Psalm 88/Notes/Grammar.V. 6.820020
From Psalms: Layer by Layer
- v. 5b-6 The preferred reading follows the MT division between vv. 5 and 6, the same one that is found in Jerome, Peshitta, TgPs and reflected by almost all Modern translations. We prefer to maintain this division between v.5 and v.6, as the clause במתים חפשי is strongly related to the content of v. 6: חפשי and חללים both designate the lowest rank among the dead (cf. Hossfeld and Zenger 2005, 395). Additionally, 2 Chr 26:21 offers an interesting relation between בית החפשית and the verb נגזר (similarly to what we see in v. 6). For further discussion on v. 6, see The Meaning of חָפְשִׁי in Ps 88:6.
- v. 5b-6 alt #1 Alternative follows the division between vs. 5 and 6 as found in the LXX only and which takes במתים חפשי as part of the previous clause in v. 5b, instead of its own new clause.