The Grammar of Ps 1:3d

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Psalm Overview

Exegetical Issues for Psalm 1:

  • The Identity of the Person in Ps 1:1
  • The Grammar of Ps 1:3d (Draft)
  • The Meaning of מִשׁפָּט in Ps. 1:5 (Draft)

    • Introduction

    The Hebrew text of Psalm 1:3 reads as follows:[1]

    וְֽהָיָ֗ה כְּעֵץ֮ שָׁת֪וּל עַֽל־פַּלְגֵ֫י מָ֥יִם
    אֲשֶׁ֤ר פִּרְי֨וֹ ׀ יִתֵּ֬ן בְּעִתּ֗וֹ
    וְעָלֵ֥הוּ לֹֽא־יִבּ֑וֹל
    וְכֹ֖ל אֲשֶׁר־יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה יַצְלִֽיחַ׃

    The final line of this verse (v. 3d) is difficult to interpret, and translations reflect several different interpretations. Compare, for example, the following three translations:

    • "In all that he does, he prospers" (ESV)
    • "...and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper" (KJV)
    • "...and whatever it produces thrives" (NJPS)

    According to the ESV, the subject of the verb "prospers" (יַצְלִיחַ) is the person, and the phrase "all that he does" (כֹל אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂה) is adverbial. According to the KJV, however, the phrase "all that he does" is the subject of the verb "prospers." The NJPS translation agrees with the syntactic analysis of the KJV, but, unlike the KJV, it understands the whole verse to be speaking about the tree: "whatever it produces..."

    The differences in translation reflect two distinct issues in this line:

    1. The syntax, specifically the syntactic function of the phrase "all that he/it does/produces" (כֹל אֲשֶׁר־יַעֲשֶׂה). Is it the subject, the object, or an adverbial?
    2. The subject of the verbs (יַעֲשֶׂה and יַצְלִיחַ). Is it the tree or the person?

    Argument Maps

    Syntactic function of "all that he does"

    The first issue in v. 3d is syntactic. The phrase "all that he does" (כֹל אֲשֶׁר־יַעֲשֶׂה) could be either (1) the subject of the clause ("all that he does prospers"), (2) adverbial ("he prospers in all that he does"), or (3) the direct object of the clause ("he makes causes all that he does to prosper").

    "All that he does" as Subject

    Most translations indicate that the phrase "all that he does" is the subject of the verb יַצְלִיחַ (e.g., KJV, NIV, NJB, LUT, HFA, NGÜ, ELB, EÜ, GNB, ZÜR, RVR95, NVI, BTX4, NBS, NVS78P, BDS, NFC, S21). The NIV, for example, says, "whatever they do prospers." 

