The Meaning of וּמִשִּׁירִי in Ps. 28:7b

Back to Psalm 28.

Exegetical issues for Psalm 28:

• The Meaning of וּמִשִּׁירִי in Ps. 28:7b
• The Text of Ps. 28:8a
• The Identity of the "Anointed" in Ps. 28:8b

Introduction

The Masoretic text of Ps. 28:7b reads as follows:

וּֽמִשִּׁירִ֥י אֲהֹודֶֽנּוּ׃

The construction וּמִשִּׁירִי ("and out of/from my song") in Psalm 28:7b "is the source of long-standing difficulties; the pointing indicates prefixed מן־ (“from”), which would be peculiar in the context." The difficulty has resulted in a few different translations such as: "and with my song" (ESV), "and with my whole body" (NEB), and "and with all my heart" (NJB). As a result, scholars have either proposed emendations to the MT text or argued for different uses of the preposition מִן. For example, Perowne understands the מִן in מִשִּׁירִי as a מִן of source (מִשִּׁירִי lit. "out of my song">>"with my song"). The song is "the source from which the praised flowed." Phillips, on the other hand, affirms that the מִן has a partitive sense so מִשִּׁירִי is understood as "with a portion of my song will I praise Him" (Ps. 28:7b).

Therefore, there are two issues in this verse: 1. Should וּמִשִּׁירִי be emended? and 2. If the Masoretic text וּמִשִּׁירִי is correct, then what is the syntactic function of the preposition מִן? Each of these issues will be discussed in the argument maps below.

Argument Maps

1. Should וּמִשִּׁירִי be emended?

The first issue in Psalm 28: 7b concerns the Masoretic text. Most translations and scholars follow the Masoretic text and read וּמִשִּׁירִי (lit. "and out of/from my song">>"and with my song"). Some translations and scholars, however, emend וּמִשִּׁירִי to one of the following options:

• וּמִשֹּׁרִי ("and from/out of my strength">>"with all my might")
• וּמִשְּׁאֵרִי or וּמִבְּשָׂרִי ("and with my flesh">>"and with my whole body")
• וּמִלִּבִּי ("and from my heart">>"and with all my heart")
• וּבְשִׁירִי ("and with/in my song")

Should וּמִשִּׁירִי be emended to one of these options? The arguments for and against each view are as follows.

וּמִשִּׁירִי - Following the Masoretic Text (preferred)

The majority of modern translations follow the MT text and read וּמִשִּׁירִי. The following translation illustrates this view: “The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him." (ESV). The arguments for and against this view are as follows.

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[וּמִשִּׁירִי]: The earlier reading of the text is וּמִשִּׁירִי (Barthélemy 2005, 161-163 :C:).
 + <Textual support for וּמִשִּׁירִי>: The MT along with several early witnesses read the text as וּמִשִּׁירִי.
  + [Textual support for וּמִשִּׁירִי]: MT (וּמִשִּׁירִי), Aquila (καὶ ἀπὸ ᾄσματός μου "and from my song"), Quinta (καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ ᾄσματός μου "and from my song"), Targum (ומתושבחתי  "and with my song" (Stec 2004, 67)).
 - <Odd>: The use of the preposition מִן in the reading וּמִשִּׁירִי is odd (cf. Craigie 2004, 236 :C:; Goldingay 2006, 911 :C:). We would expect a בְּ preposition instead.  #dispreferred
  + <בְ is the expected preposition>: The verb ידה (to praise) is typically accompanied by the preposition בְ, not by a מִן preposition.#dispreferred
   + [בְ is the expected preposition]: Ps 43:4 וְאֹודְךָ בְכִנֹּור "and I will praise you with the lyre" (ESV) (cf. also Pss. 86:12; 109:30).#dispreferred
  <_ <More difficult reading>: The reading וּמִשִּׁירִי is the more difficult reading and is therefore to be preferred.
   + <Lectio difficilior praeferenda>: Scribes were more likely to ‘fix’ the text to make it more understandable than make its meaning more obscure.
  <_ <Poetic>: The psalmist might have chosen to use a מִן preposition for poetic reasons. The letter mem is often the rhyming consonant in Psalm 28 (see Fokkelman 2000, 120 footnote 85 :C:).
   + [Poetic]: "In strophes 3-5 (=vv. 3-5) the mem appears 9 + 8 + 5 times! (Six times in strophe 1 (=v. 1), seven times in strophe 7 (=vv. 8-9))" (Fokkelman 2000, 120 footnote 85 :C:).

Emending וּמִשִּׁירִי to וּמִשֹּׁרִי

Some argue that וּמִשִּׁירִי (and from/out of my song) should be emended to וּמִשֹּׁרִי (and from/out of my strength, i.e. with all my might). The argument for this view is as follows.

