Psalm 7/Verbs

Verbs

Verb forms

Definition Feature being studied	Occurrences Sections where this feature is present or absent	Clustering	Intersection	Connections	Structure
participle	רֹ֝דְפַ֗י (v.2b), פֹּ֝רֵ֗ק (v.3b), מַצִּֽיל׃ (v.3b), שֽׁוֹלְמִ֥י (v.5a), צוֹרְרִ֣י (v.5b), אוֹיֵ֨ב (v.6a), צוֹרְרָ֑י (v.7b), וּבֹחֵ֣ן (v.10c), מ֝וֹשִׁ֗יעַ (v.11b), שׁוֹפֵ֣ט (v.12a), זֹעֵ֥ם (v.12b), לְֽדֹלְקִ֥ים (v.14b),	vv.10-12
volitives	הוֹשִׁיעֵ֥נִי (v.2b), וְהַצִּילֵֽנִי (v.2b), יִֽרַדֹּ֥ף (v.6a), וְיַשֵּׂ֗ג (v.6a), וְיִרְמֹ֣ס (v.6b), יַשְׁכֵּ֣ן (v.6c), ק֘וּמָ֤ה (v.7a), הִ֭נָּשֵׂא (v.7b), וְע֥וּרָה (v.7c), תְּסוֹבְבֶ֑ךָּ (v.8a), שֽׁוּבָה (v.8b), שָׁפְטֵ֥נִי (v.9b), יִגְמָר־נָ֬א (v.10a), וּתְכוֹנֵ֪ן (v.10b), אוֹדֶ֣ה (v.18a?), וַ֝אֲזַמְּרָ֗ה (v.18b)	vv.2, 6-10; absent vv.11-17			Volitives bookend the first two sections (vv.2-6) and predominate in the following two sections (vv.7-10) as the psalmist calls on Yahweh to bring judgment. The verbs in vv. 11-17 are modally indicative.
cohortative	אוֹדֶ֣ה (v.18a?), וַ֝אֲזַמְּרָ֗ה (v.18b)	v.18	conclusion of psalm
jussive	יִֽרַדֹּ֥ף (v.6a), יַשְׁכֵּ֣ן (v.6c), תְּסוֹבְבֶ֑ךָּ (v.8a), יִגְמָר־נָ֬א (v.10a)	absent in second half of psalm (unless the yiqtol forms in v.17 are interpreted as jussives)
imperative	הוֹשִׁיעֵ֥נִי (v.2b), וְהַצִּילֵֽנִי (v.2b), ק֘וּמָ֤ה (v.7a), הִ֭נָּשֵׂא (v.7b), וְע֥וּרָה (v.7c), שֽׁוּבָה (v.8b), שָׁפְטֵ֥נִי (v.9b)	v.2, vv.7-9; absent in second half of psalm	beginning of section 3 (vv.7-9a) and section 4 (vv.9b-10)		Gives cohesion and prominence to vv.7-9
yiqtol	יִטְרֹ֣ף (v.3a), יִֽרַדֹּ֥ף (v.6a), יַשְׁכֵּ֣ן (v.6c), תְּסוֹבְבֶ֑ךָּ (v.8a), יָדִ֪ין (v.9a), יִגְמָר (v.10a), יָ֭שׁוּב (v.13a), יִלְט֑וֹשׁ (v.13a), יִפְעָֽל (v.14b), יְחַבֶּל (v.15a), יִפְעָֽל (v.16b), יָשׁ֣וּב (v.17a), יֵרֵֽד (v.17b), אוֹדֶ֣ה (v.18a)	vv.13-17			chiasm (vv.13-14): a yiqtol b qatal b qatal a yiqtol; following the chiasm, there is an alternation of form in vv.15-17: yiqtol (v.15), qatal (v.16), yiqtol (v.17)
weyiqtol	וְיַשֵּׂ֗ג (v.6a), וְיִרְמֹ֣ס (v.6b), וּתְכוֹנֵ֪ן (v.10b)	v.6
weqatal	וְהָרָ֥ה (v.15b), וְיָ֣לַד (v.15b)	v.15
wayyiqtol	וָאֲחַלְּצָ֖ה (v.5b), וַֽיְכוֹנְנֶֽהָ (v.13b), וַֽיַּחְפְּרֵ֑הוּ (v.16a), וַ֝יִּפֹּ֗ל (v.16b)	v.16
qatal	חָסִ֑יתִי (v.2a), עָשִׂ֣יתִי (v.4a), גָּ֭מַלְתִּי (v.5a), צִוִּֽיתָ׃ (v.7c), דָ֝רַ֗ךְ (v.13b), הֵכִ֣ין (v.14a), כָּ֭רָֽה (v.16a)	3 times in the first third (vv.2-6); 3 times the last third (vv.11-18); only once in the middle (צִוִּֽיתָ), not in a main clause; absent vv.8-12	beginning of section 1 (v.2a) and section 2 (v.4a)		anaphora (vv.2a, 4a); chiasm (vv.13-14): a yiqtol b qatal b qatal a yiqtol; following the chiasm, there is an alternation of form in vv.15-17: yiqtol (v.15), qatal (v.16), yiqtol (v.17)

The following table portrays the distribution of verb forms. Modal verbs are marked red.