    
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["All that he does" as subject]: The subject of יַצְלִיחַ is probably the phrase "all that he does" (cf. DCH :L:). #dispreferred
 + <Ancient translations>: Jerome and possibly also the LXX (according to Jerome iuxta LXX, Septuaginta Deutsch, La Bible d'Alexandrie) interpret "all that he/it does" (וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂה) as the subject of יַצְלִיחַ #dispreferred
  + [LXX]: καὶ πάντα, ὅσα ἂν ποιῇ, κατευοδωθήσεται #dispreferred
  + [Jerome iuxta Hebreaos]: et omne quod fecerit prosperabitur #dispreferred
 - <Non-human subject>: The hiphil verb הצליח cannot take a non-human subject (Delitzsch 1894 :C:).
  - <Judges 18:5 and Sirach>: "The verb צלח (hiphil) can be used intransitively with an impersonal (=non-human) subject" (Goldingay 2006 :C:). #dispreferred
   + <Intransitive hiphil>: "Quite often the meaning \[of hiphil\] is intransitive causative, or ingressive, that is to say the action remains with the subject itself, constituting an intransitive counterpart of the factitive Piel" (JM §54d :G:).#dispreferred
    + [Intransitive hiphil]: E.g., הִשְׁמִין "to become fat;" הֶאֱדִים "to become red;" הִזְקִין "to grow old;" etc. (see JM §54 :G:). #dispreferred
   + [Judges 18:5]: וְנֵ֣דְעָ֔ה הֲתַצְלִ֣יחַ דַּרְכֵּ֔נוּ (Judg 18:5) #dispreferred
    <_ <Uncertain text>: The Leningrad Codex's text of Judg 18:5 is questionable. The Aleppo Codex and the Cairo Codex read the consonantal text as התצלח, which is more likely vocalized as a qal verb. Furthermore, all of the ancient versions appear to have read it as a qal verb.
     + [Versions]: E.g., LXX: εἰ κατευοδοῖ/εὐοδωθήσεται ἡ ὁδὸς ἡμῶνl; Peshitta: ܐܢ ܡܟܫܪܐ ܐܘܪܚܐ; Targum Jonathan: הְתַצלַח אוֹרחָתַנָא; Vulgate: an prospero itinere pergerent.
      <_ <Not conclusive>: "The evidence of the versions is not conclusive. G \[i.e., Codex Alexandrinus\] translates it as qal with ἡ ὁδός as subject. G-L2 and G-M \[i.e., other Greek manuscript groups\] and La \[i.e., Old Latin\] interpret it as hifil with τὴν ὁδόν as direct complement. V is paraphrastic: an prospero itinere pergerent. S and T apparently interpret it as qal" (Fernández Marcos 2011, 101 :C:). #dispreferred
   + [Sirach 38:13; 39:18]: כי יש עת אשר בידו מצלחת (Sir. 18:13), in ref. to healing; רצונו יצליח Sir. (39:18). #dispreferred
    <_ <מצלחת as noun>: In Sir. 38:13, מצלחת should probably be pointed as a noun: מִצְלַחַת ("success").
     + [מצלחת as noun in LXX (εὐοδία)]: LXX: ἔστιν καιρὸς ὅτε καὶ ἐν χερσὶν αὐτῶν εὐοδία (Sir. 38:13).
    <_ <אל as subject>: In Sir. 39:18, רצונו might be the object, and the subject may instead be God (אל), who "causes his will to succeed."


    Argument Mapn0"All that he does" as subjectThe subject of יַצְלִיחַ is probably the phrase "all that he does" (cf. DCH 🄻). n1LXXκαὶ πάντα, ὅσα ἂν ποιῇ, κατευοδωθήσεται n8Ancient translationsJerome and possibly also the LXX (according to Jerome iuxta LXX, Septuaginta Deutsch, La Bible d'Alexandrie) interpret "all that he/it does" (וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂה) as the subject of יַצְלִיחַ n1->n8n2Jerome iuxta Hebreaoset omne quod fecerit prosperabitur n2->n8n3Intransitive hiphilE.g., הִשְׁמִין "to become fat;" הֶאֱדִים "to become red;" הִזְקִין "to grow old;" etc. (see JM §54 🄶). n11Intransitive hiphil"Quite often the meaning [of hiphil] is intransitive causative, or ingressive, that is to say the action remains with the subject itself, constituting an intransitive counterpart of the factitive Piel" (JM §54d 🄶).n3->n11n4Judges 18:5וְנֵ֣דְעָ֔ה הֲתַצְלִ֣יחַ דַּרְכֵּ֔נוּ (Judg 18:5) n10Judges 18:5 and Sirach"The verb צלח (hiphil) can be used intransitively with an impersonal (=non-human) subject" (Goldingay 2006 🄲). n4->n10n5VersionsE.g., LXX: εἰ κατευοδοῖ/εὐοδωθήσεται ἡ ὁδὸς ἡμῶνl; Peshitta: ܐܢ ܡܟܫܪܐ ܐܘܪܚܐ; Targum Jonathan: הְתַצלַח אוֹרחָתַנָא; Vulgate: an prospero itinere pergerent.n12Uncertain textThe Leningrad Codex's text of Judg 18:5 is questionable. The Aleppo Codex and the Cairo Codex read the consonantal text as התצלח, which is more likely vocalized as a qal verb. Furthermore, all of the ancient versions appear to have read it as a qal verb.n5->n12n6Sirach 38:13; 39:18כי יש עת אשר בידו מצלחת (Sir. 18:13), in ref. to healing; רצונו יצליח Sir. (39:18). n6->n10n7מצלחת as noun in LXX (εὐοδία)LXX: ἔστιν καιρὸς ὅτε καὶ ἐν χερσὶν αὐτῶν εὐοδία (Sir. 38:13).n14מצלחת as nounIn Sir. 38:13, מצלחת should probably be pointed as a noun: מִצְלַחַת ("success").n7->n14n8->n0n9Non-human subjectThe hiphil verb הצליח cannot take a non-human subject (Delitzsch 1894 🄲).n9->n0n10->n9n11->n10n12->n4n13Not conclusive"The evidence of the versions is not conclusive. G [i.e., Codex Alexandrinus] translates it as qal with ἡ ὁδός as subject. G-L2 and G-M [i.e., other Greek manuscript groups] and La [i.e., Old Latin] interpret it as hifil with τὴν ὁδόν as direct complement. V is paraphrastic: an prospero itinere pergerent. S and T apparently interpret it as qal" (Fernández Marcos 2011, 101 🄲). n13->n5n14->n6n15אל as subjectIn Sir. 39:18, רצונו might be the object, and the subject may instead be God (אל), who "causes his will to succeed."n15->n6


