Psalm 9/Lexical Semantics
From Psalms: Layer by Layer
Lexical Semantics
References to God
| Definition Feature being studied | Occurrences Sections where this feature is present or absent | Clustering | Intersection | Connections | Structure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| עֶלְיוֹן | v.3b | ||||
| אֱלֹהִֽים | v.18b | ||||
| יהוה | vv.2a, 8a, 10a, 11b, 12a, 14a, 17a, 20a, 21a | vv.8-12, especially at the mid-point of the psalm (vv.11b-12a [overlap structure]); absent strophes 2-3 (vv.4-7) and strophe 8 (vv.18-19) | In nearly every instance, יהוה appears as the second word in the a-line: אוֹדֶ֣ה יְ֭הוָה (v.2a); זַמְּר֗וּ לַ֭יהוָה; וִ֘יהִ֤י יְהוָ֣ה (v.10a); (v.12a); חָֽנְנֵ֬נִי יְהוָ֗ה (v.14a); נ֤וֹדַ֨ע ׀ יְהוָה֮ (v.17a); קוּמָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה (v.20a); שִׁ֘יתָ֤ה יְהוָ֨ה (v.21a). The only exceptions are v.8a and v.11b, where יהוה occurs as the first and last word respectively to form an inclusio. It marks the beginning of a strophe in the majority of cases (vv.2a, 8a, 12a, 14a, 20a) | Aperture/Anaphora (vv.2a, 8a, 12a, 14a, 20a); Inclusion (vv.8a, 11b); Anadiplosis (vv.11-12) |
| 2a | יהוה | |||||
| 2b | ||||||
| 3a | ||||||
| 3b | עֶלְיֽוֹן | |||||
| 4a | ||||||
| 4b | ||||||
| 5a | ||||||
| 5b | ||||||
| 6a | ||||||
| 6b | ||||||
| 7a | ||||||
| 7b | ||||||
| 7c | ||||||
| 8a | יהוה | |||||
| 8b | ||||||
| 9a | ||||||
| 9b | ||||||
| 10a | יהוה | |||||
| 10b | ||||||
| 11a | ||||||
| 11b | יהוה | |||||
| 12a | יהוה | |||||
| 12b | ||||||
| 13a | ||||||
| 13b | ||||||
| 14a | יהוה | |||||
| 14b | ||||||
| 14c | ||||||
| 15a | ||||||
| 15b | ||||||
| 15b | ||||||
| 16a | ||||||
| 16b | ||||||
| 17a | יהוה | |||||
| 17b | ||||||
| 18a | ||||||
| 18b | אֱלֹהִֽים | |||||
| 19a | ||||||
| 19b | ||||||
| 20a | יהוה | |||||
| 20b | ||||||
| 21a | יהוה | |||||
| 21b | ||||||
| 21c |
This feature is considered relevant for this psalm.,
Repeated words
| Definition Feature being studied | Occurrences Sections where this feature is present or absent | Clustering | Intersection | Connections | Structure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| אֱנוֹשׁ | אֱנ֑וֹשׁ (v.20a), אֱנ֖וֹשׁ (v.21c) | vv.20-21 | end of psalm | gives cohesion to vv.20-21; forms chiasm: a אֱנ֑וֹשׁ b ג֝וֹיִ֗ם b' גוֹיִ֑ם a' אֱנ֖וֹשׁ (vv.20-21) | |
| שַׁעַר | מִשַּׁ֥עֲרֵי מָֽוֶת (v.14c), בְּשַֽׁעֲרֵ֥י בַת־צִיּ֑וֹן (v.15b) | vv.14-15 | contrast between the gates of death (v.14c, depicted figuratively as a place/city) and the gates of Zion (v.15b) | gives cohesion to vv.14-15 | |
| ענה | עניים (v.13b), עָ֭נְיִי (v.14b), ענוים (v.19b) | vv.13-14 | the psalmist identifies with the lowly of God's people (vv.13b, 14b), whose cries are not forgotten; general (עניים) --> particular/personal (עָ֭נְיִי) | gives cohesion to vv.13-14, and/or anadiplosis (v.13: end of strophe; v.14: beginning of strophe) | |