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[וּמִשֹּׁרִי]: The text should be emended to וּמִשֹּׁרִי (and from/out of my strength).#dispreferred
 + <Suitable sense>: The emendation to וּמִשֹּׁרִי (and from/out of my strength) "restores a suitable sense" to the passage (Driver 1950, 415 :A:).#dispreferred
  + <Parallel שׁר and לב>: The words לב and שׁר are to all intents and purposes parallel terms" (Driver 1950, 415 :A:).#dispreferred
   + [Dan 11:25]: In Dan 11:25, לבב is mentioned together with כח, which is a synonym of שׁר (cf. Driver 1950, 415 :A:).#dispreferred
  - <"Navel">: In the Hebrew Bible, the word שֹׁר does not mean "strength" but rather "navel" (HALOT :L:, DCH :L:). "It is... very questionable whether the meaning strength, health can be accepted for שׁר Pr 3:8, even with the etymological support of Syr. and Arb." (HALOT :L:).
   + ["Navel"]: Song 7:3; Prov 3:8
 + <שֹׁר in Ben Sira>: שִׁיר (song) "is  an error for שֹׁר ‘physical strength, vigour.’ This word occurs again in חיי שׁר ‘vigorous life’ and שׁר עצם ‘strength of bone’ (JbSir. XXX 15, 16) . . . . If then וּמִשִּׁירִי is corrected to מִשֹּׁרִי, the clause may be translated ‘and out of my strength’ or ‘vigor (i.e. with all my might) do I give thanks to Him’” (Driver 1950, 414-5 :A:). #dispreferred
  + [Ben Sira 30:15, 16 (manuscript B III recto)]: חיי שר אויתי מפז ... אין עושר על עושר שר עצם #dispreferred
   <_ <Marginal notes>: Marginal notes in manuscript B suggest that the first שר might instead be read as שאר or בשר and that the second שר might be read as שאר.

Emending וּמִשִּׁירִי to either וּמִשְּׁאֵרִי or וּמִבְּשָׂרִי

The choice to emend וּמִשִּׁירִי to either וּמִשְּׁאֵרִי or וּמִבְּשָׂרִי was probably influenced by the LXX's reading ἡ σάρξ μου which can be the translation to either שְׁאֵרִי ("my body, flesh" HALOT) or בְּשָׂרִי ("my flesh, body" DBL). NEB, for example, proposed the emendation וּמִשְּׁאֵרִי: "The Lord is my strength, my shield, in him my heart trusts; so I am sustained, and my heart leaps for joy, and I praise him with my whole body." Alphonse Maillot, on the other hand, proposed the emendation וּמִבְּשָׂרִי: "Le Seigneur est mon fort et mon bouclier, mon coeur est en sûreté chez Lui. J'ai été aidé: aussi mon coeur tressaille de joie, et ma chair Le célèbre."

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[וּמִשְּׁאֵרִי or וּמִבְּשָׂרִי (and with my body/flesh)]: The text should be emended to וּמִשְּׁאֵרִי (cf. NEB) or וּמִבְּשָׂרִי (cf. Maillot).#dispreferred
 + <Good sense>: Reading וּמִשְּׁאֵרִי or וּמִבְּשָׂרִי (and with my body/flesh) makes good sense in the context. #dispreferred
  + <Parallel>: שְׁאֵר or בְּשָׂרִי is a fitting parallel to לִבִּי in the previous line. #dispreferred
   + [Ps 73:26]: כָּלָה שְׁאֵרִי וּלְבָבִי "my heart and my flesh may fail . . ." (cf. the juxtaposition of לִבִּי and בְּשָׂרִי in Ps 16:9) #dispreferred
 + <LXX>: The reading וּמִשְּׁאֵרִי or וּמִבְּשָׂרִי probably stands behind the LXX's reading ἡ σάρξ μου. #dispreferred
  + [LXX]: καὶ ἀνέθαλεν ἡ σάρξ μου καὶ ἐκ θελήματός μου ἐξομολογήσομαι αὐτῷ (“and I was helped and my flesh revived, and from my will I shall acknowledge him” NETS). #dispreferred
  + <Ps 72(73):26 and Ps 15(16):9 >: The LXX translates שְׁאֵרִי in Ps 73 (LXX: 72) and בְּשָׂרִי in Ps 16 (LXX: 15) as ἡ σάρξ μου #dispreferred
   + [Ps 72(73):26]: Ps 72(73):26 ἐξέλιπεν ἡ καρδία μου καὶ ἡ σάρξ μου and Ps 15(16):9 διὰ τοῦτο ηὐφράνθη ἡ καρδία μου καὶ ἠγαλλιάσατο ἡ γλῶσσά μου, ἔτι δὲ καὶ ἡ σάρξ μου κατασκηνώσει ἐπʼ ἐλπίδι #dispreferred

Emending וּמִשִּׁירִי to וּמִלִּבִּי

A few modern translations adopt the emendation וּמִלִּבִּי (and from/with my heart/will). The emendation is represented in the NJB: "Yahweh is my strength and my shield, in him my heart trusts. I have been helped; my body has recovered its vigour, with all my heart I thank him" (cf. also Horsley 1815, 213-4; Burghardt and Lawler 1990, 275).