    "All that he does" as Adverbial

    Some translations (especially modern English translations) interpret the phrase "all that he does" as adverbial. The ESV, for example, says, "In all that he does, he prospers." 

    
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[Adverbial]: The phrase "all that he does" is adverbial (cf. HALOT :L:): "in all that he does..."#dispreferred
 + <Intransitive usage of הצליח>: The intransitive usage of הצליח (with a personal subject) is the most common and therefore the most natural (Arbez 1945 :A:)."#dispreferred
  + [Intransitive usage of הצליח]: 2 Chron. 32:30 — וַיַּצְלַ֥ח יְחִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ בְּכָֽל־מַעֲשֵֽׂהוּ. Cf. 1 Kgs 22:12 (= 2 Chron 18:11), 15 (= 2 Chron 18:14); Isa 55:11; Jer 2:37; 5:28; 32:5; Prov 28:13; 8:12, 24; 11:36; Dan 8:12, 24; 1 Chron 22:11, 13; 29:23; 2 Chron 13:12; 14:6; 20:20; 24:20."#dispreferred
 - <No preposition>: If the phrase "all that he does" were adverbial, then we would expect it to have a beth preposition as, for example, in 2 Chron 32:30.
  + [2 Chronicles 32:30]: וַיַּצְלַ֥ח יְחִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ בְּכָֽל־מַעֲשֵֽׂהוּ (II Chron 32:30).
 + <LXX>: The LXX (according to NETS) seems to interpret "all that he/it does" (וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂה) as an accusative of respect ("in all that he/it does"). #dispreferred
  + [LXX]: καὶ πάντα, ὅσα ἂν ποιῇ, κατευοδωθήσεται #dispreferred


    Argument Mapn0AdverbialThe phrase "all that he does" is adverbial (cf. HALOT 🄻): "in all that he does..."n1Intransitive usage of הצליח2 Chron. 32:30 — וַיַּצְלַ֥ח יְחִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ בְּכָֽל־מַעֲשֵֽׂהוּ. Cf. 1 Kgs 22:12 (= 2 Chron 18:11), 15 (= 2 Chron 18:14); Isa 55:11; Jer 2:37; 5:28; 32:5; Prov 28:13; 8:12, 24; 11:36; Dan 8:12, 24; 1 Chron 22:11, 13; 29:23; 2 Chron 13:12; 14:6; 20:20; 24:20."n4Intransitive usage of הצליחThe intransitive usage of הצליח (with a personal subject) is the most common and therefore the most natural (Arbez 1945 🄰)."n1->n4n22 Chronicles 32:30וַיַּצְלַ֥ח יְחִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ בְּכָֽל־מַעֲשֵֽׂהוּ (II Chron 32:30).n5No prepositionIf the phrase "all that he does" were adverbial, then we would expect it to have a beth preposition as, for example, in 2 Chron 32:30.n2->n5n3LXXκαὶ πάντα, ὅσα ἂν ποιῇ, κατευοδωθήσεται n6LXXThe LXX (according to NETS) seems to interpret "all that he/it does" (וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂה) as an accusative of respect ("in all that he/it does"). n3->n6n4->n0n5->n0n6->n0


    "All that he does" as Direct Object (preferred)

    The phrase "all that he does" could also be the direct object of the verb. Although this interpretation is not explicitly represented in any of the translations consulted, a number of commentators have argued for it. 