| שָׁכַח | שָׁ֝כַ֗ח (v.13b), שְׁכֵחֵ֥י (v.18b), יִשָּׁכַ֣ח (v.19a) | second half of psalm; vv.18b-19a | contrast between the righteous, whom God will not forget (vv.13b, 19a), and the wicked, who forget God (v.18b) | gives cohesion to vv.18-19 (argues against seeing a strophe division between these verses) | |
| צִיּוֹן | צִיּ֑וֹן (v.12a), בַת־צִיּ֑וֹן (v.15b) | vv.12-15 | first line of new section (v.12a) | gives cohesion to vv.12-15; inclusio (vv.12a, 15b; cf. chiasm formed by praise/rescue language) | |
| ידע | יוֹדְעֵ֣י (v.11a), נ֤וֹדַ֨ע (v.17a), יֵדְע֥וּ (v.21b) | ||||
| מִשְׂגָּ֣ב | מִשְׂגָּ֣ב (v.10a), מִ֝שְׂגָּ֗ב (v.10b) | v.10ab | gives cohesion to v.10ab | ||
| הֵמָּה | הֵֽמָּה (v.7c), הֵ֣מָּה (v.21c) | in both cases, ending a section in the final line of a tricolon | v.7 – v.21 | epiphora (vv.7, 21) | |
| זכר | זִכְרָ֣ם (v.7c), זָכָ֑ר (v.13a) | contrast between the wicked, who will not be remembered (v.7c), and the righteous, whom God will remember (v.13a) | |||
| לָ֫נֶצַח | לָ֫נֶ֥צַח (v.7a), לָ֭נֶצַח (v.19a) | contrast between the wicked, whose towns will be forever a waste-land (v.7a), and the righteous, who will not be forever forgotten (v.19a) | |||
| עד | וָעֶֽד (v.6b), לָעַֽד (v.19b) | contrast between the wicked, whose memory will die forever (v.6b), and the righteous, whose hope will not die forever (v.19b) | |||
| לְעוֹלָם | לְעוֹלָ֥ם (v.6b), לְעוֹלָ֣ם (v.8a) | vv.6-8 | contrast (disjunctive waw, v.8a) between the wicked, whose name will be forever wiped from memory (v.6b), and Yahweh, who will reign forever (v.8a) | ||
| רָשָׁע | רָשָׁ֑ע (v.6a), רָשָׁ֑ע (v.17b), רְשָׁעִ֣ים (v.18a) | vv.17b-18a | end of section (v.17b), beginning of section (v.18a), cluster around הִגָּי֥וֹן סֶֽלָה (v.17) | anadiplosis (vv.17b-18a) | |
| גּוֹיִם | ג֭וֹיִם (v.6a), ג֭וֹיִם (v.16a), כָּל־גּ֝וֹיִ֗ם (v.18b), ג֝וֹיִ֗ם (v.20b), גוֹיִ֑ם (v.21b) | end of psalm (vv.16-21) | beginning of section (v.6a: גָּעַ֣רְתָּ ג֭וֹיִם; v.16a: טָבְע֣וּ ג֭וֹיִם) | v.6a (גָּעַ֣רְתָּ ג֭וֹיִם) – v.16a (טָבְע֣וּ ג֭וֹיִם); v.20b (יִשָּׁפְט֥וּ ג֝וֹיִ֗ם) – v.21b (יֵדְע֥וּ גוֹיִ֑ם) | gives cohesion to whole psalm, vv.16-21, and, especially, vv.20-21 |
| צֶדֶק | צֶֽדֶק (v.5b), בְּצֶ֑דֶק (v.9a) | v.5b (שׁוֹפֵ֥ט צֶֽדֶק) – v.9a (יִשְׁפֹּֽט... בְּצֶ֑דֶק) | |||
| כִּסֵּא | לְ֝כִסֵּ֗א (v.5a), כִּסְאֽוֹ (v.8b) | ||||
| ישׁב | יָשַׁ֥בְתָּ (v.5b), יֵשֵׁ֑ב (v.8a), יֹשֵׁ֣ב צִיּ֑וֹן (v.12a) | beginning of a section (vv.8a, 12a) | anaphora (vv.8a, 12a) | ||
| דִין | וְדִינִ֑י (v.5a), יָדִ֥ין (v.9b) | ||||
| שׁפט | מִשְׁפָּטִ֣י (v.5a), שׁוֹפֵ֥ט (v.5b), לַמִּשְׁפָּ֣ט (v.8b), יִשְׁפֹּֽט (v.9a), מִשְׁפָּ֪ט (v.17a), יִשָּׁפְט֥וּ (v.20b) | v.5ab, vv.8b-9a | gives cohesion to the whole psalm, to v.5, and to vv.8-9 | ||