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[Emendation]: The text should be emended to וּמִלִּבִּי (and from/with my heart/will). #dispreferred
 + <LXX>: The reading וּמִלִּבִּי probably stands behind the LXX reading ἐκ θελήματός μου. #dispreferred
  + [LXX]: καὶ ἀνέθαλεν ἡ σάρξ μου καὶ ἐκ θελήματός μου ἐξομολογήσομαι αὐτῷ. "And I was helped and my flesh revived, and from my will I shall acknowledge him" (NETS). #dispreferred
   <_ <Unlikely transposition>: The LXX translation (ἡ σάρξ μου καὶ ἐκ θελήματός μου) would require a transposition of the word לִבִּי with וּמִשִּׁירִי plus an emendation of שִׁירִי to בְּשָׂרִי or שְׁאֵרִי resulting in the reading בְּשָׂרִי וּמִלִּבִּי or שְׁאֵרִי וּמִלִּבִּי. The transposition is unlikely.
    + <לִבִּי as the subject of עלז>: Following the MT reading, לִבִּי ("my heart") is the subject of the verb עלז ("to exalt, rejoice"). Opting for the LXX reading (σάρξ μου = "my flesh"), בְּשָׂרִי (or שְׁאֵרִי) would be the subject of the verb עלז. And "לֵב offers עָלַז a more natural subject than בָּשָׂר" (Barthélemy: "לֵב offre à עָלַז un sujet plus naturel que בָּשָׂר" Barthélemy 2005, 162 :C:).
     + [Zeph 3:14]: שִׂמְחִי וְעָלְזִי בְּכָל־לֵב ("Rejoice and exult with all your heart" ESV).

Emending וּמִשִּׁירִי to וּבְשִׁירִי

A few ancient translations seems to support the emendation וּבְשִׁירִי (e.g., Jerome's translation from the Hebrew reads: "et in cantico meo" - "and with my song"). In cases where English translators have used the preposition "with" (e.g., "and with my song I give thanks to him" ESV), it is unclear whether they have adopted the emendation (וּבְשִׁירִי - "and with/in my song") or whether they are simply reading the preposition מִן as instrumental (i.e., with, by). However, since these translations do not include footnotes indicating an emendation, they are most likely preserving the MT reading. The argument for this view is as follows.

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[וּבְשִׁירִי]: The text should be emended to וּבְשִׁירִי (and with/in my song).#dispreferred
 + <Erroneous substitution of מ for ב>: The corruption in the Masoretic text occurred in the substitution of מ for ב in an original וּבְשִׁירִי (Gelston 1975, 215 :A:; VanGemeren supports the reading "in song" 2008, 291 :C:).#dispreferred
  + <Ancient support for the preposition ב>: Jerome's Hebrew Psalter, Symmachus, and the Peshitta use prepositions that typically translate the preposition בְּ.#dispreferred
   + [Symmachus]: ". . . καὶ ἐν ὡδαῖς μου . . ." ("and with my songs").#dispreferred
   + [Peshitta]: ". . . ܘܒܬܫܒܘܚܬܐ . . ." ("with a hymn/song").#dispreferred
   + [Jerome's Hebrew Psalter]: ". . . et in cantico meo" ("and with my song").#dispreferred
   <_ <Facilitation>: These versions are probably just trying to make sense of the text found in all of our extant Hebrew manuscripts: ומשירי; they are interpreting the מן preposition in an instrumental sense.
 + <Syntactic context>: The preposition בְּ fits much better in the syntactic context. #dispreferred
  + [Ps 69:31]: Cf. Ps 69:31—אֲהַֽלְלָ֣ה שֵׁם־אֱלֹהִ֣ים‬ בְּשִׁ֑יר ("I will praise the name of God with a song").#dispreferred

2. What is the syntactic function of the preposition מִן?

The second issue in Psalm 28:7b is grammatical. If the Masoretic text וּמִשִּׁירִי is correct, then what is the syntactic function of the preposition מִן? There are at least two options:

1. Source >> Instrumental
2. Partitive

The arguments for these options are as follows.

Source >> Instrumental מִן (preferred)

The occurrence of the preposition מִן functioning as an instrument is rare. About this function, BHRG reads: "Related to instances where the preposition denotes the emanating source of an activity, are a few instances where the 'source' is involved as the instrument of an accomplishment." Therefore, the מִן in וּמִשִּׁירִי carries its prototypical use as source as well as the notion of instrumentality. In other words, it is a מִן of source and, semantically, because the source is involved as the instrument of an accomplishment, instrumentality is semantically justifiable. Perowne's rendering expresses this notion: "out of my song (>> with my song) I give him thanks."

