Psalm 51 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
Psalmist
/David 		v. 1 For the music director. A psalm. By David.
Superscription
(vv. 1–2)
 God
v. 2 When Nathan the prophet came to him, when he had had sexual intercourse with Bathsheba.
v. 3 Show mercy to me, God, according to your loyalty; according to your abundant compassion wipe away my transgressions.
PLEA FOR CLEANSING
(vv. 3–11)
v. 4 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin,

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity!

v. 5 because I am [continually] aware of my transgressions, and my sin is constantly in front of me.
Confession
Against you alone I have sinned.
v. 6 Against you alone I have sinned, and I have done what is evil in your eyes, such that you are in the right whenever you speak, [and such that] you are faultless whenever you judge.
v. 7 Look, I was born in iniquity, and in guilt my mother conceived me.
v. 8 Look, you desire truth in the covered places, and you make me know wisdom in the closed-off place.
v. 9 [Would you please] purify me with hyssop, so that I will be clean; [would you please] wash me, so that I will be whiter than snow.
v. 10 [Would you please] make me hear gladness and joy; [so that] the bones that you have crushed might rejoice.
v. 11 Hide your face from my sins, and wipe away all my iniquities.
v. 12 Create a clean heart for me, God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
PLEA FOR SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION
(vv. 12–17)
v. 13 Do not cast me away from before you, and do not take your holy spirit away from me.

Create a clean heart for me, God!

v. 14 Restore to me the gladness that results from your salvation, and [would you please] support me with a willing spirit.
Supporting statements
I intend to teach transgressors your ways.
v. 15 I intend to teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you.
v. 16 Deliver me from bloodshed, God, the God who saves me, [so that] my tongue will shout for joy about your righteousness.
v. 17 Lord, [would you please] open my lips, so that my mouth will report praise concerning you.
v. 18 For you do not delight in sacrifice[s], or else I would give [them]; you are not pleased with burnt offering[s].
PLEA FOR NATIONAL RESTORATION
(vv. 18–21)
v. 19 The sacrifices [acceptable to] God are broken spirit[s]; a broken and crushed heart, God, you do not despise.

Do good to Zion!

v. 20 Do good to Zion in accord with what pleases you; [would you please] build the walls of Jerusalem.
Supporting statement

The sacrifices (acceptable to) God are broken spirit(s)
You will delight in right sacrifices
v. 21 Then you will delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offering[s] and whole offering[s]; then [people] will offer up bulls on your altar.