| עשׂה | עָ֭שִׂיתָ (v.5a), עָשׂ֑וּ (v.16a), עָ֫שָׂ֥ה (v.17a) | vv.16-17 | v.16a – v.17a (in both lines, עשׂה is the last word) | gives cohesion to vv.16-17 | |
| פָּנֶיךָ | מִפָּנֶֽיךָ (v.4b), עַל־פָּנֶֽיךָ (v.20b) | ||||
| אבד | וְ֝יֹאבְד֗וּ (v.4b), אִבַּ֣דְתָּ (v.6a), אָבַ֖ד (v.7c), תֹּאבַ֥ד (v.19b) | vv.4-7 (3x) | contrast between the wicked, who will perish (vv.4b, 6a, 7c) and the righteous, whose hope will not perish (v.19b) | "The first three of these occurrences constitute another case of the rhetorical device of intensification... The first occurrence of אבד in v.4 describes the fate of the enemies... In v.6, the repetition of the term serves to emphasize Yahweh's punitive destruction and also helps to equate the psalmist's 'enemies' (v.4) with 'the nations' (גוים) and 'the wicked' (רשׁע). Then in v.7 comes the intensification... The enemy/nations/wicked is not only 'destroyed'–their very memory is 'destroyed.'"[1] | |
| אוֹיֵב | אוֹיְבַ֥י (v.4a), הָֽאוֹיֵ֨ב (v.7a) | ||||
| שׁוּב | בְּשׁוּב (v.4a), יָשׁ֣וּבוּ (v.18a) | first word of strophe in both cases (vv.4a, 18a) | v.4a – v.18a; in both cases the subject/agent is the wicked (אוֹיְבַ֥י / רְשָׁעִ֣ים). "the repetition of this term is an example of a type of intensification. That is, in v.4 the reader has to wait until vv.6-7 to discover the full extent of the destruction of the wicked enemies (the nations). In v.18, however, there is additional information, a 'heightening' (Alter), if you will, in connection with the 'turning' of the psalmist's adversaries... The reader does not have to wait further or to guess regarding the extent of their destructions."[2] | anaphora (vv.4a, 18a) | |
| שֵׁם | שִׁמְךָ֣ (v.3b), שְׁמָ֥ם (v.6b), יוֹדְעֵ֣י שְׁמֶ֑ךָ (v.11b) | contrast between the name of Yahweh (vv.3b, 11b) and the name of the nations (v.6b) | |||
| זמר | אֲזַמְּרָ֖ה (v.3b), זַמְּר֗וּ (v.12a) | beginning of section (v.12a) | |||
| אֲסַפְּרָה | אֲ֝סַפְּרָ֗ה (v.2b), אֲסַפְּרָ֗ה (v.15a) | v.2 (אֲ֝סַפְּרָ֗ה כָּל־נִפְלְאוֹתֶֽיךָ׃) – v.15 (אֲסַפְּרָ֗ה כָּֽל־תְּהִלָּ֫תֶ֥יךָ) | |||
| כֹּל | בְּכָל־לִבִּ֑י (v.2a), כָּל־נִפְלְאוֹתֶֽיךָ (v.2b), כָּֽל־תְּהִלָּ֫תֶ֥יךָ (v.15a), כָּל־גּ֝וֹיִ֗ם (v.18b) | v.2ab | beginning of psalm (v.2ab) | v.2 (אֲ֝סַפְּרָ֗ה כָּל־נִפְלְאוֹתֶֽיךָ׃) – v.15 (אֲסַפְּרָ֗ה כָּֽל־תְּהִלָּ֫תֶ֥יךָ) |
| 2a | בְּכָל־לִבִּ֑י | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2b | כָּל־נִפְלְאוֹתֶֽיךָ | אֲ֝סַפְּרָ֗ה | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3a | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3b | אֲזַמְּרָ֖ה | שִׁמְךָ֣ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4a | בְּשׁוּב | אוֹיְבַ֥י | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4b | וְ֝יֹאבְד֗וּ | מִפָּנֶֽיךָ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5a | עָ֭שִׂיתָ | מִשְׁפָּטִ֣י | וְדִינִ֑י | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5b | שׁוֹפֵ֥ט | יָשַׁ֥בְתָּ | לְ֝כִסֵּ֗א | צֶֽדֶק | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6a | אִבַּ֣דְתָּ | ג֭וֹיִם | רָשָׁ֑ע | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6b | שְׁמָ֥ם | לְעוֹלָ֥ם | וָעֶֽד | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7a | הָֽאוֹיֵ֨ב | לָ֫נֶ֥צַח | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7b | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7c | אָבַ֖ד | זִכְרָ֣ם | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8a | יֵשֵׁ֑ב | לְעוֹלָ֣ם | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8b | לַמִּשְׁפָּ֣ט | כִּסְאֽוֹ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9a | יִשְׁפֹּֽט | בְּצֶ֑דֶק | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9b | יָדִ֥ין | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10a | מִשְׂגָּ֣ב | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10b | מִשְׂגָּ֣ב | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11a | שְׁמֶ֑ךָ | יוֹדְעֵ֣י | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11b | דֹרְשֶׁ֣יךָ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12a | זַמְּר֗וּ | יֹשֵׁ֣ב | צִיּ֑וֹן | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12b | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13a | זָכָ֑ר | דֹרֵ֣שׁ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13b | שָׁ֝כַ֗ח | עניים | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 14a | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 14b | עָ֭נְיִי | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 14c | מִשַּׁ֥עֲרֵי | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15a | כָּֽל־תְּהִלָּ֫תֶ֥יךָ | אֲסַפְּרָ֗ה | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15b | בַת־צִיּ֑וֹן | בְּשַֽׁעֲרֵ֥י | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15c | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 16a | עָשׂ֑וּ | ג֭וֹיִם | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 16b | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 17a | עָ֫שָׂ֥ה | מִשְׁפָּ֪ט | נ֤וֹדַ֨ע | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 17b | רָשָׁ֑ע | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 18a | יָשׁ֣וּבוּ | כָּל־גּ֝וֹיִ֗ם | רְשָׁעִ֣ים | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 18b | כָּל־גּ֝וֹיִ֗ם | גּ֝וֹיִ֗ם | שְׁכֵחֵ֥י | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 19a | לָ֭נֶצַח | יִשָּׁכַ֣ח | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 19b | תֹּאבַ֥ד | לָעַֽד | ענוים | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20a | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20b | עַל־פָּנֶֽיךָ | יִשָּׁפְט֥וּ | ג֝וֹיִ֗ם | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 21a | אֱנ֑וֹשׁ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 21b | גוֹיִ֑ם | יֵדְע֥וּ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 21c | אֱנ֖וֹשׁ |
