[23] "Verse 6 [7] sharpens the point in parallel abbʹaʹ cola, with both the verb and the noun expression in the second colon taking further those in the first."[24]
Lexical Notes
No Lexical notes to display for this diagram.
Phrase-Level
No Phrasal notes to display for this diagram.
Verbal Notes
No Verbal notes to display for this diagram.
Textual Notes
No Textual notes to display for this diagram.
Add Exegetical Note
vv. 6-7 - Alternative 1
(Alternative); edit diagram
SimpleGrammar
DiscourseUnit [vv. 6-7]
Fragment <status="alternative">
Clause
Predicate
verb: אִירָא should I fear
adverb: לָמָּה why
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase <gloss="in evil days">
Preposition
preposition: בִּ in
Object
ConstructChain <gloss="evil days">
noun: ימֵי days of
noun: רָע evil
SubordinateClause
Conjunction
conjunction: whenever <status="elided">
ClauseCluster
Clause
Subject
ConstructChain <gloss="the iniquity of my persecutors">
noun: עֲוֺן iniquity
noun: עֲקֵבַ heels>>persecutors
suffix-pronoun: י me
Predicate
verb: יְסוּבֵּ surrounds
Object
pronoun: נִי me
Clause
Subject
Clause
Subject
article: הַ the
pronoun: ones
Predicate
verb-participle: בֹּטְחִים trust
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: עַל on>>in
Object
ConstructChain <gloss="their wealth">
noun: חֵיל wealth
suffix-pronoun: ָם them
Conjunction
conjunction: וּ and
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בְ in
Object
ConstructChain <gloss="abundance of their riches">
noun: רֹב abundance
noun: עָשְׁר riches
suffix-pronoun: ָם them
Predicate
verb: יִתְהַלָּלוּ boast
DiscourseUnit [vv. 6-7]
Fragment <status="alternative">
Clause
Predicate
verb: אִירָא should I fear
adverb: לָמָּה why
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase <gloss="in evil days">
Preposition
preposition: בִּ in
Object
ConstructChain <gloss="evil days">
noun: ימֵי days of
noun: רָע evil
SubordinateClause
Conjunction
conjunction: whenever <status="elided">
ClauseCluster
Clause
Subject
ConstructChain <gloss="the iniquity of my persecutors">
noun: עֲוֺן iniquity
noun: עֲקֵבַ heels>>persecutors
suffix-pronoun: י me
Predicate
verb: יְסוּבֵּ surrounds
Object
pronoun: נִי me
Clause
Subject
Clause
Subject
article: הַ the
pronoun: ones
Predicate
verb-participle: בֹּטְחִים trust
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: עַל on>>in
Object
ConstructChain <gloss="their wealth">
noun: חֵיל wealth
suffix-pronoun: ָם them
Conjunction
conjunction: וּ and
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בְ in
Object
ConstructChain <gloss="abundance of their riches">
noun: רֹב abundance
noun: עָשְׁר riches
suffix-pronoun: ָם them
Predicate
verb: יִתְהַלָּלוּ boast
{{Diagram/Display | Chapter=49|DiagramID=vv-6-7-Alternative-1 }}
Grammar Notes
No Grammar notes to display for this diagram.
Note for v. 6
In v. 6a, the MT's עון עקבי יסובני, lit. "the iniquity of my heels surrounds me", is unusual and difficult.
- OPTION 1: Taken as "the iniquity of my heels surrounds me" (cf. WYC), v. 6a could be understood as the psalmist's own "false steps and errors of conduct" leading him to evil days, i.e., the time of his ruin.[25] Similarly (although not identically), the LXX understands it as from the Heb. "heel", having τῆς πτέρνης μου in v. 6a ("The lawlessness at my heel will surround me"; NETS; cf. NKJV; KJ21; LEB). On close pursuit of a sufferer, which includes watching his feet or the souls of their feet (or restricting the movement of his feet), see Job 13:27 (a difficult and debated verse; Seow, 2013, 664–665; cf. MEV: "Why should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my stalkers surrounds me?").
