Psalm 51/Exegetical Issues/List
From Psalms: Layer by Layer
- Psalm 51:8 [Eng. 6] reads הֵן אֱמֶת חָפַצְתָּ בַטֻּחוֹת וּבְסָתֻם חָכְמָה תוֹדִיעֵנִי. The meaning and referents of the Hebrew words טֻחוֹת and סָתֻם are uncertain and contested in the translations. While the basic meaning of סָתֻם as "closed off >> secret" is clear, opinions vary on what טֻחוֹת means. The same word appears in Job 38:36, where the meaning is even more controversial. Furthermore, even once the meanings of these words are determined, translators and commentators differ with regard to what they refer to in the context.
- Psalm 51:8 [Eng. 6] is one of the most contested verses in Ps 51. In addition to the exegetical issue on the lexical semantics of טֻחוֹת and סָתֻם (see above), the verbal semantics of תוֹדִיעֵנִי have been construed in widely different ways with significant impact on the interpretation of the passage.
- The most significant exegetical issue regarding Ps 51 is the Story Behind the psalm--namely the background circumstances in which it was composed and performed--and how this relates to elements in the psalm. The superscription is often understood as an attribution of Davidic composition/authorship. However, according to most modern interpreters, the Story Behind the psalm implied by these verses seems rather to be a (post-)exilic context.