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) The Close-but-clear translation (CBC) exists to provide a window into the Hebrew text according to how we understand its syntax and word-to-phrase-level semantics. It is designed to be "close" to the Hebrew, while still being "clear." Specifically, the CBC encapsulates and reflects the following layers of analysis: grammar, lexical semantics, phrase-level semantics, and verbal semantics. It does not reflect our analysis of the discourse or of poetics. It is not intended to be used as a stand-alone translation or base text, but as a supplement to Layer-by-Layer materials to help users make full use of these resources. Sentence type Illocution (general) Illocution with context Macro speech act Intended perlocution (Think) Intended perlocution (Feel) Intended perlocution (Do) Speech Act Notes
1 לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד׃ For the music director. A psalm. By David. Superscription
2 בְּֽבוֹא־אֵ֭לָיו נָתָ֣ן הַנָּבִ֑יא When Nathan the prophet came to him,
כַּֽאֲשֶׁר־בָּ֝֗א אֶל־בַּת־שָֽׁבַע׃ when he had had sexual intercourse with Bathsheba.
3 חָנֵּ֣נִי אֱלֹהִ֣ים כְּחַסְדֶּ֑ךָ Show mercy to me, God, according to your loyalty; Imperative Directive Requesting mercy Pleading for cleansing Pleading for cleansing God will acknowledge David's desire for cleansing God will feel compassion towards David God will cleanse David from sin
כְּרֹ֥ב רַ֝חֲמֶ֗יךָ מְחֵ֣ה פְשָׁעָֽי׃ according to your abundant compassion wipe away my transgressions. Imperative Directive Requesting cleansing
4 הַרְבֵּה כַּבְּסֵ֣נִי מֵעֲוֺנִ֑י Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, Imperative Directive Requesting cleansing
וּֽמֵחַטָּאתִ֥י טַהֲרֵֽנִי׃ and cleanse me from my sin, Imperative Directive Requesting cleansing
5 כִּֽי־פְ֭שָׁעַי אֲנִ֣י אֵדָ֑ע because I am [continually] aware of my transgressions, • v. 5. This verse is joined with vv. 3-4 in a single compound, complex sentence with a single predominant speech act. Nevertheless, by providing the grounds for the opening plea for cleansing and expressing recognition of the psalmist's ever-present sin, v. 5 serves as implicit confession that transitions nicely into the confession proper in vv. 6-7.
וְחַטָּאתִ֖י נֶגְדִּ֣י תָמִֽיד׃ and my sin is constantly in front of me.
6 לְךָ֤ לְבַדְּךָ֨ ׀ חָטָאתִי֮ Against you alone I have sinned, Declarative Assertive Acknowledging God's right assessment of sin Confessing sin God will acknowledge the sincerity of David's confession God will feel compassion towards David God will forgive David's sin
וְהָרַ֥ע בְּעֵינֶ֗יךָ עָ֫שִׂ֥יתִי and I have done what is evil in your eyes, Declarative Assertive Acknowledging God's right assessment of sin
לְ֭מַעַן תִּצְדַּ֥ק בְּדָבְרֶ֗ךָ such that you are in the right whenever you speak, Declarative Assertive Acknowledging God's right assessment of sin
תִּזְכֶּ֥ה בְשָׁפְטֶֽךָ׃ [and such that] you are faultless whenever you judge. Declarative Assertive Acknowledging God's right assessment of sin
7 הֵן־בְּעָו֥וֹן חוֹלָ֑לְתִּי Look, I was born in iniquity, Declarative Expressive Lamenting sinful condition
וּ֝בְחֵ֗טְא יֶֽחֱמַ֥תְנִי אִמִּֽי׃ and in guilt my mother conceived me. Declarative Expressive Lamenting sinful condition
8 הֵן־אֱ֭מֶת חָפַ֣צְתָּ בַטֻּח֑וֹת Look, you desire truth in the covered places, Declarative Assertive Explaining that truthful self-awareness is what God desires • v. 8. This reading understands v. 8b as a request for wisdom (see exegetical issue). As such, it serves as preparatory grounds (paralleling v. 5) for the following plea. If v. 8 is read rather as a present habitual general truth statement, then v. 8 asserts God's desire for truthful confession as grounds for acceptance of the psalmist's confession.
וּ֝בְסָתֻ֗ם חָכְמָ֥ה תוֹדִיעֵֽנִי׃ and you make me know wisdom in the closed-off place. Declarative Assertive Explaining that God desires and provides the internal wisdom to recognize personal sin
