Psalm 8/Nouns
Nouns
Number
| Definition Feature being studied | Occurrences Sections where this feature is present or absent | Clustering | Intersection | Connections | Structure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| singular | שִׁ֭מְךָ (v.2b), בְּכָל־הָאָ֑רֶץ (v.2b), ה֝וֹדְךָ֗ (v.2c), מִפִּ֤י (v.3a), עֹ֥ז (v.3b), א֝וֹיֵ֗ב וּמִתְנַקֵּֽם (v.3c), יָרֵ֥חַ (v.4a), אֱנ֥וֹשׁ (v.5a), וּבֶן־אָ֝דָ֗ם (v.5b), מְּ֭עַט (v.6a), וְכָב֖וֹד וְהָדָ֣ר (v.6b), כֹּ֝ל (v.7b), צֹנֶ֣ה (v.8a), כֻּלָּ֑ם (v.8a), שָׂדָֽי (v.8b), צִפּ֣וֹר (v.9a), הַיָּ֑ם (v.9a), עֹ֝בֵ֗ר (v.9b), שִׁ֝מְךָ֗ (v.10b), בְּכָל־הָאָֽרֶץ (v.10b) | vv.5-6 | cluster at the center of the poem with its focus on man (singular), bridging the two middle sections | reinforces connection between section 2 (vv.4-5) and section 3 (vv.6-7), the first of which asks a question and the second of which gives the answer | Gives cohesion to vv.5-6, forms a bridge between the two middle sections of the psalm. See discussion below. |
| dual | יָדֶ֑יךָ (v.7a), רַגְלָֽיו (v.7b) | v.7 | reinforces connection between parallel lines (v.7ab) | ||
| plural | אֲדֹנֵ֗ינוּ (v.2a), הַשָּׁמָֽיִם (v.2c), עֽוֹלְלִ֨ים (v.3a), וְֽיֹנְקִים֮ (v.3a), צוֹרְרֶ֑יךָ (v.3b), שָׁ֭מֶיךָ (v.4a), מַעֲשֵׂ֣י אֶצְבְּעֹתֶ֑יךָ (v.4a), וְ֝כוֹכָבִ֗ים (v.4b), מֵאֱלֹהִ֑ים (v.5a), בְּמַעֲשֵׂ֣י יָדֶ֑יךָ (v.7a), וַאֲלָפִ֣ים (v.8a), בַּהֲמ֥וֹת (v.8b), שָׁ֭מַיִם (v.9a), וּדְגֵ֣י הַיָּ֑ם (v.9a), אָרְח֥וֹת יַמִּֽים (v.9b), אֲדֹנֵ֑ינוּ (v.10a) | v.4; vv.8-9 | Number patters appear in each section of the psalm. See discussion below. |
The distribution of nouns by number in the first section (vv.2c-3) forms a pattern. v.2c and v.3b each have a singular noun (עז / הוד [note the phonological connection as well]) and end with a plural noun (הַשָּׁמָֽיִם / צוֹרְרֶ֑יךָ). v.3a has a pair of plural participles (עֽוֹלְלִ֨ים ׀ וְֽיֹנְקִים֮) and v.3c has a similar-sounding pair of singular participles (א֝וֹיֵ֗ב וּמִתְנַקֵּֽם). This gives cohesion to the first section and supports the proposed division of lines.
In the second section (vv.4-5), there is a movement from plural to singular. There is a cluster of four plural nouns in v.4 but only singular nouns in v.5. The effect is to highlight the apparent insignificance of man (אֱנ֥וֹשׁ // וּבֶן־אָ֝דָ֗ם) against the vastness of the heavens (שָׁ֭מֶיךָ מַעֲשֵׂ֣י אֶצְבְּעֹתֶ֑יךָ // יָרֵ֥חַ וְ֝כוֹכָבִ֗ים).
The third section (vv.6-7) shows the opposite movement: singular (v.6) --> plural (v.7). In this way, the two sections (four bicola) at the middle of the psalm form a chiasm (see below on .
Number patters give cohesion to the fourth section (vv.8-9) as well. v.8a and v.9a, which correspond phonologically, each have plural nouns sandwiched by singular nouns. Plural nouns ending in וֹת in the middle of v.8b (בַּהֲמ֥וֹת) and v.9b (אָרְח֥וֹת) form a connection between these lines.