- OPTION 2 (preferred): On the other hand, some ancient witnesses and modern translators understand עקב as referring to the psalmist's enemies. Hence, BDB identifies עקב as a verbal adjective, i.e., "over-reacher" (cf. SDBH: "= person who takes advantage of other people -- deceiver; persecutor; enemy."; cf. Jer 17:9; עָקֹ֥ב הַלֵּ֛ב מִכֹּ֖ל). This reading is reflected in Syr., which has ܥܘܠܐ ܕܒ̈ܥܠܕܒܒܝ ܟܪܟܢܝ ("the wickedness of my enemies surrounds me"; Taylor 2020, 189). TgPs here is rather expansive, reading (in v. 6b) אלהן דחובת סורחני בסופי יחזרינני ("Why should I fear on the day of the visitation evil, except when guilt for my sin surrounds me at my end?")[26]
Most of modern scholars follow the MT, as is, or revocalize it as עֹקְבַי. E.g., Kraus takes עון עקבי יסובני as "the wickedness of swindlers."[27] Revocalizing MT as עֹקְבַי, Craigie translates it as "iniquity of my treacherous foes;"[28] “the iniquity of those who cheat me” [ESV]; “wicked deceivers” [NIV].[29] On Ps 41:10 (גם־איש שלומי ׀ אשר־בטחתי בו אוכל לחמי הגדיל עלי עקב), Craigie explains "10.c. The expression [עלי עקב] is curious, the preceding verb (lit. 'making great') seeming out of place with the noun 'heel'; though the idiom is rare, the sense is clear enough. Dahood translates 'spun slanderous tales,' which is possible, though it rests on rare nuances (if they can be sustained) of both the Hebrew verb and noun in question.[30] The Ugaritic evidence in support of the sense 'malign, slander' for Hebrew should be removed from the discussion. In Ugaritic, the noun ʿqb 'heel,' is well established, but the verb ʿqb has the sense 'hinder, hold back.' In the text cited by Dahood, 3 Aqht rev. 19 (=CTA.18.i. 19), mʿqbk does not clearly mean 'he who maligns you'; the more obvious sense is 'he who hinders you.'"[31]
Goldingay offers the following explanation: "Verse 5 [v. 6] immediately makes clear that the psalm’s question *Why? is not a mere theoretical one but one that relates to fear. The parallelism works by the first colon mentioning fear and trouble (*bad) and raising the question of what the psalmist fears and what kind of trouble is meant and the second colon making this more specific. Verse 5b [6b] also makes even clearer that the psalmist has in mind circumstances like those regularly presupposed by prayer psalms, whether or not the psalm issues from a current experience like that. The psalmist knows that from time to time it is possible to be under pressure on all sides from the *waywardness of “assailants”—here uniquely ʿăqēbîm from the word for “heel.” These may be people who try to trip others up and use devious methods to do so, or they may be cheats more generally (see 41:9 [10])."[32]
Here, the MT's עון עקבי is taken as is, without revocalization, to mean "the iniquity of my persecutors" (cf. BDB; SDBH).
- OPTION 1 (preferred): Here, v. 6b is taken as a temporal circumstantial clause subordinate to v. 6a (למה אירא; "why should I be afraid?" and v. 7 as a relative clause subordinate to v. 6b.[33] Contextually, a subordinate reading makes sense, even if it is not marked grammatically.
- OPTION 2: Vv. 6b and 7 can be taken as temporal circumstantial clauses subordinate to v. 6a (למה אירא; "why should I be afraid?").
- OPTION 3: The LXX and Vulg. treat v. 6b as an asyndetic clause, which "would be a perhaps unexpectedly inelegant construction."[34]
- OPTION 4: Some translations (e.g., NIV; NKJV; ESV; NASB, etc.) take v. 6b and 6c as temporal circumstantial clauses, subordinate to v. 6a, but v. 7 as being in apposition to עֲקֵבַ֣י. This is possible, but there is nothing in the text suggesting the psalmist's persecutors and those who trust in riches are the same group. NJPS takes “the waywardness of my persecutors that surrounds me” as the obj. of the verb “to be afraid” (cf. LSV), but this "would be an unusual and unexpectedly elegant construction."[35] "Verse 6 [7] sharpens the point in parallel abbʹaʹ cola, with both the verb and the noun expression in the second colon taking further those in the first."[36]
Lexical Notes
No Lexical notes to display for this diagram.