9 תְּחַטְּאֵ֣נִי בְאֵז֣וֹב וְאֶטְהָ֑ר [Would you please] purify me with hyssop, so that I will be clean; Imperative Directive Requesting cleansing Pleading for cleansing God will acknowledge David's desire for cleansing God will feel compassion towards David God will cleanse David from sin • The use of directive yiqtols have been described here as imperative and directive, rather than as indirect speech acts, since this seems to be a modal possibility of the yiqtol, rather than a question (e.g., "Would you please?") or statement (e.g., "you will...") per se.
תְּ֝כַבְּסֵ֗נִי וּמִשֶּׁ֥לֶג אַלְבִּֽין׃ [would you please] wash me, so that I will be whiter than snow. Imperative Directive Requesting cleansing
10 תַּ֭שְׁמִיעֵנִי שָׂשׂ֣וֹן וְשִׂמְחָ֑ה [Would you please] make me hear gladness and joy; Imperative Directive Requesting joy • The use of directive yiqtols have been described here as imperative and directive, rather than as indirect speech acts, since this seems to be a modal possibility of the yiqtol, rather than a question (e.g., "Would you please?") or statement (e.g., "you will...") per se.
תָּ֝גֵ֗לְנָה עֲצָמ֥וֹת דִּכִּֽיתָ׃ [so that] the bones that you have crushed might rejoice. • v. 10b. The verb תָּגֵלְנָה is here treated as semantically indicating result dependent upon v. 10a, but it could alternatively be understood syntactically as its own imperative + directive + requesting speech act.
11 הַסְתֵּ֣ר פָּ֭נֶיךָ מֵחֲטָאָ֑י Hide your face from my sins, Imperative Directive Requesting overlooking of sins
וְֽכָל־עֲוֺ֖נֹתַ֣י מְחֵֽה and wipe away all my iniquities. Imperative Directive Requesting cleansing
12 לֵ֣ב טָ֭הוֹר בְּרָא־לִ֣י אֱלֹהִ֑ים Create a clean heart for me, God, Imperative Directive Requesting spiritual transformation Pleading for spiritual transformation Pleading for personal transformation God will acknowledge David's desire for spiritual transformation God will feel compassion towards David God will transform David's heart
וְר֥וּחַ נָ֝כ֗וֹן חַדֵּ֥שׁ בְּקִרְבִּֽי׃ and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Imperative Directive Requesting spiritual transformation
13 אַל־תַּשְׁלִיכֵ֥נִי מִלְּפָנֶ֑יךָ Do not cast me away from before you, Imperative Directive Requesting continued presence
וְר֥וּחַ קָ֝דְשְׁךָ֗ אַל־תִּקַּ֥ח מִמֶּֽנִּי׃ and do not take your holy spirit away from me. Imperative Directive Requesting continued presence
14 הָשִׁ֣יבָה לִּ֭י שְׂשׂ֣וֹן יִשְׁעֶ֑ךָ Restore to me the gladness that results from your salvation, Imperative Directive Requesting joy
וְר֖וּחַ נְדִיבָ֣ה תִסְמְכֵֽנִי׃ and [would you please] support me with a willing spirit. Imperative Directive Requesting spiritual transformation • The use of directive yiqtols have been described here as imperative and directive, rather than as indirect speech acts, since this seems to be a modal possibility of the yiqtol, rather than a question (e.g., "Would you please?") or statement (e.g., "you will...") per se.
15 אֲלַמְּדָ֣ה פֹשְׁעִ֣ים דְּרָכֶ֑יךָ I intend to teach transgressors your ways, Declarative Commissive Committing to instruct sinners Vowing to instruct sinners God will acknowledge David's heart motivation of glorifying God God will be pleased with David's desire to glorify him God will restore David • v. 15a. The verb אֲלַמְּדָה "I intend to teach" is cohortative in form and understood here as a weaker commissive than yiqtol "I will teach," since it seems contingent upon the requested restoration of the psalmist and focuses on the psalmist's intention/will rather than certainty about the future. This statement of intention functions pragmatically as a vow.
וְ֝חַטָּאִ֗ים אֵלֶ֥יךָ יָשֽׁוּבוּ׃ so that sinners will turn back to you. Declarative Assertive Explaining intended results of instruction
16 הַצִּ֘ילֵ֤נִי מִדָּמִ֨ים ׀ אֱֽלֹהִ֗ים Deliver me from bloodshed, God, Imperative Directive Requesting deliverance from danger Requesting help to praise God God will acknowledge David's desire to praise him God will be pleased with David's desire to praise him God will restrain David from sin
אֱלֹהֵ֥י תְּשׁוּעָתִ֑י the God who saves me,
תְּרַנֵּ֥ן לְ֝שׁוֹנִ֗י צִדְקָתֶֽךָ׃ [so that] my tongue will shout for joy about your righteousness. Declarative Assertive Explaining desired results of deliverance