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[מִשִּׁירִי]: מִשִּׁירִי contains a מִן of source. In this case, the source is involved as the instrument of an accomplishment (i.e., the psalmist's song is the source and means of praise).
 + <Semantic context>: An instrumental interpretation of the מן fits well with the semantics of the verb ידה (to give thanks, praise) and the noun שׁיר (song). 
  + <Verb ידה>: The verb ידה (to give thanks, praise) is typically accompanied by an instrumental ב preposition (e.g., Pss 43:4, 86:12).
   + <Sense>: משירי carries the sense of בשירי (cf. DCH :L:; Ibn Ezra: כמו בשירי :C:).
  + [בשׁיר in Ps 69:31]: אֲהַֽלְלָ֣ה שֵׁם־אֱלֹהִ֣ים בְּשִׁ֑יר ("I will praise the name of God with a song").
 + <Ancient versions>: Some of the ancient versions seem to have interpreted וּמִשִּׁירִי in an instrumental sense.
  + [Peshitta, Symmachus, and Jerome's Hebrew Psalter]: Peshitta: ܘܒܬܫܒܘܚܬܐ (“with a hymn/song”), Symmachus: καὶ ἐν ὡδαῖς μου (“and with my songs”), and Jerome's Hebrew Psalter: in cantico meo (“with my song”).
 + <Means of an accomplishment>: Ezekiel 28:18 contains another example of מִן being related to the means of an accomplishment (Jennings 1884, 117 :C:. The author cited Isaiah 58:12 and Obadiah 9 as additional examples).
  + [Ezekiel 28:18]: Ezekiel 28:18a מֵרֹ֣ב עֲוֹנֶ֗יךָ בְּעֶ֨וֶל֙ רְכֻלָּ֣תְךָ֔ חִלַּ֖לְתָּ מִקְדָּשֶׁ֑יךָ ("By the multitude of your iniquities, in the unrighteousness of your trade you profaned your sanctuaries" ESV).
 + <Agentive מִן>: Agentive מִן refers to the use of the preposition מִן for agency. This use is an extension of the prototypical rendering of מִן =) מִן of source), and it conveys the sense of cause/means.
  + [Genesis 9:11a - Agentive מִן]: וַהֲקִמֹתִ֤י אֶת־בְּרִיתִי֙ אִתְּכֶ֔ם וְלֹֽא־יִכָּרֵ֧ת כָּל־בָּשָׂ֛ר עֹ֖וד '''מִמֵּ֣י הַמַּבּ֑וּל''' - "I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off '''by the waters of the flood'''" (ESV). "The waters of the flood" represents the means by which the action "to be cut off" could be carried out. Similarly, in Ps. 28:7, the psalmist's song represents the means by which the action "to praise YHWH" will be accomplished.
 - <ב preposition>: A ב preposition would have been more likely for an instrumental reading.#dispreferred 
  <_ <Semantic overlap>: The meaning of the prepositions מ and ב sometimes overlap.
   + <Job 7:14>: The ב preposition on בַהֲלֹמוֹת ("with dreams") is parallel to the מ preposition in וּמֵחֶזְיֹנוֹת ("and with visions") suggesting the overlapping meaning of these two prepositions (Smick 2010, 714 :C:).
    + [Job 7:14]: וְחִתַּתַּ֥נִי בַחֲלֹמֹ֑ות וּֽמֵחֶזְיֹנֹ֥ות תְּבַעֲתַֽנִּי ("then you scare me with dreams and terrify me with visions" ESV).
  <_ <Poetic>: The psalmist might have chosen to use a מִן preposition for poetic reasons. The letter mem is often the rhyming consonant in Psalm 28 (see Fokkelman 2000, 120 footnote 85 :C:).
   + [Poetic]: "In strophes 3-5 (=vv. 3-5) the mem appears 9 + 8 + 5 times! (Six times in strophe 1 (=v. 1), seven times in strophe 7 (=vv. 8-9))" (Fokkelman 2000, 120 footnote 85 :C:).
 - <Semantic range of מִן>: "In Classical Hebrew it (=מִן) has the basic meaning 'from' and is generally used in a variety of ablative sense" (Bompiani 2017, 56 :G:). The instrumental interpretation does not fit with this basic sense of the preposition. #dispreferred
  - <Source-instrument>: The instrumental interpretation is closely related to the source interpretation. "Related to instances where the preposition denotes the emanating source of an activity, are a few instances where the 'source' is involved as the instrument of an accomplishment" (BHRG §39.14 (4)(a), page 364). For example, a guitar is simultaneously an instrument and source of music. In the case of Ps. 28, the song is the source from which praise emanates and is also the means by which the psalmist praises YHWH (cf. Delitzsch 1876, 365 :C:; Hengstenberg 1863, 470 :C:; Hupfeld 1888, 441 :C:; Perowne 1871, 261 :C:; etc.).

