The Semantics of Wayyiqtol in Ps. 44:10, 19, and 21

Introduction

Ps 44 features a number of wayyiqtol verb forms. While typically associated with temporally successive events in narrative, this feature of the wayyiqtol has been debated, and often does not hold for poetic texts. This leaves open the question of how the wayyiqtol relates to other verb forms in Ps 44. Most translations treat the wayyiqtol forms as simple coordination:

^{9 (10)} But you have rejected us and disgraced us
and have not gone out with our armies.

^{18 (19)} Our heart has not turned back;
nor have our steps departed from your way;

^{20 (21)} If we had forgotten the name of our God
or spread out our hands to a foreign god... (ESV)

In contrast to this, the New Living Translation appears to take the wayyiqtol of 44:10 as an explanation of the preceding qatal:

But now you have tossed us aside in dishonor.
You no longer lead our armies to battle. (NLT)

The present analysis will address two options for understanding the function of the wayyiqtol in these passages: (1) the wayyiqtol denoting a coordinated event, and (2) the wayyiqtol as an explanation of the preceding verb (epexegesis).

Argument Maps

The wayyiqtol as coordinated with qatal

The vast majority of modern translations treat the wayyiqtol forms of Ps 44:10, 19, and 21 as coordinated with their respective preceding qatal forms:

^{9 (10)} But you have rejected us and disgraced us
and have not gone out with our armies.

^{18 (19)} Our heart has not turned back;
nor have our steps departed from your way;

^{20 (21)} If we had forgotten the name of our God
or spread out our hands to a foreign god... (ESV)

The arguments for this view are presented below:

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[Wayyiqtol as coordinated to qatal]: The _wayyiqtol_ in Ps 44:10, 19, and 21 is syntactially coordinated with their respective _qatal_ verbs.#dispreferred
 - <Syntactic subordination>: Some scholars argue that the _wayyiqtol_ denotes a typically successive situation that is always subordinate to a preceding statement (IBHS §33.2a :G:; cf. JM §118a :G:).
  + <Epexegetical wayyiqtol>: In non-narrative discourse, the _wayyiqtol_ often explicates a preceding utterance (i.e., epexegesis; BHRG, §21.2.2 :G:; IBHS, §33.2.2 :G:).
   + [Epexegetical examples]: Gen 31:26; 2 Sam 14:5; Ruth 2:3.
  - <Discourse-initial wayyiqtol>: The _wayyiqtol_ can be used to begin a narrative, suggesting that it is not a dependent form. #dispreferred
   + [Books beginning with wayyiqtol]: Josh 1:1; Judg 1:1; 1 Sam 1:1; Ruth 1:1; Esth 1:1; Ezek 1:1; Jon 1:1.
   - <Discourse-initial continuity>: If the BH text is viewed as a unified collection of texts, then the narrative-initial _wayyiqtol_ could be viewed as denoting continuity between those texts (Robar 2013, 31).
 + <Simultaneous wayyiqtol>: The _wayyiqtol_ can occasionally denote events that are simultaneous with the preceding event, suggesting that it is not dependent on the preceding verb. #dispreferred
  + [Simultaneous wayyiqtols]: Gen 6:11 (וַתִּשָּׁחֵת ... וַתִּמָּלֵא הָאָרֶץ חָמָס); 24:54 (וַיֹּאכְלוּ וַיִּשְׁתּוּ); 24:18 (וַתְּמַהֵר וַתֹּרֶד); 1 Kgs 18:24 (וַיַּעַן כָּל־הָעָם וַיֹּאמְרוּ); 
  - <Fixed expressions>: Many cases of a _wayyiqtol_ combining with a preceding event can be explained as fixed expressions (e.g., Gen 24:54; 24:18; 1 Kgs 18:24; BHRG §21.2.1.2(4) :G:), as opposed to syntactially independent actions.
  - <Epexegetical wayyiqtol>
 + <Ancient versions>: Ancient translations tend to treat the _wayyiqtol_ in Ps 44:10, 19, and 21 as equivalent to the _qatal,_ without any sense of syntactic dependence.#dispreferred
  + [LXX and Targum]: The LXX translates all verbs in question with the aorist. The Targum renders the verbs with perfects, with the exception of an imperfect in the place of the _qatal_ נָסוֹג in v. 19.#dispreferred
  <_ <Languages not equivalent>: Many languages (e.g., Greek, Aramaic) do not have a verb form equivalent to the _wayyiqtol._ It can thus be challenging to capture the distinction between _wayyiqtol_ and _qatal._

The wayyiqtol as epexegetical (preferred)

Alternatively, the wayyiqtol forms of Ps 44:10, 19, and 21 could be construed as explanatory (or epexegetical), further explicating their respective, preceding qatal forms.