17 אֲ֭דֹנָי שְׂפָתַ֣י תִּפְתָּ֑ח Lord, [would you please] open my lips, Imperative Directive Requesting help to praise • The use of directive yiqtols have been described here as imperative and directive, rather than as indirect speech acts, since this seems to be a modal possibility of the yiqtol, rather than a question (e.g., "Would you please?") or statement (e.g., "you will...") per se.
וּ֝פִ֗י יַגִּ֥יד תְּהִלָּתֶֽךָ׃ so that my mouth will report praise concerning you. Declarative Assertive Explaining intended results of request • v. 17. While v. 17a-b could be read with v. 16c as a three-fold result. But the vocative at the beginning of v. 17a would be very disruptive on this interpretation, and it suggests rather that the psalmist is calling the Lord to pay attention to a request in v. 17a. Reading v. 17a as a directive is also the most satisfying explanation for the purpose clause in v. 17b, which seems to require something stronger than a future indicative verb in v. 17a. Thus, v. 17 continues the theme of v. 16c not by elaborating with a series of results but rather by repeating the pattern of plea plus purpose/result. The request to open the psalmist's lips in v. 17a is implicitly a call for help in parallel to v. 16a.
18 כִּ֤י ׀ לֹא־תַחְפֹּ֣ץ זֶ֣בַח For you do not delight in sacrifice[s], Declarative Assertive Explaining grounds for request for clean heart and help to praise Acknowledging the inadequacy of sacrifices Pleading for national restoration God will acknowledge David's right understanding of worship God will be pleased with David's understanding of worship God will restore David • v. 18a. The verb וְאֶתֵּנָה commits the psalmist to offering a sacrifice in the counter-factual situation that God desires sacrifice. One might paraphrase, "(If sacrifices were acceptable,) I would offer (them)" >> "I will not offer sacrifices, because they would not be acceptable anyways."
וְאֶתֵּ֑נָה or else I would give [them]; Declarative Commissive Hypothetically committing to offer sacrifice
ע֝וֹלָ֗ה לֹ֣א תִרְצֶֽה׃ you are not pleased with burnt offering[s]. Declarative Assertive Explaining grounds for request for clean heart and help to praise
19 זִֽבְחֵ֣י אֱלֹהִים֮ ר֪וּחַ נִשְׁבָּ֫רָ֥ה The sacrifices [acceptable to] God are broken spirit[s]; Declarative Assertive Explaining grounds for request for a clean heart and help to praise Implicitly offering a broken spirit in hopes of approval God will acknowledge David's understanding of spiritual worship God will be pleased with David's understanding of worship God will restore David
לֵב־נִשְׁבָּ֥ר וְנִדְכֶּ֑ה a broken and crushed heart, Declarative Assertive Explaining grounds for request for a clean heart and help to praise
אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים לֹ֣א תִבְזֶֽה׃ God, you do not despise.
20 הֵיטִ֣יבָה בִ֭רְצוֹנְךָ אֶת־צִיּ֑וֹן Do good to Zion in accord with what pleases you; Imperative Directive Requesting national restoration Pleading for national restoration God will acknowledge David's desire to offer right sacrifices to God God will be pleased with David's desire to worship God will restore Jerusalem
תִּ֝בְנֶ֗ה חוֹמ֥וֹת יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ [would you please] build the walls of Jerusalem. Imperative Directive Requesting national restoration • The use of directive yiqtols have been described here as imperative and directive, rather than as indirect speech acts, since this seems to be a modal possibility of the yiqtol, rather than a question (e.g., "Would you please?") or statement (e.g., "you will...") per se.
21 אָ֤ז תַּחְפֹּ֣ץ זִבְחֵי־צֶ֭דֶק עוֹלָ֣ה וְכָלִ֑יל Then you will delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offering[s] and whole offering[s]; Declarative Assertive Explaining reason for national restoration • vv. 20-21. These verses work out the corporate application of the generalized principles established in vv. 18-19 in the form of the personal lament. God does not delight in sacrifices (alone), but only accepts a humble heart (vv. 18-19). Thus, when Israel is restored and comes with humble hearts, then their sacrifices will please God (vv. 20-21).
אָ֤ז יַעֲל֖וּ עַל־מִזְבַּחֲךָ֣ פָרִֽים׃ then [people] will offer up bulls on your altar. Declarative Assertive Explaining reason for national restoration