Psalm 70 Speech Act

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Psalm 70/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

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) Sentence type Illocution (general) Illocution with context Macro speech act Intended perlocution (Think) Intended perlocution (Feel) Intended perlocution (Do) Speech Act Notes
1 לַ֝מְנַצֵּ֗חַ לְדָוִ֥ד לְהַזְכִּֽיר׃ For the director. By David. To bring to remembrance. Fragment Assertive Informing concerning the purpose and author of the psalm            
2 אֱלֹהִ֥ים לְהַצִּילֵ֑נִי God, [hurry] to rescue me! Imperative Directive Pleading with YHWH to rescue him Pleading with YHWH to rescue him Pleading with YHWH to rescue him without delay     YHWH will hurry to rescue David  
  יְ֝הוָ֗ה לְעֶזְרָ֥תִי חֽוּשָֽׁה׃ YHWH, hurry to my aid! Imperative Directive Pleading with YHWH to help him        
3 יֵבֹ֣שׁוּ וְיַחְפְּרוּ֮ מְבַקְשֵׁ֪י נַ֫פְשִׁ֥י May those who seek my life be disappointed and ashamed! Imperative Directive Requesting that his enemies be ashamed Requesting that his enemies be ashamed YHWH will know that David is innocent and does not deserve to be killed. Any who oppose David will feel shame and disgrace. YHWH will disappoint and shame those who seek David's life.
YHWH will disgrace those who desire David's harm.
YHWH will make those who mock David retreat.		  
  יִסֹּ֣גוּ אָ֭חוֹר וְיִכָּלְמ֑וּ חֲ֝פֵצֵ֗י רָעָתִֽי׃ May those who desire my harm be turned back and be disgraced! Imperative Directive Requesting that his enemies be turned back        
4 יָ֭שׁוּבוּ עַל־עֵ֣קֶב בָּשְׁתָּ֑ם הָ֝אֹמְרִ֗ים הֶ֘אָ֥ח ׀ הֶאָֽח׃ May those who say "Take that!" retreat on account of their shame! Imperative Directive Requesting that his enemies retreat in shame        
5 יָ֘שִׂ֤ישׂוּ וְיִשְׂמְח֨וּ ׀ בְּךָ֗ כָּֽל־מְבַ֫קְשֶׁ֥יךָ May all those who seek you be glad and rejoice in you! Imperative Directive Requesting that those who seek YHWH would be able to be glad and rejoice Requesting that those who seek YHWH would be able to be glad and rejoice The faithful community will agree that YHWH is praiseworthy.
YHWH will recognize that David's deliverance will result in the faithful community praising YHWH.		 The faithful community, who love YHWH's salvation, will feel joy in anticipation of YHWH's salvation of David and YHWH's faithful character to rescue them, too. Those who seek YHWH will be glad and rejoice in YHWH.
"YHWH will continue to act in such a way that people will recognize his faithful justice and praise him."		  
  וְיֹאמְר֣וּ תָ֭מִיד And may those who love your salvation always say, Imperative Directive Requesting that those who love YHWH's salvation would be able to praise him        
  יִגְדַּ֣ל אֱלֹהִ֑ים אֹ֝הֲבֵ֗י יְשׁוּעָתֶֽךָ׃ "Let God be praised!" those who love your salvation        
6 וַאֲנִ֤י ׀ עָנִ֣י וְאֶבְיוֹן֮ But I am poor and needy. Declarative Expressive Lamenting his troubled state Pleading with YHWH not to delay The faithful community will know David is identifying with the poor and needy.
YHWH will recognize David's humility as he appeals to him as "poor and needy."		 The faithful community will feel hopeful that YHWH will soon rescue David.
The faithful community will feel encouraged that David is one of them—poor and needy, who love YHWH's salvation.		 YHWH will hurry to rescue David. To characterize oneself as poor and needy was "associated with humility," "depend[ing] on help from other people and God" (SDBH), and not taking matters into one's own hands.
  אֱלֹהִ֪ים חֽוּשָׁ֫ה־לִּ֥י God, hurry to me! Imperative Directive Pleading with YHWH to hurry to him The faithful community conclude YHWH will not delay.
YHWH will know that the situation is urgent.		      
  עֶזְרִ֣י וּמְפַלְטִ֣י אַ֑תָּה You are my help and my deliverer. Declarative Assertive Affirming that YHWH is his help and deliverer        
  יְ֝הוָ֗ה אַל־תְּאַחַֽר׃ YHWH, do not delay! Imperative Directive Pleading with YHWH not to delay