^{9 (10)} But now you have tossed us aside in dishonor.
You no longer lead our armies to battle. (NLT)

The arguments for this view are presented below:

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[The wayyiqtol as epexegetical]: The _wayyiqtols_ in Ps 44:10, 19, and 21 explain their respective preceding _qatals._
 + <Epexegetical wayyiqtol>: In non-narrative discourse, the _wayyiqtol_ often explicates a preceding utterance (i.e., epexegesis; BHRG, §21.2.2 :G:; IBHS, §33.2.2 :G:).
  + [Epexegetical examples]: Gen 31:26; 2 Sam 14:5; Ruth 2:3.
 + <Syntactic subordination>: Some scholars argue that the _wayyiqtol_ denotes a typically successive situation that is always subordinate to a preceding statement (IBHS §33.2a :G:; cf. JM §118a :G:).
  - <Discourse-initial wayyiqtol>: The _wayyiqtol_ can be used to begin a narrative, suggesting that it is not a dependent form. #dispreferred
   + [Books beginning with wayyiqtol]: Josh 1:1; Judg 1:1; 1 Sam 1:1; Ruth 1:1; Esth 1:1; Ezek 1:1; Jon 1:1.
   - <Discourse-initial continuity>: If the BH text is viewed as a unified collection of texts, then the narrative-initial _wayyiqtol_ could be viewed as denoting continuity between those texts (Robar 2013, 31).
  + <Topic continuity>: The _wayyiqtol_ likely denotes topic continuity. As such, it can convey the verbal semantics already established by the context (Robar 2013, 39).
 + <Contextual fit>: In their immediate contexts, the _wayyiqtols_ in Ps 44:10, 19, and 21 are better understood as explicating their preceding _qatals._

Conclusion

Contrary to most modern translations, it is argued here that the wayyiqtol forms of Ps 44 provide explication of their preceding qatals. It has been observed that the wayyiqtol can communicate an explanation or specification of the preceding utterance (epexegesis), particularly in non-narrative discourse. This suits the context better than a coordinated understanding of the wayyiqtol in Ps 44:10, 19, and 21. The following translation seeks to capture this epexegetical dynamic of the wayyiqtol forms:

[10] Yet you have rejected [us]—
that is, you have put us to shame.

[19] Our heart has not backslid—
that is, our steps have not deviated from your path.

[21] If we had neglected our God's name—
that is, if we had spread our palms in prayer to another god—