    
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[Direct object]: The phrase וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר־יַעֲשֶׂה is the direct object of the verb יַצְלִיחַ (cf. Gesenius 2013, 1118 :L:; Hengstenberg 1849 :C:; Delitzsch 1894 :C:; Baethgen 1904 :C:).
 + <Analogous constructions>: In other passages where similar constructions occur, the verb הצליח is transitive (Baethgen 1904, 3 :C:).
  + [Analogous constructions]: 2 Chron 7:11 - וְאֵ֨ת כָּל־הַבָּ֜א עַל־לֵ֣ב שְׁלֹמֹ֗ה לַעֲשׂ֧וֹת בְּבֵית־יְהוָ֛ה וּבְבֵית֖וֹ הִצְלִֽיחַ. Cf. Ps 37:7; Deut 28:29; Isa 48:15.


    Argument Mapn0Direct objectThe phrase וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר־יַעֲשֶׂה is the direct object of the verb יַצְלִיחַ (cf. Gesenius 2013, 1118 🄻; Hengstenberg 1849 🄲; Delitzsch 1894 🄲; Baethgen 1904 🄲).n1Analogous constructions2 Chron 7:11 - וְאֵ֨ת כָּל־הַבָּ֜א עַל־לֵ֣ב שְׁלֹמֹ֗ה לַעֲשׂ֧וֹת בְּבֵית־יְהוָ֛ה וּבְבֵית֖וֹ הִצְלִֽיחַ. Cf. Ps 37:7; Deut 28:29; Isa 48:15.n2Analogous constructionsIn other passages where similar constructions occur, the verb הצליח is transitive (Baethgen 1904, 3 🄲).n1->n2n2->n0


    Subject of the verbs

    In addition to the syntactic issue, it is not clear who is the subject of the verbs in this line. Possible subjects include (1) the person, (2) the tree, (3) YHWH, or some combination of these subjects.

    Person as Subject (preferred)

    Some translations indicate that the person is the subject of both verbs (e.g., ESV, NLT, CEV, GNT, NET, NRSV, NEB, REB, TOB, PDV2017). The ESV, for example, says, "In all that he does, he prospers." 

    
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[Person]: The subject of both יַעֲשֶׂה and יַצְלִיחַ is the person: "he makes successful all that he does" (Ibn Ezra :C:).
 + <Personal subject>: The hiphil verb הצליח usually, if not always, has a human subject (Delitzsch 1894 :C:).
  + [Personal subject]: Deut 28:29; 1 Kgs 22:12 (= 2 Chron. 18:11), 15 (= 2 Chron 18:14); Isa 48:15; 55:11; Jer 2:37; 5:28; 32:5; Ps 37:7; Prov 28:13; Dan 8:12, 24; 11:36; 1 Chron 22:11, 13; 29:23; 2 Chron 7:11; 13:12; 14:6; 20:20; 24:20; 31:21; 32:30.
 + <Josh 1:7-8>: Psalm 1 probably alludes to Joshua 1:7–8, where the subject of הצליח is a person (i.e., Joshua).
  + [Joshua 1:7–8]: "Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law (הַתּוֹרָה) my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night (וְהָגִיתָ בּוֹ יוֹמָם וָלַיְלָה), so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous \[lit.: 'you will cause your ways to be successful':  תַּצְלִיחַ אֶת־דְּרָכֶךָ \] and successful" (Josh 1:7-8, NIV).
  + <Allusion to Joshua 1:7-8>: "The psalmist goes on to allude to the call to meditate on Torah of Josh 1... Only Josh 1 and Ps 1 use 'meditate' in reference to torah, making relationship likely" (Schnittjer 2021, 479 :M:; cf. Creach 1999 :C:).