Phrase-Level
No Phrasal notes to display for this diagram.
Verbal Notes
No Verbal notes to display for this diagram.
Textual Notes
No Textual notes to display for this diagram.
Add Exegetical Note
vv. 6-7 - Alternative 3
(Alternative); edit diagram
SimpleGrammar
DiscourseUnit [vv 6-7]
Fragment <status="alternative">
Clause
Predicate
verb: אִירָא should I fear
adverb: לָמָּה why
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase <gloss="in evil days">
Preposition
preposition: בִּ in
Object
ConstructChain <gloss="evil days">
noun: ימֵי days of
noun: רָע evil
SubordinateClause
Conjunction
conjunction: whenever <status="elided">
Clause
Subject
ConstructChain <gloss="the iniquity of my persecutors">
noun: עֲוֺן iniquity
Apposition
ConstructChain
noun: עֲקֵבַ heels>>persecutors
suffix-pronoun: י me
Nominal
article: הַ the
verb-participle: בֹּטְחִים ones who trust
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: עַל on>>in
Object
ConstructChain <gloss="their wealth">
noun: חֵיל wealth
suffix-pronoun: ָם them
Conjunction
conjunction: וּ and
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בְ in
Object
ConstructChain <gloss="abundance of their riches">
noun: רֹב abundance
noun: עָשְׁר riches
suffix-pronoun: ָם them
Predicate
verb: יְסוּבֵּ surrounds
Object
pronoun: נִי me
DiscourseUnit [vv 6-7]
Fragment <status="alternative">
Clause
Predicate
verb: אִירָא should I fear
adverb: לָמָּה why
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase <gloss="in evil days">
Preposition
preposition: בִּ in
Object
ConstructChain <gloss="evil days">
noun: ימֵי days of
noun: רָע evil
SubordinateClause
Conjunction
conjunction: whenever <status="elided">
Clause
Subject
ConstructChain <gloss="the iniquity of my persecutors">
noun: עֲוֺן iniquity
Apposition
ConstructChain
noun: עֲקֵבַ heels>>persecutors
suffix-pronoun: י me
Nominal
article: הַ the
verb-participle: בֹּטְחִים ones who trust
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: עַל on>>in
Object
ConstructChain <gloss="their wealth">
noun: חֵיל wealth
suffix-pronoun: ָם them
Conjunction
conjunction: וּ and
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בְ in
Object
ConstructChain <gloss="abundance of their riches">
noun: רֹב abundance
noun: עָשְׁר riches
suffix-pronoun: ָם them
Predicate
verb: יְסוּבֵּ surrounds
Object
pronoun: נִי me
{{Diagram/Display | Chapter=49|DiagramID=vv-6-7-Alternative-3 }}
Grammar Notes
No Grammar notes to display for this diagram.
Note for v. 6
In v. 6a, the MT's עון עקבי יסובני, lit. "the iniquity of my heels surrounds me", is unusual and difficult.
- OPTION 1: Taken as "the iniquity of my heels surrounds me" (cf. WYC), v. 6a could be understood as the psalmist's own "false steps and errors of conduct" leading him to evil days, i.e., the time of his ruin.[37] Similarly (although not identically), the LXX understands it as from the Heb. "heel", having τῆς πτέρνης μου in v. 6a ("The lawlessness at my heel will surround me"; NETS; cf. NKJV; KJ21; LEB). On close pursuit of a sufferer, which includes watching his feet or the souls of their feet (or restricting the movement of his feet), see Job 13:27 (a difficult and debated verse; Seow, 2013, 664–665; cf. MEV: "Why should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my stalkers surrounds me?").
