Psalm 78/Diagrams/Placeholders/36
v. 36 - Preferred
(Preferred, but not confirmed); edit diagram
SimpleGrammar
DiscourseUnit [v. 36]
Fragment
particle: וַ But
Fragment
ClauseCluster
Clause
Predicate
verb: יְפַתּוּ they were trying to deceive
Object
suffix-pronoun: הוּ him
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בְּ with
Object
ConstructChain <gloss="their mouth">
noun: פִי mouth
suffix-pronoun: הֶם them
Conjunction
conjunction: וּ and
Clause
Predicate
verb: יְכַזְּבוּ they were lying
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: ל to
Object
suffix-pronoun: וֹ him
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בִ with
Object
ConstructChain <gloss="their tongue">
noun: לְשׁוֹנ tongue
suffix-pronoun: ָם them
DiscourseUnit [v. 36]
Fragment
particle: וַ But
Fragment
ClauseCluster
Clause
Predicate
verb: יְפַתּוּ they were trying to deceive
Object
suffix-pronoun: הוּ him
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בְּ with
Object
ConstructChain <gloss="their mouth">
noun: פִי mouth
suffix-pronoun: הֶם them
Conjunction
conjunction: וּ and
Clause
Predicate
verb: יְכַזְּבוּ they were lying
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: ל to
Object
suffix-pronoun: וֹ him
Adverbial
PrepositionalPhrase
Preposition
preposition: בִ with
Object
ConstructChain <gloss="their tongue">
noun: לְשׁוֹנ tongue
suffix-pronoun: ָם them
{{Diagram/Display | Chapter=78|DiagramID=v-36-None }}
Grammar Notes
Note for V. 36
v. 36 – There is a LXX tradition that reads ἠπάτησαν "they deceived" as ἠγάπησαν "they loved" (see Field, 226; Rahlfs' [1931, 215] apparatus; cf. Gall. dilexerunt and Origen's "Homily 5 on Psalm 77" [2020, 350]), which is most certainly an inner-Greek corruption. Despite being textually unlikely, it is compatible with our preferred view of this verse shedding light on the nature of the previous verse's confession: perhaps the loving YHWH was with words (בְּפִיהֶ֑ם) only.
Lexical Notes
Note for v. 36
v. 36 – We have preferred to gloss וַיְפַתּ֥וּהוּ as try to deceive as shedding light on the nature of the people's confession in v. 35, since YHWH was not, in fact, deceived (cf. HALOT's [985] attempt to persuade and DCH's [798] attempt to deceive).
Phrase-Level
Note for V. 36
v. 36 – For the reading of לוֹ as the recipient of the lie (יְכַזְּבוּ) see Jenni (2000, 143; cf. also Ezek 13:19; Ps 89:36). The other possibility is a לְ of specification, "lie about," which is not preferred in light of the other passages just cited. (For a possible specificational reading with כזב, see Job 34:6: עַל־מִשְׁפָּטִ֥י אֲכַזֵּ֑ב).
Verbal Notes
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Note for v. 36
For the struggles with the continuous yiqtol, see TgPs' participle מכדבין and CEB's paraphrase: ""But they were just flattering him with lip service. They were lying to him with their tongues."" See, too, the NIV (cf. the French versions' imperfects): ""But then they would flatter him with their mouths, lying to him with their tongues."" These translations reflect the habituality of vv. 34-37 as a whole (see the comments above).
Note for v. 36
On the interpretation of a wayyiqtol introducing an adversative relationship to the preceding discourse, see Khan (forthcoming, Vayyiqṭol, 54-58); cf. vv. 52, 56, 67, 68. In any case, it continues the habitual pattern established by אִם in v. 34.
Textual Notes
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