    Argument Mapn0PersonThe subject of both יַעֲשֶׂה and יַצְלִיחַ is the person: "he makes successful all that he does" (Ibn Ezra 🄲).n1Personal subjectDeut 28:29; 1 Kgs 22:12 (= 2 Chron. 18:11), 15 (= 2 Chron 18:14); Isa 48:15; 55:11; Jer 2:37; 5:28; 32:5; Ps 37:7; Prov 28:13; Dan 8:12, 24; 11:36; 1 Chron 22:11, 13; 29:23; 2 Chron 7:11; 13:12; 14:6; 20:20; 24:20; 31:21; 32:30.n3Personal subjectThe hiphil verb הצליח usually, if not always, has a human subject (Delitzsch 1894 🄲).n1->n3n2Joshua 1:7–8"Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law (הַתּוֹרָה) my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night (וְהָגִיתָ בּוֹ יוֹמָם וָלַיְלָה), so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous [lit.: 'you will cause your ways to be successful': תַּצְלִיחַ אֶת־דְּרָכֶךָ ] and successful" (Josh 1:7-8, NIV).n4Josh 1:7-8Psalm 1 probably alludes to Joshua 1:7–8, where the subject of הצליח is a person (i.e., Joshua).n2->n4n3->n0n4->n0n5Allusion to Joshua 1:7-8"The psalmist goes on to allude to the call to meditate on Torah of Josh 1... Only Josh 1 and Ps 1 use 'meditate' in reference to torah, making relationship likely" (Schnittjer 2021, 479 🄼; cf. Creach 1999 🄲).n5->n4


    Tree as Subject

    A small number of translations indicate that v. 3d actually continues the tree imagery from the previous two lines. The NJPS translation, for example, says, "and whatever it produces thrives." 

    
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[Tree]: The subject of both verbs is the tree: "it brings to fruition all that it produces" (cf. Rabbi Obadiah ben Jacob Sforno :C:). #dispreferred
 + <עָשָׂה with tree as subject>: The verb עָשָׂה can refer to the activity of a tree. #dispreferred
   + [עָשָׂה with tree as subject]: Gen 1:11-12; Isa 5:2,4,10; 37:31 (= 2 Kgs 19:30); Jer 12:2; 17:8; Hos 8:7; 9:17. #dispreferred
 + <צלח with tree as subject>: The verb צלח can refer to the flourishing of a tree. #dispreferred
  + <Ezekiel 17:8-10>: Ezek 17:8-10, which "speaks of a vine planted (שתל) by abundant waters to be productive (עשה), a plant that is expected to flourish (צלח)... is an especially pertinent parallel" (Seow 2016, 284 :A:). #dispreferred
   + [Ezekiel 17:10]: וְהִנֵּ֥ה שְׁתוּלָ֖ה הֲתִצְלָ֑ח הֲלוֹא֩ כְגַ֨עַת בָּ֜הּ ר֤וּחַ הַקָּדִים֙ תִּיבַ֣שׁ יָבֹ֔שׁ עַל־עֲרֻגֹ֥ת צִמְחָ֖הּ תִּיבָֽשׁ #dispreferred
    <_ <Qal vs Hiphil>: The verb in Ezek 17:10 is in the qal stem, whereas the verb in Ps 1:3 is in the hiphil stem.
 - <Awkward and Tautologous>:If the subject of יַעֲשֶׂה is the tree, then the line adds nothing new to what has already been said in the previous two lines (v. 3bc). It is tautologous (Arbez 1945 :A:), "forced and unnatural" (Baethgen 1904, 3 :C:), and a "frigid and dull repetition" (Hupfeld 1855, 11 :C:).
 - <v. 3d independent of v. 3bc>: "The colon (v. 3d) does not concern part of the tree but rather, like line A, is a statement of a more general nature. The clause contains no proforms (such as 'its' in lines B and C) referring back to the tree, and grammatically it is not contained within the relative clause in which lines B and C are situated. Line D, therefore, evidently stands independently of the preceding two lines" (Lunn 2006, 198 :M:).
 + <Targum>: The Targum understands the tree to be the subject. #dispreferred
  + [Targum]: וכל לובלבוי דמלבלב מגרגר ומצלח. "And all its blossom which blooms ripens successfully into berries" (Stec 2004, 29). #dispreferred