- OPTION 2 (preferred): On the other hand, some ancient witnesses and modern translators understand עקב as referring to the psalmist's enemies. Hence, BDB identifies עקב as a verbal adjective, i.e., "over-reacher" (cf. SDBH: "= person who takes advantage of other people -- deceiver; persecutor; enemy."; cf. Jer 17:9; עָקֹ֥ב הַלֵּ֛ב מִכֹּ֖ל). This reading is reflected in Syr., which has ܥܘܠܐ ܕܒ̈ܥܠܕܒܒܝ ܟܪܟܢܝ ("the wickedness of my enemies surrounds me"; Taylor 2020, 189). TgPs here is rather expansive, reading (in v. 6b) אלהן דחובת סורחני בסופי יחזרינני ("Why should I fear on the day of the visitation evil, except when guilt for my sin surrounds me at my end?")[38]
Most of modern scholars follow the MT, as is, or revocalize it as עֹקְבַי. E.g., Kraus takes עון עקבי יסובני as "the wickedness of swindlers."[39] Revocalizing MT as עֹקְבַי, Craigie translates it as "iniquity of my treacherous foes;"[40] “the iniquity of those who cheat me” [ESV]; “wicked deceivers” [NIV].[41] On Ps 41:10 (גם־איש שלומי ׀ אשר־בטחתי בו אוכל לחמי הגדיל עלי עקב), Craigie explains "10.c. The expression [עלי עקב] is curious, the preceding verb (lit. 'making great') seeming out of place with the noun 'heel'; though the idiom is rare, the sense is clear enough. Dahood translates 'spun slanderous tales,' which is possible, though it rests on rare nuances (if they can be sustained) of both the Hebrew verb and noun in question.[42] The Ugaritic evidence in support of the sense 'malign, slander' for Hebrew should be removed from the discussion. In Ugaritic, the noun ʿqb 'heel,' is well established, but the verb ʿqb has the sense 'hinder, hold back.' In the text cited by Dahood, 3 Aqht rev. 19 (=CTA.18.i. 19), mʿqbk does not clearly mean 'he who maligns you'; the more obvious sense is 'he who hinders you.'"[43]
Goldingay offers the following explanation: "Verse 5 [v. 6] immediately makes clear that the psalm’s question *Why? is not a mere theoretical one but one that relates to fear. The parallelism works by the first colon mentioning fear and trouble (*bad) and raising the question of what the psalmist fears and what kind of trouble is meant and the second colon making this more specific. Verse 5b [6b] also makes even clearer that the psalmist has in mind circumstances like those regularly presupposed by prayer psalms, whether or not the psalm issues from a current experience like that. The psalmist knows that from time to time it is possible to be under pressure on all sides from the *waywardness of “assailants”—here uniquely ʿăqēbîm from the word for “heel.” These may be people who try to trip others up and use devious methods to do so, or they may be cheats more generally (see 41:9 [10])."[44]
Here, the MT's עון עקבי is taken as is, without revocalization, to mean "the iniquity of my persecutors" (cf. BDB; SDBH).
- OPTION 1 (preferred): Here, v. 6b is taken as a temporal circumstantial clause subordinate to v. 6a (למה אירא; "why should I be afraid?" and v. 7 as a relative clause subordinate to v. 6b.[45] Contextually, a subordinate reading makes sense, even if it is not marked grammatically.
- OPTION 2: Vv. 6b and 7 can be taken as temporal circumstantial clauses subordinate to v. 6a (למה אירא; "why should I be afraid?").