Partitive מִן

As a partitive marker, "the phrase with mn refers to part of the noun (or noun equivalent) after the preposition. The partition may be simple (‘some of’) or comparative/superlative (‘the better/best of,’ ‘the worse/worst of,’ etc.)."

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        nodesep: 0.2
=== 
[מִשִּׁירִי]: The preposition מִן functions as a partitive marker מִשִּׁירִי "with a portion of my song" (Phillips 1872, 225 :C:) or "out of my store of song" (Kay 1871, 90 footnote 5 :C:). #dispreferred
 + <Similar usage in Ps 137:3>: In Psalm 137:3, the preposition מִן "has a partitive meaning: from the collection of songs of Zion" (Hossfeld and Zenger 2011, 515 :C:).#dispreferred
  + [Psalm 137:3]: שִׁירוּ לָנוּ מִשִּׁיר צִיֹּון ("Sing for us one of the songs of Zion" - שִׁיר (song) is a collective noun here).#dispreferred
 + <מִן as partitive>: The preposition מִן often functions as a partitive marker (see IBHS 11.2.11 (e) :G:). #dispreferred
  + [מִן as partitive]: E.g., Lev 5:9—וְהִזָּ֞ה מִדַּ֤ם הַחַטָּאת֙ (cf. Exod 16:27; 2 Kgs 10:3; Deut 16:4; 1 Sam 14:45 (cited in IBHS 11.2.11 (e) :G:). #dispreferred

Conclusion

The MT reading וּמִשִּׁירִי in Psalm 28:7b is preferred. This reading is clearly supported by the following ancient versions: Aquila, Quinta, and Targum. For the MT לִבִּי וּמִשִּׁירִי (". . . my heart and with my song"), the LXX has ἡ σάρξ μου καὶ ἐκ θελήματός μου (". . . and my flesh revived, and from my will . . ." NETS). The LXX rendering of the MT text is unlikely for it would require a transposition of the MT word לִבִּי with וּמִשִּׁירִי plus an emendation of שִׁירִי to either שְׁאֵרִי or בְּשָׂרִי resulting in שְׁאֵרִי וּמִלִּבִּי or בְּשָׂרִי וּמִלִּבִּי (". . . my flesh and my heart/will"). The LXX rendering of the MT text along with the unusual use of the preposition מִן in וּמִשִּׁירִי has led several scholars to propose different emendations for וּמִשִּׁירִי (emendations proposed include:וּמִשֹּׁרִי ,וּמִבְּשָׂרִי,וּמִשְּׁאֵרִי,וּמִלִּבִּי, וּבְשִׁירִי). Nevertheless, the MT text is both more clearly attested and more difficult than the proposed emendations. Although the use of the preposition מִן in וּמִשִּׁירִי may be regarded as peculiar, odd; it is explicable as a מִן of source >> instrument. Furthermore, the psalmist might have chosen to use this preposition for poetic reasons. Fokkelman noted that the letter mem is often the rhyming consonant in Psalm 28.

Concerning the syntactic function of the preposition מִן, we understand it to be functioning as a source >> instrument "where the source is involved as the instrument of an accomplishment." For example, a guitar is simultaneously an instrument and source of music. In the case of Psalm 28:7b, the song is the source from which praise emanates and is also the means by which the psalmist praises YHWH. Modern translations are unable to fully express the native semantics of the Hebrew. The use of an instrument gloss for the מִן in מִשִּׁירִי is the closest approximation. Therefore, for our CBC ("and with my song I will praise him"), we have used an instrumental gloss derived from a מִן of source.

