Psalm 51/Participant Analysis/Notes

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  • v. 4. For the vocalization of the ketiv הַרְבֵּה, see grammar note on v. 4 (MT qere: הֶ֭רֶב).
  • v. 6. For the revocalization of בְּדַבֵּרְךָ, see grammar note on v. 6 (MT: בְּדָבְרֶ֗ךָ).
  • v. 8. For the revocalization of וּבַסָּתֻם, see grammar note on v. 8 (MT: וּ֝בְסָתֻ֗ם).

Notes

  • vv. 5, 7. These are the only verses in the entire psalm where God does not appear as a participant. The textual absence of God may be iconic for his felt absence (or at least distance) due to the psalmist's sinfulness.
  • vv. 15, 21. If the sinners mentioned in v. 15 are the faithful of restored Israel in v. 21, then vv. 15-21 begin and end with references to Israel.
  • v. 16. For אֱלֹהֵי תְּשׁוּעָתִי, the entire phrase is an appellation for God, but the 1cs suffix within it refers to the psalmist.
  • v. 20. According to Ross (2019), Jerusalem is a metonymic reference to David himself, but this seems both unwarranted and unparalleled.