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"Each [strophe] contains two instances of a particular important word. The only time this happens halfway, in strophe 6 (the דרשׁ there is the counterpart of דרשׁ in v.11b, in the previous strophe), is amply compensated by the climax: in strophe 10 we find this form of repetition no fewer than four times."[3]
- Strophe 1 – כֹּל (v.2ab)
- Strophe 2 – שׁפט (v.5ab)
- Strophe 3 – אבד (vv.6a, 7c)
- Strophe 4 – שׁפט (vv.8b, 9a)
- Strophe 5 – מִשְׂגָּב (v.10ab)
- Strophe 6 – דרשׁ in v.13a as an echo of v.11b
- Strophe 7 – שַׁעֲרֵי (vv.14c, 15b)
- Strophe 8 – עשׂה (vv.16a, 17a)
- Strophe 9 – שׁכח (vv.18b, 19a)
- Strophe 10 – יהוה (vv.20a, 21a), אנושׁ (vv.20a, 21c), גוים (vv.20b, 21b), המה/להם (v.21ac)
"Strophes 2 and 4 are set apart from their environment as they contain the same five terms for the Judge on his throne and his decisive handling of justice (שׁפט, צדק, דין, ישׁב, כסא)."[4]
This feature is considered relevant for this psalm.,
| Definition Feature being studied | Occurrences Sections where this feature is present or absent | Clustering | Intersection | Connections | Structure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| pit | בְּשַׁ֣חַת (v.16a), לִשְׁא֑וֹלָה (v.18a) | beginning of strophes (vv.16-17, 18-19) | "There is a sarcastic wordplay in Ps. 9 between שׁחת in v.16 and שׁאול in v.18. The former term, while usually referring to a pit in which an animal can be trapped, can also be used as a synonym for death of שׁאול (see Pss 16:10; 30:10; 49:10; 55:24 and 103:4). This wordplay is sarcastic because the 'pit' made by the wicked nations for others, into which they themselves fall, foreshadows the 'pit' (Sheol) which they have not made but to which they will be turned."[5] | anaphora (vv.16a, 18a); gives cohesion to vv.16-19 | |
| characterizations of the righteous | לַדָּ֑ךְ (v.10a), יוֹדְעֵ֣י שְׁמֶ֑ךָ (v.11a), דֹרְשֶׁ֣יךָ (v.11b), עניים (v.13b), עָ֭נְיִי (v.14b [adj.]), אֶבְי֑וֹן (v.19a), ענוים (v.19b) | vv.10-14 | clusters in middle of psalm (stanzas 2-3) | gives cohesion to vv.10-14 and, consequently, the two middle stanzas (vv.8-15); together, these various characterizations of the righteous merge to form a coherent picture | |
| characterizations of the wicked | אוֹיְבַ֥י (v.4a), ג֭וֹיִם (v.6a), רָשָׁ֑ע (v.6a), הָֽאוֹיֵ֨ב (v.7a), ג֭וֹיִם (v.16a), רָשָׁ֑ע (v.17b), רְשָׁעִ֣ים (v.18a), כָּל־גּ֝וֹיִ֗ם (v.18b), שְׁכֵחֵ֥י אֱלֹהִֽים (v.18b), אֱנ֑וֹשׁ (v.20a), ג֝וֹיִ֗ם (v.20b), גוֹיִ֑ם (v.21b), אֱנ֖וֹשׁ (v.21c) | vv.4-7; vv.16-21 | first stanza (vv.2-7); last stanza (vv.16-21) | gives cohesion to vv.4-7 and vv.16-21, and, consequently, the two outer stanzas (vv.2-7, 16-21); together, these various characterizations of the wicked merge to form a coherent picture | |