    Argument Mapn0TreeThe subject of both verbs is the tree: "it brings to fruition all that it produces" (cf. Rabbi Obadiah ben Jacob Sforno 🄲). n1עָשָׂה with tree as subjectGen 1:11-12; Isa 5:2,4,10; 37:31 (= 2 Kgs 19:30); Jer 12:2; 17:8; Hos 8:7; 9:17. n4עָשָׂה with tree as subjectThe verb עָשָׂה can refer to the activity of a tree. n1->n4n2Ezekiel 17:10וְהִנֵּ֥ה שְׁתוּלָ֖ה הֲתִצְלָ֑ח הֲלוֹא֩ כְגַ֨עַת בָּ֜הּ ר֤וּחַ הַקָּדִים֙ תִּיבַ֣שׁ יָבֹ֔שׁ עַל־עֲרֻגֹ֥ת צִמְחָ֖הּ תִּיבָֽשׁ n6Ezekiel 17:8-10Ezek 17:8-10, which "speaks of a vine planted (שתל) by abundant waters to be productive (עשה), a plant that is expected to flourish (צלח)... is an especially pertinent parallel" (Seow 2016, 284 🄰). n2->n6n3Targumוכל לובלבוי דמלבלב מגרגר ומצלח. "And all its blossom which blooms ripens successfully into berries" (Stec 2004, 29). n10TargumThe Targum understands the tree to be the subject. n3->n10n4->n0n5צלח with tree as subjectThe verb צלח can refer to the flourishing of a tree. n5->n0n6->n5n7Qal vs HiphilThe verb in Ezek 17:10 is in the qal stem, whereas the verb in Ps 1:3 is in the hiphil stem.n7->n2n8Awkward and TautologousIf the subject of יַעֲשֶׂה is the tree, then the line adds nothing new to what has already been said in the previous two lines (v. 3bc). It is tautologous (Arbez 1945 🄰), "forced and unnatural" (Baethgen 1904, 3 🄲), and a "frigid and dull repetition" (Hupfeld 1855, 11 🄲).n8->n0n9v. 3d independent of v. 3bc"The colon (v. 3d) does not concern part of the tree but rather, like line A, is a statement of a more general nature. The clause contains no proforms (such as 'its' in lines B and C) referring back to the tree, and grammatically it is not contained within the relative clause in which lines B and C are situated. Line D, therefore, evidently stands independently of the preceding two lines" (Lunn 2006, 198 🄼).n9->n0n10->n0


    YHWH as Subject of יַצְלִיחַ

    It is also possible that YHWH is the subject of יַצְלִיחַ: "everything that the man/tree does, YHWH causes it to prosper." However, none of the translations consulted represent this view. 

    
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[YHWH]: The subject of יַצְלִיחַ is YHWH, who causes everything the person does to prosper. #dispreferred
 + <Cotext>:According to Ps 1, YHWH is the one who ensures success and brings flourishing (cf. v. 6). Within the framework of this message, the subject of יַצְלִיחַ is best understood as YHWH. #dispreferred
 + <Genesis 39>: Psalm 1 probably alludes to the Joseph story, in which it is YHWH who causes everything Joseph does to prosper. #dispreferred
  + [Genesis 39]: "the LORD caused all that he did to succeed in his hands (וְכֹל֙ אֲשֶׁר־ה֣וּא עֹשֶׂ֔ה יְהוָ֖ה מַצְלִ֥יחַ בְּיָדֽוֹ)" (Gen 39:3, ESV; cf. v. 23). #dispreferred
  + <Psalm 1 and the Joseph story>: "The man of Ps. 1 is, like Joseph, a tree planted by streams of water, ever yielding fruit in a barren line; he is, like Joseph, one who prospers in everything he does (Ps 1:3; Gen 49:22; 39:3, 23)" (Mitchell 2016, 59 :M:). #dispreferred
   + [Genesis 49:22]: "Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a spring..." (Gen 49:22, ESV). #dispreferred