2a	חָסִ֑יתִי
2b		הוֹשִׁיעֵ֥נִי...וְהַצִּילֵֽנִי	רֹ֝דְפַ֗י
3a				יִטְרֹ֣ף
3b			פֹּ֝רֵ֗ק... מַצִּֽיל
4a	עָשִׂ֣יתִי
4b
5a	גָּ֭מַלְתִּי		שֽׁוֹלְמִ֥י
5b	וָאֲחַלְּצָ֖ה
6a			אוֹיֵ֨ב	יִֽרַדֹּ֥ף...וְיַשֵּׂ֗ג
6b				וְיִרְמֹ֣ס
6c				יַשְׁכֵּ֣ן
7a		ק֘וּמָ֤ה
7b		הִ֭נָּשֵׂא	צוֹרְרָ֑י
7c	צִוִּֽיתָ	וְע֥וּרָה
8a				תְּסוֹבְבֶ֑ךָּ
8b		שֽׁוּבָה
9a				יָדִ֪ין
9b		שָׁפְטֵ֥נִי
9c
10a				יִגְמָר־נָ֬א
10b				וּתְכוֹנֵ֪ן
10c			וּבֹחֵ֣ן
10d
11a
11b			מ֝וֹשִׁ֗יעַ
12a			שׁוֹפֵ֣ט
12b			זֹעֵ֥ם
13a				יָ֭שׁוּב...יִלְט֑וֹשׁ
13b	דָ֝רַ֗ךְ וַֽיְכוֹנְנֶֽהָ
14a	הֵכִ֣ין
14b			לְֽדֹלְקִ֥ים	יִפְעָֽל
15a				יְחַבֶּל
15b				וְהָרָ֥ה...וְיָ֣לַד
16a	כָּ֭רָֽה וַֽיַּחְפְּרֵ֑הוּ
16b	וַ֝יִּפֹּ֗ל			יִפְעָֽל
17a				יָשׁ֣וּב
17b				יֵרֵֽד
18a				אוֹדֶ֣ה
18b				וַ֝אֲזַמְּרָ֗ה

This feature is considered relevant for this psalm.,

Person, gender and number

Definition Feature being studied	Occurrences Sections where this feature is present or absent	Clustering	Intersection	Connections	Structure
3ms/3fs	יִטְרֹ֣ף (v.3a), יִֽרַדֹּ֥ף (v.6a), וְיַשֵּׂ֗ג (v.6a), וְיִרְמֹ֣ס (v.6b), יַשְׁכֵּ֣ן (v.6c), תְּסוֹבְבֶ֑ךָּ (v.8a), יָדִ֪ין (v.9a), יִגְמָר (v.10a), יָ֭שׁוּב (v.13a), יִלְט֑וֹשׁ (v.13b), דָ֝רַ֗ךְ (v.13b), וַֽיְכוֹנְנֶֽהָ (v.13b), הֵכִ֣ין (v.14a), יִפְעָֽל (v.14b), יְחַבֶּל (v.15a), וְהָרָ֥ה (v.15b), וְיָ֣לַד (v.15b), כָּ֭רָֽה (v.16a), וַֽיַּחְפְּרֵ֑הוּ (v.16a), וַ֝יִּפֹּ֗ל (v.16b), יִפְעָֽל (v.16b), יָשׁ֣וּב (v.17a), יֵרֵֽד (v.17b)	v.6; vv.13-17			Gives cohesion to vv.13-17
2ms	הוֹשִׁיעֵ֥נִי (v.2b), וְהַצִּילֵֽנִי (v.2b), ק֘וּמָ֤ה (v.7a), הִ֭נָּשֵׂא (v.7b), וְע֥וּרָה (v.7c), צִוִּֽיתָ (v.7c), שֽׁוּבָה (v.8b), שָׁפְטֵ֥נִי (v.9b), וּתְכוֹנֵ֪ן (v.10b)	middle of psalm (vv.7-10, esp. v.7)
1cs	חָסִ֑יתִי (v.2a), עָשִׂ֣יתִי (v.4a), גָּ֭מַלְתִּי (v.5a), וָאֲחַלְּצָ֖ה (v.5b), אוֹדֶ֣ה (v.18a), וַ֝אֲזַמְּרָ֗ה (v.18b)	beginning (vv.2-5) and ending (v.18) of psalm; absent vv.6-17	first and last verb of psalm (v.2a, 18b)		Inclusion (vv.2a, 18b).