Research

Translations

Ancient

• LXX: ¹⁰ νυνὶ δὲ ἀπώσω καὶ κατῄσχυνας ἡμᾶς καὶ οὐκ ἐξελεύσῃ ἐν ταῖς δυνάμεσιν ἡμῶν... ¹⁹ καὶ οὐκ ἀπέστη εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω ἡ καρδία ἡμῶν καὶ ἐξέκλινας τὰς τρίβους ἡμῶν ἀπὸ τῆς ὁδοῦ σου... ²¹ εἰ ἐπελαθόμεθα τοῦ ὀνόματος τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμῶν καὶ εἰ διεπετάσαμεν χεῖρας ἡμῶν πρὸς θεὸν ἀλλότριον
  • "¹⁰ But now, you rejected us and put us to shame and will not go out among our hosts... ¹⁹ And our heart did not stand back, and you diverted our paths from your way... ²¹ If we had forgotten the name of our God and if we had spread out our hands to a foreign god..."
• Symmachus: ¹⁹ οὐδὲ οὐκ ἀπέστη εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω ἡ καρδία ἡμῶν οὐδὲ μετεκλίθη τὰ ὑπορθοῦντα ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ τῆς ὁδοῦ σου...
• Targum: לחוד אשליתא ואכספתנא ולא תשרי שכנתך בחילוותנא׃ לא נזור פליג וזחוחין ליבנא ואת אסטיתא איסתורנא מן תריצת אורחתך׃ אין אשלינא שום אלהנא ופרישנא בצלו ידנא לטעותא דעממין נוכראין׃
  • "¹⁰ But you have let go and disgraced us, and your Shekinah does not dwell with our armies... ¹⁹ Our heart has not turned aside (through) division and pride, but you have made our steps stray from the uprightness of your path... ²¹ If we had forgotten the name of our God, or spread out our hands in prayer to the idols of the foreign nations..."
• Peshitta: ܗܫܐ ܛܥܝܬܢ ܘܐܒܗܬܬܢ܂ ܘܠܐ ܢܦܩ ܐܢܬ ܒܚܝܠܢ܂ ܘܠܐ ܗܦܟܢ ܠܒܣܬܪܢ܂ ܘܠܐ ܐܗܦܟܢ ܫܒܝ̈ܠܝܢ ܡܢ ܐܘܪܚܟ܂ ܘܠܐ ܛܥܝܢ ܫܡܗ ܕܐܠܗܢ܂ ܘܠܐ ܦܫܛܢ ܐ̈ܝܕܝܢ ܠܘܬ ܐ̈ܠܗܐ ܢܘܟܪ̈ܝܐ܂
  • "^{9 (10)} But now you have forgotten us and put us to shame; you do not go forth with our army... ^{18 (19)} We have not turned back; we have not turned our ways from your path... ^{20 (21)} But we have not forgotten the name of our God; we have not extended our hands to foreign gods.
• Jerome (iuxta Hebraeos): ¹⁰ verum tu proiecisti et confudisti nos et non egredieris in exercitibus nostris... ¹⁹ non est conversum retro cor nostrum nec declinaverunt gressus nostri a semita tua... ²¹ si obliti sumus nominis Dei nostri et expandimus manus nostras ad deum alienum...