    Argument Mapn0YHWHThe subject of יַצְלִיחַ is YHWH, who causes everything the person does to prosper. n1Genesis 39"the LORD caused all that he did to succeed in his hands (וְכֹל֙ אֲשֶׁר־ה֣וּא עֹשֶׂ֔ה יְהוָ֖ה מַצְלִ֥יחַ בְּיָדֽוֹ)" (Gen 39:3, ESV; cf. v. 23). n4Genesis 39Psalm 1 probably alludes to the Joseph story, in which it is YHWH who causes everything Joseph does to prosper. n1->n4n2Genesis 49:22"Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a spring..." (Gen 49:22, ESV). n5Psalm 1 and the Joseph story"The man of Ps. 1 is, like Joseph, a tree planted by streams of water, ever yielding fruit in a barren line; he is, like Joseph, one who prospers in everything he does (Ps 1:3; Gen 49:22; 39:3, 23)" (Mitchell 2016, 59 🄼). n2->n5n3CotextAccording to Ps 1, YHWH is the one who ensures success and brings flourishing (cf. v. 6). Within the framework of this message, the subject of יַצְלִיחַ is best understood as YHWH. n3->n0n4->n0n5->n4


    Conclusion (A)

    The evidence from similar passages in the Hebrew Bible suggests that the phrase כֹל אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂה is the direct object of the verb יַצְלִיחַ (cf. Deut 28:29; Isa 48:15; Ps 37:7; and especially 2 Chron 7:11), which is how the Peshitta has understood the clause: ܟܠ ܕܥܒܕ ܡܫܠܡ ("Everything that he does he brings to completion"). Furthermore, the strong allusion to Joshua 1:7–8, along with the fact that the subject of hiphil הצליח is (almost?) always human, suggests that the subject of both verbs is 'the person.' Thus, we have translated the verse, and he causes all that he does to flourish.

    Although this interpretation seems to be the most natural way to read the text (at least on a surface level reading), it seems likely that the poet has intended a double (or, perhaps, triple) meaning. It can hardly be a coincidence that the poem describes the man who is "like a tree" (v. 3a) using verbs which can refer to trees as well as people (עשׂה and צלח). As Perowne writes, v. 3d represents "a transition from the figure of the tree to the person who is compared to the tree. But, apparently, the verbs are chosen so as to carry on the metaphor; for both of them would refer to the tree as well as to the man."[2] Furthermore, the subtle allusion to Gen 39, along with the overall message of the psalm, opens the possibility of understanding YHWH, the ultimate source of the person's success, as the subject of the verb יַצְלִיחַ. Thus, the use of the verb יַצְלִיחַ ties together the flourishing of the tree, the flourishing of the godly man, and YHWH as the cause of all flourishing. It is also worth noting that the verb צלח is strongly associated with pathway imagery (note the frequent collocation with the noun דֶּרֶךְ; cf. Ps 1:1, 6). The verb צלח is, therefore, a key word in the psalm, uniting in itself the two main images of the psalm (pathway and tree).

    Research

    Translations

    Ancient

    • LXX: καὶ πάντα, ὅσα ἂν ποιῇ, κατευοδωθήσεται[3]
      • "And in all that he[4] does, he[5] will prosper"[6]
      • "Und alles, was er tut, wird gelingen."[7]
      • "Et tout ce qu'il fait sera en bonne voie."[8]
    • Aquila: κατευθυνθήσεται[9]
    • Peshitta: ܟܠ ܕܥܒܕ ܡܫܠܡ܂ [10]
      • "Everything that he does he brings to completion."[11]
    • Jerome (iuxta Hebr.): et omne quod fecerit prosperabitur[12]
    • Targum: וכל לובלבוי דמלבלב מגרגר ומצלח [13]
      • "and all its blossom which blooms ripens successfully into berries."[14]

    Modern

    "All that he does" as subject

    • whatever they do prospers. (NIV)
    • and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. (KJV)
    • and every project succeeds. (NJB)
    • Und was er macht, das gerät wohl. (LUT)
    • Was er sich vornimmt, das gelingt. (HFA)
    • Was ein solcher Mensch unternimmt, das gelingt. (NGÜ)
    • alles, was er tut, gelingt. (ELB)
    • Alles, was er tut, es wird ihm gelingen. (EÜ)
    • Was immer ein solcher Mensch unternimmt, es gelingt ihm gut. (GNB)
    • Alles, was er tut, gerät ihm wohl. (ZÜR)
    • y todo lo que hace prosperará. (RVR95)
    • Todo cuanto hace prospera. (NVI)
    • Y todo lo que hace sera prosperado. (BTX4)
    • tout ce qu'il fait lui réussit. (NBS)
    • Tout ce qu'il fait réussit. (NVS78P)
    • tout ce qu’il fait réussit. (BDS)
    • Tout ce qu'il fait réussit. (NFC)
    • Tout ce qu’il fait lui réussit. (S21)