| time | לְעוֹלָ֥ם וָעֶֽד (v.6b), לָ֫נֶ֥צַח (v.7a), לְעוֹלָ֣ם (v.8a), לָ֭נֶצַח (v.19a), לָעַֽד (v.19b) | vv.6-8; v.19 | |||
| praise | אוֹדֶ֣ה (v.2a), אֶשְׂמְחָ֣ה וְאֶעֶלְצָ֣ה (v.3a), אֲזַמְּרָ֖ה (v.3b), זַמְּר֗וּ (v.12a), הַגִּ֥ידוּ (v.12b), אֲסַפְּרָ֗ה כָּֽל־תְּהִלָּ֫תֶ֥יךָ (v.15a), אָ֝גִ֗ילָה (v.15c) | vv.2-3; v.12; v.15 | vv.2-3 – vv.12-15 | gives cohesion to vv.2-3, vv.12-v.15; forms chiasm (vv.12-15): a praise (v.12) b rescue from affliction (v.13) b' rescue from affliction (v.14) a' praise (v.15); anaphora: second half of psalm (v.12) begins with praise (cf. v.2) | |
| cognitive (remember, forget, know) | זִכְרָ֣ם (v.7c), יוֹדְעֵ֣י (v.11a), זָכָ֑ר (v.13a), לֹֽא־שָׁ֝כַ֗ח (v.13b), נ֤וֹדַ֨ע (v.17a), שְׁכֵחֵ֥י אֱלֹהִֽים (v.18b), יִשָּׁכַ֣ח (v.19a), יֵדְע֥וּ (v.21b) | "Such satirical language also functions to contrast the fates of those who 'forget' God' with those who 'are remembered' by God. At the end of the day, there is a complete and profound 'reversal' of fortunes."[6] | |||
| judicial/legal | מִשְׁפָּטִ֣י וְדִינִ֑י (v.5a), שׁוֹפֵ֥ט צֶֽדֶק (v.5b), לַמִּשְׁפָּ֣ט (v.8b), יִשְׁפֹּֽט־תֵּבֵ֥ל בְּצֶ֑דֶק (v.9a), יָדִ֥ין... בְּמֵישָׁרִֽים (v.9b), דֹרֵ֣שׁ דָּ֭מִים (v.13a), מִשְׁפָּ֪ט (v.17a), קוּמָ֣ה (v.20a), יִשָּׁפְט֥וּ (v.20b) | vv.5, 9 | gives cohesion to the whole psalm |
This feature is considered relevant for this psalm.,
Other
Semantic Density
- v.8a. ישׁב may mean either sit (=metonymy for reign [sit on a throne]) or inhabit (=inhabit a city). The former meaning is clearly in view, since the b-line refers to a throne (כסא, v.8b). And yet the latter meaning is also implied in the contrast with the enemies' cities (ערים, v.7bc). Their cities are wiped out, but Yahweh forever inhabits Zion (cf. v.12a).
- ↑ Les D. Maloney, A Word Fitly Spoken: Poetic Artistry in the First Four Acrostics of the Hebrew Psalter, Vol. 119 in Studies in Biblical Literature (New York: Peter Lang Publishing, 2009), 31.
- ↑ Les D. Maloney, A Word Fitly Spoken: Poetic Artistry in the First Four Acrostics of the Hebrew Psalter, Vol. 119 in Studies in Biblical Literature (New York: Peter Lang Publishing, 2009), 27-28.
- ↑ J.P. Fokkelman, Major Poems of the Hebrew Bible: At the Interface of Prosody and Structural Analysis, Vol. 2 (Assen: Van Gorcum, 2000), 75.
- ↑ J.P. Fokkelman, Major Poems of the Hebrew Bible: At the Interface of Prosody and Structural Analysis, Vol. 2 (Assen: Van Gorcum, 2000), 74.
- ↑ Les D. Maloney, A Word Fitly Spoken: Poetic Artistry in the First Four Acrostics of the Hebrew Psalter, Vol. 119 in Studies in Biblical Literature (New York: Peter Lang Publishing, 2009), 25.
- ↑ Les D. Maloney, A Word Fitly Spoken: Poetic Artistry in the First Four Acrostics of the Hebrew Psalter, Vol. 119 in Studies in Biblical Literature (New York: Peter Lang Publishing, 2009), 32.