Psalm 89/Notes/Phrasal.v. 28.843225
From Psalms: Layer by Layer
- The lamed preposition in the phrase לְמַלְכֵי־אָרֶץ indicates a general relationship between the word "highest" (עֶלְיוֹן) and the phrase "kings of earth" (מַלְכֵי־אָרֶץ), i.e., "the highest in relation to the kings of the earth" or "the highest of the kings of the earth" (ESV). This use of lamed is roughly equivalent to a construct-chain relationship (cf. Jenni 2000, 65-66).