    Person as subject

    "All that he does" as adverbial
    • In all that he does, he prospers. (ESV)
    • and they prosper in all they do. (NLT)
    • Those people succeed in everything they do. (CEV)
    • They succeed in everything they do. (GNT)
    • He succeeds in everything he attempts. (NET)
    • In all that they do, they prosper. (NRSV)
    • in all that he does he prospers. (NEB)
    • So he too prospers in all he does. (REB)
    • il réussit tout ce qu'il fait.[15] (TOB)
    • Cet homme réussit tout ce qu’il fait. (PDV2017)

    Tree as subject

    • and whatever it produces thrives.[16] (NJPS)

    Secondary Literature

    Arbez, Edward. 1945. “A Study of Psalm 1.” The Catholic Biblical Quarterly 7 (4): 398–404.
    Baethgen, Friedrich. 1904. Die Psalmen. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck und Ruprecht.
    Creach, Jerome. 1999. “Like a Tree Planted by the Temple Stream: The Portrait of the Righteous in Psalm 1:3.” The Catholic Biblical Quarterly 61: 34–46.
    Delitzsch, Franz. 1894. Biblischer Kommentar über die Psalmen. Biblischer Kommentar über das Alte Testament. Leipzig: Dörffling und Franke.
    Dorival, Gilles. 2021. Les Psaumes. Edited by Monique Alexandre and Marguerite Harl. Vol. 1. La Bible d’Alexandrie 20. Paris: Cerf.
    Goldingay, John. 2006. Psalms: Psalms 1–41. Vol. 1. BCOT. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic.
    Hengstenberg, Ernst Wilhelm. 1849. Commentar über die Psalmen. Vol. 1. Berlin: Verlag von Ludwig Oehmigke.
    Hupfeld, Hermann. 1855. Die Psalmen. Vol. 1. Gotha: Friedrich Andreas Perthes.
    Karrer, Martin and Wolfgang Kraus, eds. 2009. “Psalmoi: das Buch der Psalmen,” in Septuaginta Deutsch: Das Griechische Alte Testament in Deutscher Übersetzung: Text, trans. Michaela Bauks et al. Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft.
    Lunn, Nicholas P. 2006. Word-Order Variation in Biblical Hebrew Poetry: Differentiating Pragmatics and Poetics. Paternoster Biblical Monographs. Milton Keynes: Paternoster.
    Mitchell, David C. 2016. Messiah ben Joseph. Newton Mearns: Campbell Publications.
    Perowne, J. J. Stewart. 1870. The Book of Psalms: A New Translation, with Introductions and Notes Explanatory and Critical. London: Bell.
    Schnittjer, Gary Edward. 2021. Old Testament Use of Old Testament: A Book-by-Book Guide. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic.
    Seow, Choon Leong. 2013. “An Exquisitely Poetic Introduction to the Psalter.” Journal of Biblical Literature 132 (2): 275–93.

    References

    1:3

    1. ↑ Hebrew text from OSHB.
    2. ↑ Perowne 1870, 108. Cf. Seow 2016: "The subject of עשה is not only the plant ('it') but also the commendable one ('he')."
    3. ↑ Rahlfs 1931.
    4. ↑ Translation footnote: Or it
    5. ↑ Translation footnote: Or it
    6. ↑ NETS
    7. ↑ Septuaginta Deutsch.
    8. ↑ La Bible d'Alexandrie 2021, 254.
    9. ↑ Field, reconstructed from Latin dirigentur.
    10. ↑ CAL
    11. ↑ Taylor 2020, 3.
    12. ↑ Weber-Gryson 5th edition
    13. ↑ CAL
    14. ↑ Stec 2004, 29
    15. ↑ Translation footnote: Ou avec gr. : tout ce qu'il fait réussira.
    16. ↑ Translation footnote: Or "he does prospers."
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