Modern

• ^{9 (10)} But you have rejected us and disgraced us and have not gone out with our armies. ^{18 (19)} Our heart has not turned back, nor have our steps departed from your way; ^{20 (21)} If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god... (ESV)
• ^{9 (10)}But now you have rejected and humbled us; you no longer go out with our armies... ^{18 (19)}Our hearts had not turned back; our feet had not strayed from your path... ^{20 (21)}If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god... (NIV)
• ^{9 (10)} Yet You have rejected us and brought us to dishonor, And do not go out with our armies... ^{18 (19)} Our heart has not turned back, And our steps have not deviated from Your way... ^{20 (21)} If we had forgotten the name of our God Or extended our hands to a strange god... (NASB)
• ^{9 (10)}Yet you have rejected us and abased us, and have not gone out with our armies... ^{18 (19)} Our heart has not turned back, nor have our steps departed from your way... ^{20 (21)}If we had forgotten the name of our God, or spread out our hands to a strange god... (NRSV)
• ^{9 (10)} But now thou hast rejected and humbled us and doest no longer lead our armies into battle... ^{18 (19)} we have not gone back on our purpose, nor have our feet strayed from thy path... ^{20 (21)} If we had forgotten the name of our God and spread our hands in prayer to any other... (NEB)
• ^{9 (10)} Yet you have rejected and humbled us and no longer lead our armies to battle... ^{18 (19)} our hearts have not been unfaithful, nor have our feet strayed from your path... ^{20 (21)} Had we forgotten the name of our God and spread our hands in prayer to alien gods... (REB)
• ^{9 (10)} Yet now you have abandoned and humiliated us, you no longer take the field withour armies... ^{18 (19)} our hearts never turning away, our feet never straying from your path... ^{20 (21)} Had we forgotten the name of our God and stretched out our hands to a foreign god... (NJB)
• ¹⁰ Yet You have rejected and disgraced us; You do not go with our armies... ¹⁹ Our hearts have not gone astray, nor have our feet swerved from Your path... ²¹ If we forgot the name of our God and spread forth our hands to a foreign god... (JPS 1985)
• ^{9 (10)} But you have rejected and humiliated us; you do not march out with our armies... ^{18 (19)} Our hearts have not turned back; our steps have not strayed from your path... ^{20 (21)} If we had forgotten the name of our God and spread out our hands to a foreign god... (CSB)
• ^{9 (10)} But now you have tossed us aside in dishonor. You no longer lead our armies to battle... ^{18 (19)} Our hearts have not deserted you. We have not strayed from your path... ^{20 (21)} If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread our hands in prayer to foreign gods... (NLT)
• ^{9 (10)} But you rejected and embarrassed us. You did not go into battle with our armies... ^{18 (19)} We have not been unfaithful, nor have we disobeyed your commands... ^{20 (21)} If we had rejected our God, and spread out our hands in prayer to another god... (NET)
• ^{9 (10)} But now you have rejected us; you don't lead us into battle, and we look foolish... ^{18 (19)} We always kept you in mind and followed your teaching... ^{20 (21)} If we had forgotten the name of our God and spread out our hands to a foreign god... (CEV)
• ^{9 (10)} But now you have rejected us and let us be defeated; you no longer march out with our armies... ^{18 (19)} We have not been disloyal to you; we have not disobeyed your commands... ^{20 (21)} If we had stopped worshiping our God and prayed to a foreign god... (GNT)
• ¹⁰ Doch nun verstößt du uns / und lässt uns zuschanden werden und ziehst nicht aus mit unserm Heer... ¹⁹ Unser Herz ist nicht abgefallen noch unser Schritt gewichen von deinem Weg... ²¹ Wenn wir den Namen unsres Gottes vergessen hätten und unsre Hände aufgehoben zum fremden Gott... (Luther 2017)
• ¹⁰ Und dennoch hast du uns jetzt verstoßen: Mit einer Niederlage hast du Schande über uns gebracht. Als unsere Truppen zum Kampf ausrückten, zogst du nicht mit... ¹⁹ Niemals sind wir dir untreu geworden, auch deine Gebote haben wir befolgt... ²¹ Hätten wir dich, unseren Gott, vergessen und fremde Götter angebetet... (HFA)
• ¹⁰ Und doch hast du uns nun verstoßen und Schande über uns gebracht, du bist nicht mit unseren Truppen gegen den Feind gezogen... ¹⁹ Unser Herz hat sich nicht von dir abgewendet, mit keinem Schritt sind wir von deinem Weg abgewichen... ²¹ Hätten wir nicht mehr an unseren Gott gedacht[8] oder gar unsere Hände im Gebet zu einem anderen Gott ausgestreckt... (NGÜ)