Research

Translations

Ancient

• LXX: Κύριος βοηθός μου καὶ ὑπερασπιστής μου· ἐπʼ αὐτῷ ἤλπισεν ἡ καρδία μου, καὶ ἐβοηθήθην, καὶ ἀνέθαλεν ἡ σάρξ μου·καὶ ἐκ θελήματός μου ἐξομολογήσομαι αὐτῷ.
  • "The Lord is my helper and my protector; in him my heart hoped, and I was helped and my flesh revived, and from my will I shall acknowledge him."
• Aquila: κράτος μου (καὶ) θυρεός μου ἐν αὐτῷ πέποίθεν καρδιά μου (καὶ) ἐβοηθήθην καὶ ἠγαυριάσατο ἠ καρδία μου καὶ ἀπὸ ᾄσματός μου ἐξομολογήσομαι αὐτῷ.
  • ". . . and from my song I shall praise him."
• Symmachus: ἰσχύς μου καὶ ὑπερασπιστής μου αὐτῷ ἐπεποίθησεν ἡ καρδία μου καὶ ἐβοηθήθην καὶ ἱλαρύθη ἡ καρδία μου καὶ ἐν ῷδαῖς μου ὑμνήσω αὐτὸν.
  • ". . . and with my songs I will sing to him."
• Quinta: βοηθός μου καὶ ὑπερασπιστής μου ἐν αὐτῶ ἤλπισεν καρδία μου καὶ ἐβοηθήθην καὶ ἐκραταιώθ(η) ἡ καρδία μου (καὶ) ἀπὸ τοῦ ᾄσματός μου ἐξομολογήσομ(αι) αὐτ(ῷ.)
  • ". . . and from my song I shall praise him."
• Peshitta: ܡܪܝܐ ܥܕܘܪܝ ܘܡܣܝܥܢܝ܂ ܕܥܠܘܗܝ ܐܬܬܟܠ ܠܒܝ ܘܫܘܚ ܒܣܪܝ܂ ܘܒܬܫܒܘܚܬܐ ܐܘܕܐ ܠܗ܂
  • "The Lord is my helper and the one who assists me; he is the one on whom my heart has trusted and my flesh has flourished. With a hymn I will give thanks to him."
• Jerome (Jerome's Gallican Psalter): Dominus adiutor meus et protector meus in ipso speravit cor meum et adiutus sum et refloruit caro mea et ex voluntate mea confitebor ei.
  • ". . . and from my will I will acknowledge him."
• Jerome (Jerome's Hebrew Psalter): Dominus fortitudo mea et scutum meum in ipso confisum est cor meum et habui adiutorium gavisum est cor meum et in cantico meo confitebor illi.
  • ". . . and with my song I will acknowledge him."
• Targum: יהוה עושני ותריסי ביה סבר לבי וסעדתני ודאיץ לבי ומתושבחתי אודה קדמוי׃
  • "The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, since he has helped me; and my heart rejoices, and with my song I give thanks before him."

Modern

Following the Masoretic Text

וּֽמִשִּׁירִ֥י (lit. "and out of/from my song">>"and with my song")

• English
  • "The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him" (ESV).
  • "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him" (NIV).
  • "The LORD protects and defends me; I trust in him. He gives me help and makes me glad; I praise him with joyful songs" (GNT).
  • "The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts. I am sustained, and my heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him" (REB).
  • "The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him. I was helped, and my heart exulted, so I will glorify Him with my song" (JPS, 1985).
  • "The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts; so I am helped, and my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him" (NRSV).
• Spanish
  • "YHVH es mi fortaleza y mi escudo, en él confió mi corazón, y fui ayudado, por lo que mi corazón se regocija, y lo alabo con mi cántico" (BTX4).
  • "El Señor es mi fuerza y mi escudo; mi corazón en él confía; de él recibo ayuda. Mi corazón salta de alegría, y con cánticos le daré gracias" (NVI).
  • "Jehová es mi fortaleza y mi escudo; en él confió mi corazón y fui ayudado, por lo que se gozó mi corazón. Con mi cántico lo alabaré" (RVR95).
• French
  • "Le Seigneur est ma force et mon bouclier: en lui mon cœur se confie, et je suis secouru; mon cœur exulte; je le célèbre par mon chant" (NBS).
  • "L'Éternel est ma force et mon bouclier; En lui mon cœur se confie, et je suis secouru; Mon cœur exulte, Et je le célèbre par mes chants" (NVSR). Note: The NVSR has mes chants (my songs) for the MT שִׁירִי (my song).
  • "L’Eternel est ma force et mon bouclier. C’est en lui que mon cœur se confie, et je suis secouru. Mon cœur est dans la joie, et je le loue par mes chants" (S21). Note: The S21 has mes chants (my songs) for the MT שִׁירִי (my song).
• Portuguese
  • "O SENHOR é a minha força e o meu escudo; nele o meu coração confia, nele fui socorrido; por isso, o meu coração exulta, e com o meu cântico o louvarei" (ARA).
  • "O Senhor é a minha força e o meu escudo; nele o meu coração confia, e dele recebo ajuda. Meu coração exulta de alegria, e com o meu cântico lhe darei graças" (NVI).
• German
  • "Der HERR ist meine Stärke und mein Schild; auf ihn traut mein Herz und mir ist geholfen. Nun ist mein Herz fröhlich, und ich will ihm danken mit meinem Lied" (Luther 2017).
  • "Er hat mir neue Kraft geschenkt und mich beschützt. Ich habe ihm vertraut, und er hat mir geholfen. Jetzt kann ich wieder von Herzen jubeln! Mit meinem Lied will ich ihm danken" (HFA).
  • "Der HERR ist meine Stärke und mein Schild. Auf ihn habe ich vertraut, darum wurde mir geholfen. Deshalb ist mein Herz voll Freude und Jubel, ich will ihn preisen mit meinem Lied" (NGÜ).
  • "Der HERR ist meine Stärke und mein Schild; auf ihn hat mein Herz vertraut, und mir ist geholfen worden; daher jubelt mein Herz, und ich will ihn preisen mit meinem Lied" (ELB).
  • "Der HERR ist meine Kraft und mein Schild, auf ihn vertraute mein Herz, so wurde mir geholfen; da jubelte mein Herz, mit meinem Lied will ich ihm danken" (EÜ).
  • "Er hat mich verteidigt und beschützt, auf ihn kann ich mich verlassen. Er hat mir geholfen, darum freue ich mich und danke ihm mit meinem Lied" (GNB).
  • "Der HERR ist mein Schutz und mein Schild, auf ihn vertraute mein Herz; mir wurde geholfen, und mein Herz frohlockte, mit meinem Lied will ich ihn preisen" (ZÜR).