This feature is considered relevant for this psalm.,
Gender
| Definition Feature being studied | Occurrences Sections where this feature is present or absent | Clustering | Intersection | Connections | Structure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| feminine | הָאָ֑רֶץ (v.2b), אֶצְבְּעֹתֶ֑יךָ (v.4a), רַגְלָֽיו (v.7b), בַּהֲמ֥וֹת (v.8a), אָרְח֥וֹת? (v.9b), הָאָֽרֶץ (v.10b) | beginning (v.2b) and ending (v.10b) of the psalm (הארץ); beginning of section 2 (v.4a), ending of section 3 (v.7b) | v.4-v.7 אֶצְבְּעֹתֶ֑יךָ (v.4a) and רַגְלָֽיו (v.7b) are morphologically (fem. pl. + sfx) and semantically related (body parts, appendages). v.8b.-v.9b. Plural nouns ending in וֹת in the middle of v.8b (בַּהֲמ֥וֹת) and v.9b (אָרְח֥וֹת) form a connection between these lines. | The connection between v.4 and v.7 reinforces the chiastic structure of the psalm. |
This feature is considered relevant for this psalm.,
Definiteness
| Definition Feature being studied | Occurrences Sections where this feature is present or absent | Clustering | Intersection | Connections | Structure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| definite article | הָאָ֑רֶץ (v.2b), הַשָּׁמָֽיִם (v.2c), הַיָּ֑ם (v.9a), הָאָֽרֶץ (v.10b) | beginning (v.2) and ending (vv.9-10) of psalm; absent in between | beginning of psalm (v.2b); beginning of first section (v.2c); ending of fourth section (v.9a); ending of psalm (v.10b) | Nouns with the definite article are related semantically; each refers to one of the realms of creation (cf. Gen. 1): land, sky, and sea. v.2c.-v.9a. The occurrence of the definite article in these lines (הַשָּׁמָֽיִם and הַיָּ֑ם) strengthens the connection between them. The same is true of the much more obvious connection between v.2b.-v.10b. | The connections between v.2c and v.9a (as well as v.2b and v.10b) reinforces the chiastic structure of the psalm. |
This feature is considered relevant for this psalm.,
Pronominal suffixes
| Definition Feature being studied | Occurrences Sections where this feature is present or absent | Clustering | Intersection | Connections | Structure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3mp | כֻּלָּ֑ם (v.8a) | ||||
| 3ms | רַגְלָֽיו (v.7b) | ||||
| 2ms | שִׁ֭מְךָ (v.2b), ה֝וֹדְךָ֗ (v.2c), צוֹרְרֶ֑יךָ (v.3b), שָׁ֭מֶיךָ (v.4a), מַעֲשֵׂ֣י אֶצְבְּעֹתֶ֑יךָ (v.4a), יָדֶ֑יךָ (v.7a), שִׁ֝מְךָ֗ (v.10b) | vv.2-4; absent section 4 (vv.8-9) | beginning of psalm (v.2b); beginning of second section (v.4); ending of third section (v.7); ending of psalm (v.10b) | v.4-v.7 אֶצְבְּעֹתֶ֑יךָ and יָדֶ֑יךָ are related semantically as well as morphologically. These 2ms suffixed nouns help frame the middle sections of the psalm (vv.4-7) | The connection between v.4 and v.7 reinforces the chiastic structure of the psalm. |
| 1cp | אֲדֹנֵ֗ינוּ (v.2a), אֲדֹנֵ֑ינוּ (v.10a) | beginning (v.2a) and ending (v.10a) of psalm | Inclusion (outer constituents of chiasm) |
"The suffix our lord also underscores the relationship between humanity and God that is at the heart of this psalm and indeed the heart of the Psalter as a whole."[1]
This feature is considered relevant for this psalm.,
Suffixes as objects
| Definition Feature being studied | Occurrences Sections where this feature is present or absent | Clustering | Intersection | Connections | Structure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3ms (ה) | וַתְּחַסְּרֵ֣הוּ (v.6a), תְּעַטְּרֵֽהוּ (v.6b), תַּ֭מְשִׁילֵהוּ (v.7a) | vv.6-7a | beginning of section 3; middle of psalm | reinforces connection between parallel lines (v.6ab) and bicola (vv.6-7) | Gives cohesion to vv.6-7 (section 3) |