The distribution of PNG (note the clusters identified above) illuminates a chiastic structure:

1cs (vv.2-5)

3ms (v.6)

2ms (vv.7-10)

3ms (vv.13-17)

1cs (v.18)

The psalmist begins by desperately seeking refuge in Yahweh (v.2a) and ends by confidently praising his name (v.18a). The turning point happens at the height of his prayer, where he calls on Yahweh to act (vv.7-10). Before this, enemies threaten his life (v.6); after this his enemies receive their due (vv.13-17).
This feature is considered relevant for this psalm.,

Paragogic letters

Definition Feature being studied	Occurrences Sections where this feature is present or absent	Clustering	Intersection	Connections	Structure
paragogic ה	וָאֲחַלְּצָ֖ה (v.5b), ק֘וּמָ֤ה (v.7a), וְע֥וּרָה (v.7c), שֽׁוּבָה (v.8b), וַ֝אֲזַמְּרָ֗ה (v.18b)	vv.7-8	beginning of section 3 (v.7a); end of psalm (v.18b)	The three long imperatives (ק֘וּמָ֤ה- וְע֥וּרָה-שֽׁוּבָה) are closely connected by their morphology and their proximity to one another.	The series of long qal imperatives (II-waw) gives cohesion and prominence to vv.7-8.

This feature is considered relevant for this psalm.,

Long wayyiqtol

Definition Feature being studied	Occurrences Sections where this feature is present or absent	Clustering	Intersection	Connections	Structure
וָאֲחַלְּצָ֖ה ?	v.5b?

,

Verb stem types (binyanim)

Definition Feature being studied	Occurrences Sections where this feature is present or absent	Clustering	Intersection	Connections	Structure
Niphil	הִ֭נָּשֵׂא (v.7b)
Hiphil	הוֹשִׁיעֵ֥נִי (v.2b), וְהַצִּילֵֽנִי (v.2b), מַצִּֽיל (v.3b), וְיַשֵּׂ֗ג (v.6a), יַשְׁכֵּ֣ן (v.6c), מ֝וֹשִׁ֗יעַ (v.11b), הֵכִ֣ין (v.14a), אוֹדֶ֣ה (v.18a)	vv.2-3, 6; absent in middle of psalm (vv.7-10)	beginning and ending of sections 1-2 (vv.2-6); beginning of section 5 (v.11); initiates concluding bicolon of psalm (v.18)
Doubling stems (Piel/Polel/Poel)	וָאֲחַלְּצָ֖ה (v.5b), יִֽרַדֹּ֥ף (v.6a?), צִוִּֽיתָ (v.7c), תְּסוֹבְבֶ֑ךָּ (v.8a), וּתְכוֹנֵ֪ן (v.10b), וַֽיְכוֹנְנֶֽהָ (v.13b), יְחַבֶּל (v.15a), וַ֝אֲזַמְּרָ֗ה (v.18b)
Qal	חָסִ֑יתִי (v.2a), רֹ֝דְפַ֗י (v.2b), יִטְרֹ֣ף (v.3a), פֹּ֝רֵ֗ק (v.3b), עָשִׂ֣יתִי (v.4a), גָּ֭מַלְתִּי (v.5a), שֽׁוֹלְמִ֥י (v.5a), יִֽרַדֹּ֥ף (v.6a?), אוֹיֵ֨ב (v.6a), וְיִרְמֹ֣ס (v.6b), ק֘וּמָ֤ה (v.7a), צוֹרְרָ֑י (v.7b), וְע֥וּרָה (v.7c), שֽׁוּבָה׃ (v.8b), יָדִ֪ין (v.9a), שָׁפְטֵ֥נִי (v.9b), יִגְמָר (v.10a), וּבֹחֵ֣ן (v.10c), שׁוֹפֵ֣ט (v.12a), זֹעֵ֥ם (v.12b), יָ֭שׁוּב (v.13a), יִלְט֑וֹשׁ (v.13a), דָ֝רַ֗ךְ (v.13b), לְֽדֹלְקִ֥ים (v.14b), יִפְעָֽל (v.14b), וְהָרָ֥ה (v.15b), וְיָ֣לַד (v.15b), כָּ֭רָֽה (v.16a), וַֽיַּחְפְּרֵ֑הוּ (v.16a), וַ֝יִּפֹּ֗ל (v.16b), יִפְעָֽל (v.16b), יָשׁ֣וּב (v.17a), יֵרֵֽד (v.17b)				The qal stem (34x vs 17x non-qal) predominates in this psalm (contrast with Psalm 5, where there is an equal number of qal and non-qal verbs).

• v.6a. יִרַדֹּ֥ף is a mixed form, "combining the readings of יִרְדֹּף (impf. Qal) and יְרַדֵּף (impf. Piel).",

Other

Verbless Clauses

• v.3b (אֵין)
• v.4b (יֵשׁ)
• v.10d
• v.11ab
• v.12ab

Verbless clauses cluster near the middle of the psalm in vv.10d-12, highlighting a major division (v.10d / v.11a). These lines are marked for their terseness (see above).