Diverging from the Masoretic Text

Adopting the Emendation וּמִשֹּׁרִי("and from/out of my strength">>"with all my might")

• This option was not reflected in any of the modern translations consulted.

Adopting the Emendation וּמִשְּׁאֵרִי("and from my flesh">>"and with my whole body")

• English
  • "The Lord is my strength, my shield, in him my heart trusts; so I am sustained, and my heart leaps for joy, and I praise him with my whole body" (NEB).

Adopting the Emendation וּמִלִּבִּי ("and from my heart/will">>"and with all my heart")

• English
  • "Yahweh is my strength and my shield, in him my heart trusts. I have been helped; my body has recovered its vigour, with all my heart I thank him" (NJB).
  • "The Lord is my helper and my protector. In him, my heart has hoped and I have been helped. And my flesh has flourished again. And from my will, I shall confess to him" (CPDV).
  • "The Lord is my helper and my protector: in him hath my heart confided, and I have been helped. And my flesh hath flourished again, and with my will I will give praise to him" (DRB).

Adopting the Emendation וּבְשִׁירִי("and with/in my song")

• In cases where English translators have used the preposition "with" (e.g., "and with my song I give thanks to him" ESV), it is unclear whether they have adopted the emendation (וּבְשִׁירִי - "and with my song") or whether they are simply reading the preposition מִן as instrumental (i.e., with, by). However, since these translations do not include footnotes indicating an emendation, they are most likely preserving the MT reading (cf. The argument map for details on this view).

Other

Note: It is not clear why the following translations render the MT text וּֽמִשִּׁירִ֥י אֲהֹודֶֽנּוּ (and out of/with my song I will praise him") in different ways. While they retain the elements of singing and praise, they render "my song" as a verb. For example, the DHH has, "Cantaré y daré gracias al Señor" (I will sing and give thanks to the Lord).

• English
  • "The Lord strengthens and protects me; I trust in him with all my heart. I am rescued and my heart is full of joy; I will sing to him in gratitude" (NET).
• Spanish
  • "El Señor es mi poderoso protector; en él confié plenamente, y él me ayudó. Mi corazón está alegre; cantaré y daré gracias al Señor" (DHH).
• French
  • "L’Eternel est ma force, mon bouclier. En lui je me confie; il vient à mon secours. Aussi mon cœur bondit de joie. Je veux chanter pour le louer" (BDS).
  • "Le Seigneur me protège, il est mon bouclier. Du fond du cœur, je lui ai fait confiance; j'ai reçu du secours, j'ai le cœur en fête! Je chante ses louanges" (NFC).
  • "Le Seigneur est ma forteresse et mon bouclier; mon cœur a compté sur lui et j'ai été secouru. J' exulte de tout mon cœur et je lui rends grâce en chantant" (TOB).
  • "Le Seigneur me protège avec puissance, il est mon bouclier. Je lui ai fait confiance, il est venu à mon aide. Mon cœur danse de joie, je remercie le Seigneur en chantant" (PDV).
• Portuguese
  • "O Senhor é a minha força e o meu escudo; com todo o coração eu confio nele. O Senhor me ajuda; por isso, o meu coração está feliz, e eu canto hinos em seu louvor" (NTLH).

Secondary Literature

Article [A]

Dahood, Mitchell. 1977. "Ugaritic mšr, 'song,' in Psalms 28,7 and 137,3." Vol. 58. Post. Ist. Biblico; Via della Pillotta 25: 216-217.

Driver, Godfrey Rolles. 1950. "Hebrew Roots and Words". Die Welt des Orients: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht.

Gelston, Anthony. 1975. "A Note on the Text of Psalm XXVIII 7b". Vetus Testamentum, Vol. 25, Fasc. 2, pp. 214-216.

Commentary [C]

Alexander, Joseph Addison. 1991. Commentary on Psalms. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications.

Barthélemy, Dominique. 2005. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament. Tome 4: Psaumes. Fribourg, Switzerland: Academic Press.

Briggs, Charles Augustus, and Emilie Grace Briggs. 1906. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on The Book of Psalms, Vol. I. New York: C. Scribner’s Sons.