| 3ms (נ) | תִזְכְּרֶ֑נּוּ (v.5a), תִפְקְדֶֽנּוּ (v.5b) | v.5 | end of section 2; middle of psalm | reinforces connection between parallel lines | |
| 3ms | תִזְכְּרֶ֑נּוּ (v.5a), תִפְקְדֶֽנּוּ (v.5b), וַתְּחַסְּרֵ֣הוּ (v.6a), תְּעַטְּרֵֽהוּ (v.6b), תַּ֭מְשִׁילֵהוּ (v.7b) | vv.5-7 (middle of psalm); absent elsewhere | middle of psalm; end of section 2 (v.5); beginning of section 3 (v.6) | reinforces connection between section 2 (vv.4-5) and section 3 (vv.6-7), the first of which asks a question and the second of which gives the answer | Gives cohesion to vv.5-6, forms a bridge between the two middle sections of the psalm. (Note also the discontinuity, since the suffixes of v.5 are נ suffixes and those of v.6-7a are ה suffixes.) |
This feature is considered relevant for this psalm.,
Addressee change
Yahweh is addressed throughout the psalm. "It is worth stressing that throughout the entire poem, the Creator is addressed directly and intimately: your name, you have established, your heavens, you remember them, and so on."[2],
Speaker change
David is the speaker throughout the Psalm (v.1, לדוד). Note that David speaks on behalf of a group (1cp suffix: אדנינו [vv.2a, 10a]). Is he speaking on behalf of a congregation of Israelites, or on behalf of all humanity?,
Subject change
Yahweh is the subject for most of the Psalm (also Yahweh's name [2b, 10b] and majesty [2c]). Section 2 is exceptional; it begins in the first person (אראה), and the subjects are David (4ab) and humanity (5aα, 5bα) in addition to Yahweh (5aβ, 5bβ).
| Ref. | Speaker | Addressee | Person | Subject/Agent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2a | David | Yahweh | ||
| 2b | David | Yahweh | 3 | Yahweh's name |
| 2c | David | Yahweh | 3 | the setting of Yahweh's majesty |
| 3a | David | Yahweh | 3 | (the setting of Yahweh's majesty) |
| 3b | David | Yahweh | 2 | Yahweh |
| 3c | David | Yahweh | 2 | Yahweh |
| 4a | David | Yahweh | 1 | David |
| 4b | David | Yahweh | (1) | (David) |
| 5aα | David | Yahweh | 3 | אנושׁ |
| 5aβ | David | Yahweh | 2 | Yahweh |
| 5bα | David | Yahweh | 3 | בן אדם |
| 5bβ | David | Yahweh | 2 | Yahweh |
| 6a | David | Yahweh | 2 | Yahweh |
| 6b | David | Yahweh | 2 | Yahweh |
| 7a | David | Yahweh | 2 | Yahweh |
| 7b | David | Yahweh | 2 | Yahweh |
| 8a | David | Yahweh | (2) | (Yahweh) |
| 8b | David | Yahweh | (2) | (Yahweh) |
| 9a | David | Yahweh | (2) | (Yahweh) |
| 9b | David | Yahweh | (2) | (Yahweh) |
| 10a | David | Yahweh | 2 | |
| 10b | David | Yahweh | Yahweh's name |
,
Scene change
"Throughout the first six verses of the poem, the poet has subtly woven in a motif of vertical descent:
- v.2c above heavens → v.4a heavens... moon and stars → v.6a but a little lower than heavenly beings → v.6b crowned them (a reference to the head) → v.7a hands → v.7b feet
Having descended to earth, the psalmist now changes directions and describes a horizontal vector that moves outward from human society:
- sheep and oxen → beasts of the field → birds → fish → whatever passes the paths of the seas."[3]
- ↑ Nancy L. deClaisse-Walford, Rolf A. Jacobson, and Beth LaNeel Tanner, The Book of Psalms, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans, 2014).
- ↑ Nancy L. deClaisse-Walford, Rolf A. Jacobson, and Beth LaNeel Tanner, The Book of Psalms, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans, 2014).
- ↑ Nancy L. deClaisse-Walford, Rolf A. Jacobson, and Beth LaNeel Tanner, The Book of Psalms, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans, 2014).