- OPTION 3: The LXX and Vulg. treat v. 6b as an asyndetic clause, which "would be a perhaps unexpectedly inelegant construction."[46]
- OPTION 4: Some translations (e.g., NIV; NKJV; ESV; NASB, etc.) take v. 6b and 6c as temporal circumstantial clauses, subordinate to v. 6a, but v. 7 as being in apposition to עֲקֵבַ֣י. This is possible, but there is nothing in the text suggesting the psalmist's persecutors and those who trust in riches are the same group. NJPS takes “the waywardness of my persecutors that surrounds me” as the obj. of the verb “to be afraid” (cf. LSV), but this "would be an unusual and unexpectedly elegant construction."[47] "Verse 6 [7] sharpens the point in parallel abbʹaʹ cola, with both the verb and the noun expression in the second colon taking further those in the first."[48]
Lexical Notes
No Lexical notes to display for this diagram.
Phrase-Level
No Phrasal notes to display for this diagram.
Verbal Notes
No Verbal notes to display for this diagram.
Textual Notes
No Textual notes to display for this diagram.
Add Exegetical Note
- ↑ Cf. Kirkpatrick 1903, 270; Ross 2013, 134.
- ↑ Stec 2004, 102.
- ↑ Kraus 1988, 478.
- ↑ Craigie 2004, 357
- ↑ Cf. van der Lugt 2010, 69; cf. Brockington, The Hebrew Text of the Old Testament, 131; NEB.
- ↑ Dahood 1962, 251.
- ↑ Craigie 2004, 319; Dahood (1963, 296) also favors the revocalized עֹקְבַי, but renders it as "slanderers" (cf. his discussion on Ps 41:10), using Ugaritic evidence).
- ↑ Goldingay 2007, 100.
- ↑ Cf. Krause 1988, 478.
- ↑ Goldingay 2007, npn.
- ↑ Goldingay 2007, npn.
- ↑ Goldingay 2007, 101.
- ↑ Cf. Kirkpatrick 1903, 270; Ross 2013, 134.
- ↑ Stec 2004, 102.
- ↑ Kraus 1988, 478.
- ↑ Craigie 2004, 357
- ↑ Cf. van der Lugt 2010, 69; cf. Brockington, The Hebrew Text of the Old Testament, 131; NEB.
- ↑ Dahood 1962, 251.
- ↑ Craigie 2004, 319; Dahood (1963, 296) also favors the revocalized עֹקְבַי, but renders it as "slanderers" (cf. his discussion on Ps 41:10), using Ugaritic evidence).
- ↑ Goldingay 2007, 100.
- ↑ Cf. Krause 1988, 478.
- ↑ Goldingay 2007, npn.
- ↑ Goldingay 2007, npn.
- ↑ Goldingay 2007, 101.
- ↑ Cf. Kirkpatrick 1903, 270; Ross 2013, 134.
- ↑ Stec 2004, 102.
- ↑ Kraus 1988, 478.
- ↑ Craigie 2004, 357
- ↑ Cf. van der Lugt 2010, 69; cf. Brockington, The Hebrew Text of the Old Testament, 131; NEB.
- ↑ Dahood 1962, 251.
- ↑ Craigie 2004, 319; Dahood (1963, 296) also favors the revocalized עֹקְבַי, but renders it as "slanderers" (cf. his discussion on Ps 41:10), using Ugaritic evidence).
- ↑ Goldingay 2007, 100.
- ↑ Cf. Krause 1988, 478.
- ↑ Goldingay 2007, npn.
- ↑ Goldingay 2007, npn.
- ↑ Goldingay 2007, 101.
- ↑ Cf. Kirkpatrick 1903, 270; Ross 2013, 134.
- ↑ Stec 2004, 102.
- ↑ Kraus 1988, 478.
- ↑ Craigie 2004, 357
- ↑ Cf. van der Lugt 2010, 69; cf. Brockington, The Hebrew Text of the Old Testament, 131; NEB.
- ↑ Dahood 1962, 251.
- ↑ Craigie 2004, 319; Dahood (1963, 296) also favors the revocalized עֹקְבַי, but renders it as "slanderers" (cf. his discussion on Ps 41:10), using Ugaritic evidence).
- ↑ Goldingay 2007, 100.
- ↑ Cf. Krause 1988, 478.
- ↑ Goldingay 2007, npn.
- ↑ Goldingay 2007, npn.
- ↑ Goldingay 2007, 101.