Bullock, C. Hassell. 2015. Psalms. Volume 1: Psalms 1-72. Teach the Text Commentary Series. Edited by Mark Strauss and John Walton. Grand Rapids: BakerBooks.

Burghardt, Walter J., and Thomas Comerford Lawler, editors. 1990. Cassiodorus: Explanation of the Psalms. Vol. 1. Translated by P. G. Walsh. New York: Paulist Press.

Craigie, Peter C. 2004. Word Biblical Commentary: Psalms 1–50. 2nd ed. Vol. 19. Nashville: Nelson Reference & Electronic.

Dahood, Mitchell J. 1966. The Anchor Bible: Psalms I, 1-50. Garden City: Doubleday.

DeClaissé-Walford, Nancy L., Rolf A. Jacobson, and Beth Laneel Tanner. 2014. “Book One of the Psalter: Psalms 1–41,” in The Book of Psalms, ed. E. J. Young, R. K. Harrison, and Robert L. Hubbard Jr.. The New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

Delitzsch, Franz Julius. 1883. A Commentary on the Psalms. New York: Funk and Wagnalls.

Fokkelman, J. P. 2000. Major Poems of the Hebrew Bible: At the Interface of Hermeneutics and Structural Analysis. Studia Semitica Neerlandica. Assen, The Netherlands: Van Gorcum.

Goldingay, John. 2006. Psalms: Psalms 1-41. Vol. 1. BCOT. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic.

Hengstenberg, Ernst Wilhelm. 1863. Commentary on the Psalms. Vol. 1. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark.

Horsley, Samuel. 1815. The Book of Psalms: Translated from the Hebrew with Notes, Explanatory and Critical. Vol. 1. London: F. C. & J. Rivington and Longman, Hurst Rees, Orme & Brown.

Hossfeld, Frank-Lothar, and Erich Zenger. 2005. Psalms 2: A Commentary. Minneapolis: Fortress Press.

Hupfeld, Hermann. 1888. Die Psalmen. Für Die Dritte Auflage Bearbeitet Von Dr. Wilhelm Nowack. Gotha: Friedrich Andreas Perthes.

Kay, William. 1871. The Psalms: Translated from the Hebrew with Notes Chiefly Exegetical. Edinburgh: Thomas and Archibald Constable London.

Kraus, Hans-Joachim. 1988. Psalms 1–59. Minneapolis: Fortress.

Jennings, Arthur Charles, William Henry Lowe. 1848. The Psalms with Introductions and Critical Notes. London: Macmillan and Co.

Maillot, Alphonse. 1962. Les Psaumes: Commentaire - Première Partie: Psaumes 1 à 50. Éditions Labor et Fides, Genève Suisse.

Perowne, J. J. Stewart. 1870. The Book of Psalms: A New Translation with Introductions and Notes, Explanatory and Critical. Vol. I. London: Bell and Daldy.

Phillips, George. 1872. A Commentary on the Psalms: Designed Chiefly for the Use of Hebrew students and of Clergymen. Vol. I. Edinburgh: Williams and Norgate.

Rabbi Abraham Ibn Ezra's Commentary on the First Book of Psalms: Chapter 1-41. 2009. Translated and annoted by H. Norman Strickman. Boston: Academic Studies Press.

Ross, Allen P. 2011. A Commentary on the Psalms 1-41. Vol. 1. Grand Rapids: Kregel.

Smick, Elmer B. 2010. “Job,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: 1 Chronicles–Job (Revised Edition). Edited by Tremper Longman III and David E. Garland. Vol. 4. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

VanGemeren, Willem. 2008. Psalms: The Expositor's Bible Commentary. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Dictionary [D]

BDB (Brown, Driver, and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament)

DCH (Clines, Dictionary of Classical Hebrew)

HALOT (Kohler and Baumgartner, The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament)

IBHS (Waltke and O'Conner, An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax)

Grammatical Resource [G]

BHRG (van der Merwe et al., A Biblical Hebrew Reference Grammar [2nd ed.])

GKC (Gesenius-Kautzsch-Cowley Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar)

Bompiani, Brian. 2017. "Prepositions." In “Where Shall Wisdom Be Found?”: A Grammatical Tribute to Professor Stephen A. Kaufman. Edited by Hélène Dallaire, Benjamin J. Noonan, Jennifer E. Noonan, and Stephen A. Kaufman. Winona Lake, Indiana: Eisenbrauns.

Lexical Resource [L]

Hatch, Edwin, and Henry A. Redpath. 1897. A Concordance to the Septuagint and the Other Greek Versions of the Old Testament: Including the Apocryphal Books. Volume II. Oxford: Clarendon Press.

Muraoka, T. 2010. A Greek-Hebrew/Aramaic Two-Way Index to the Septuagint, Peeters: Belgium.

References

28:7 Approved