Psalm 78/Notes/Grammar.v. 56.855625

From Psalms: Layer by Layer
Jump to: navigation, search

v. 56 – The compound predicate reading of וַיְנַסּ֣וּ וַ֭יַּמְרוּ אֶת־אֱלֹהִ֣ים עֶלְי֑וֹן is suggested by the lack of arguments accompanying וַיְנַסּ֣וּ, such that they most likely constitute a symmetrical serial verb construction. (That is, they share the same gender, number, tense-aspect-modality and polarity values, and also clausal complements ➞ אֶת־אֱלֹהִ֣ים עֶלְי֑וֹן). Though the ancient versions, as usual, follow the form, rather than making the function explicit, notice that one manuscript documented by Kennicott attempts to repeat the habitual/repetitive reading of וישׁובו וינסו from v. 41. For our preferred reading, compare the mono-eventive interpretation of the CSB ("But they rebelliously tested the Most High God") and the NJPS ("Yet they defiantly tested God Most High"). An adverbial clause is provided by the ISV ("But they tested the Most High God by rebelling against him") and DHH ("Pero ellos pusieron a prueba al Dios altísimo rebelándose contra él"), while the TOB reads the first verb as a predicative adjunct, [being] rebels ("Rebelles, ils mirent à l'épreuve le Dieu Très-Haut").

The (significantly less parsimonious) alternative would involve object gapping in an independent וַיְנַסּ֣וּ clause (as, e.g., ESV: "Yet they tested and rebelled against the Most High God"; cf. the KJV, NABRE, NASB). The NIV avoids the lack of object argument by providing a structure of alternation (Chavel 2022) throughout וַיְנַסּ֣וּ וַ֭יַּמְרוּ אֶת־אֱלֹהִ֣ים עֶלְי֑וֹן, with its "But they put God to the test and rebelled against the Most High". The SG21 does the same, but in reverse: "Mais ils ont provoqué le Dieu très-haut et se sont révoltés contre lui."