• ¹⁰ Doch du hast ⟨uns⟩ verworfen und in Schande gebracht und ziehst nicht aus mit unseren Heeren... ¹⁹ Unser Herz ist nicht zurückgewichen, noch sind unsere Schritte abgebogen von deinem Pfad... ²¹ Hätten wir den Namen unseres Gottes vergessen und unsere Hände zu einem fremden Gott ausgestreckt... (ELB)
• ¹⁰ Doch nun hast du uns verstoßen und mit Schmach bedeckt, du ziehst nicht mehr aus mit unseren Heeren... ¹⁹ Unser Herz wich nicht zurück und unser Schritt hat deinen Pfad nicht verlassen... ²¹ Hätten wir den Namen unseres Gottes vergessen und zu einem fremden Gott unsere Hände erhoben... (EÜ)
• ¹⁰ Nun aber hast du uns verstoßen und uns in Schmach und Schande gestürzt; du ziehst nicht mehr mit unseren Heeren in den Kampf... ¹⁹ Wir haben uns nicht von dir abgewandt und sind keinen Schritt von deinem Weg gewichen... ²¹ Hätten wir dich, unseren Gott, vergessen und zu anderen Göttern gebetet... (GNB)
• ¹⁰ Und doch hast du uns verstossen und mit Schmach bedeckt, du ziehst nicht aus mit unseren Heeren... ¹⁹ Unser Herz ist nicht abtrünnig geworden, auch sind unsere Schritte nicht abgewichen von deinem Pfad... ²¹ Hätten wir den Namen unseres Gottes vergessen und zu einem fremden Gott unsere Hände ausgestreckt... (ZÜR)
• ¹⁰ Pourtant tu nous as rejetés et bafoués, tu ne sors plus avec nos armées... ¹⁹ notre cœur ne s'était pas repris, nos pas n'avaient pas dévié de ta route... ²¹ Si nous avions oublié le nom de notre Dieu, tendu les mains vers un dieu étranger... (TOB)
• ¹⁰ Cependant tu nous as rejetés, tu nous as couverts de confusion, tu ne pars plus en campagne avec nos armées... ¹⁹ notre cœur n'a pas reculé, nos pas ne se sont pas écartés de ton sentier... ²¹ Si nous avions oublié le nom de notre Dieu, si nous avions tendu les mains vers un dieu étranger... (NBS)
• ¹⁰ Cependant tu nous as rejetés, Tu nous as couverts de confusion, Tu ne sors plus avec nos armées... ¹⁹ Notre cœur ne s'est pas détourné, Nos pas ne se sont pas éloignés de ton sentier... ²¹ Si nous avions oublié le nom de notre Dieu, Si nous avions étendu nos mains vers un dieu étranger... (NVSR)
• ¹⁰ Pourtant tu nous as rejetés et livrés à la honte. Tu as cessé d’accompagner nos armées au combat... ¹⁹ Nous n’avons pas renié nos engagements envers toi, nous n’avons pas quitté la voie que tu nous as prescrite... ²¹ Si nous avions délaissé notre Dieu, si nous avions tendu les mains vers un dieu étranger... (BDS)
• ¹⁰ Pourtant, tu nous as rejetés et tu nous as couverts de honte. Tu ne combats plus avec nos armées... ¹⁹ Nous ne sommes pas revenus en arrière, nous n’avons pas quitté ton chemin... ²¹ Si nous avions oublié ton nom, ô notre Dieu, si nous avions prié un dieu étranger... (PDV)
• ¹⁰ Et pourtant tu nous as rejetés, tu as provoqué notre honteuse défaite, tu n'accompagnes plus nos armées... ¹⁹ Nous n'avons pas fait marche arrière, ni dévié de la voie que tu nous traces... ²¹ Si nous avions oublié qui est notre Dieu, si nous avions fait appel à d'autres dieux... (NFC)
• ¹⁰ Cependant tu nous as repoussés, tu nous as couverts de honte, tu ne sors plus avec nos armées... ¹⁹ Nous n’avons pas fait marche arrière dans notre cœur, nous ne nous sommes pas écartés de ton sentier... ²¹ Si nous avions oublié le nom de notre Dieu et tendu nos mains vers un dieu étranger... (S21)
• ^{9 (10)} Pero nos has desechado, nos has hecho avergonzar, y ya no sales con nuestros ejércitos... ^{18 (19)} No se ha vuelto atrás nuestro corazón ni se han apartado de tus caminos nuestros pasos... ^{20 (21)} Si nos hubiéramos olvidado del nombre de nuestro Dios o alzado nuestras manos hacia un dios ajeno... (RVR95)
• ^{9 (10)} Pero ahora nos has rechazado y humillado; ya no sales con nuestros ejércitos... ^{18 (19)} Nuestro corazón no ha vuelto atrás ni nos hemos apartado de tu senda... ^{20 (21)} Si hubiéramos olvidado el nombre de nuestro Dios o extendido nuestras manos a un dios extraño... (NVI)
• ^{9 (10)} Pero nos has rechazado; nos has cubierto de vergüenza. Ya no sales con nuestros ejércitos... ^{18 (19)} No hemos pensado abandonarte ni hemos dejado tus caminos... ^{20 (21)} Si te hubiéramos olvidado, oh Dios, y adorado en tu lugar a un dios extraño... (DHH)
• ^{9 (10)} Pero ahora nos has desechado y confundido; No sales ya con nuestros ejércitos... ^{18 (19)} Nuestro corazón no se ha vuelto atrás, Ni nuestros pasos se han desviado de tu senda... ^{20 (21)} Si nos hubiéramos olvidado del nombre de nuestro Elohim, O alzado nuestras palmas a un dios extranjero... (BTX4)

Secondary Literature

Cook, John A. 2002. “The Biblical Hebrew Verbal System: A Grammaticalization Approach.” PhD diss., University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Robar, Elizabeth. 2013. “Wayyiqtol as Unlikely Preterite.” Journal of Semitic Studies 58, no. 1: 21–42.

References

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