The Syntax and Meaning of Ps. 36:3

Back to Psalm 36.

Exegetical issues for Psalm 36:

• The Text, Grammar, and Meaning of Ps. 36:2a
• The Syntax and Meaning of Ps. 36:3
• The Division of Ps. 36:8

Introduction

The Hebrew text of Ps. 36:3 reads as follows:

כִּֽי־הֶחֱלִ֣יק אֵלָ֣יו בְּעֵינָ֑יו

לִמְצֹ֖א עֲוֺנ֣וֹ לִשְׂנֹֽא׃

Considering the differences among translations of Ps. 36:3, it is hard to disagree with the conclusion of one scholar that, "The interpretation and classification of this difficult verse can only be done tentatively." The following translations illustrate the points of disagreement:

• For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated. (ESV)
• In their own eyes they flatter themselves too much to detect or hate their sin. (NIV)
• For it flatters and deceives him and, when his iniquity is found out, he does not change. (REB)
• because its speech is seductive to him till his iniquity be found out and he be hated. (JPS85)
• For it flatters him in his eyes to carry out his sin, to practice hatred. (ELB)
• For it flatters him in his own eyes concerning the discovery of his wrongful deed and the hatred of it. (NASB)

These translations disagree regarding the subject of the finite verb, הֶחֱלִיק, and the function of two לְ + infinitive construct phrases, לִמְצֹא עֲוֺנוֹ לִשְׂנֹא. The translations identify the subject of הֶחֱלִיק as either רָשָׁע "the wicked person(s)" (v. 2; ESV, NET, NIV), לִמְצֹא עֲוֺנוֹ לִשְׂנֹא "carrying out sin and practicing hatred" (ELB, EÜ), or פֶּשַׁע "transgression" (v. 2; JPS85). Regarding the function of לִמְצֹא עֲוֺנוֹ לִשְׂנֹא, translations render the לְ + infinitive construct phrases as complements of the finite verb (NET, NIV, CEV), as purpose/result clauses (ESV, GNT, NRSV), or as temporal clauses (NEB, REB, JPS85). It is also possible to understand the לְ prepositions as indicating specification (NASB).

Argument Maps

Subject of הֶחֱלִיק

Translations identify the subject of הֶחֱלִיק as:

1. רָשָׁע "wicked person" (v. 2; ESV, NET, NIV)
2. לִמְצֹא עֲוֺנוֹ לִשְׂנֹא "carrying out sin and practicing hatred" (ELB, EÜ)
3. פֶּשַׁע "transgression" (v. 2; JPS85)

רָשָׁע (v. 2)

• For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated. (ESV)

 
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[רָשָׁע]: רָשָׁע (v. 2) is the subject of הֶחֱלִיק — "the wicked person(s) flatters."#dispreferred
 + <Coreferential>: The subject of הֶחֱלִיק is likely coreferential (i.e, the same as) with the immediately preceding suffix in v. 2 — "his" eyes — in which "his" refers to the "wicked person" (v. 2) (see de Regt 2019, 3-4 :A:).#dispreferred
 + <Gender and Number Agreement>: The subject and verb agree in gender and number (see BHRG §11.1.6 :G:).#dispreferred
  + [Agreement]: Subject: רָשָׁע (masculine singular); Verb: הֶחֱלִיק (masculine singular).#dispreferred
 - <Referent of בְּעֵינָיו >: "הֶחֱלִיק must, on account of בְּעֵינָיו, have some other subject than the evil-doer himself" (Delitzsch 1871, 4 :C:).
  - <בְּעֵינָיו>: Elsewhere in the HB, the referent of בְּעֵינָיו and the subject of the head verb are the same.#dispreferred
   + [בְּעֵינָיו]: 2 Sam 10:12 - וַיהוָה יַעֲשֶׂה הַטֹּוב בְּעֵינָיו "and may the LORD do what seems good to him" (ESV); 2 Sam 15:26 - יַעֲשֶׂה־לִּי כַּאֲשֶׁר טֹוב בְּעֵינָיו "let him do to me what seems good to him" (ESV).#dispreferred
 

לִמְצֹא עֲוֺנוֹ לִשְׂנֹא

• For it flatters him in his eyes to carry out his sin, to practice hatred. (ELB)

 
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[לִמְצֹא עֲוֺנוֹ לִשְׂנֹא]: לִמְצֹא עֲוֺנוֹ לִשְׂנֹא is the subject of הֶחֱלִיק — "carrying out sin and practicing hatred flatter."#dispreferred
 - <Clause type>: Clauses in which a לְ + inf. cstr. phrase is the subject typically lack a finite verb, although היה does appear (IBHS §36.2.3b :G:).
  + [Clause type]: Ps 92:2 - טוֹב לְהֹדוֹת לַיהוָה "It is good to give thanks to the LORD" (ESV); 2 Sam 3:37 - כִּי לֹא הָיְתָה מֵהַמֶּלֶךְ לְהָמִית אֶת־אַבְנֵר בֶּן־נֵר "that it had not been the king’s will to put to death Abner the son of Ner" (ESV).
 - <Inanimate Subject>: "there is no support in the general usage of the (Hebrew) language for the impersonal (i.e., inanimate) rendering of the הֶחֱלִיק" (Delitzsch 1871, 4 :C:).
  + [Animate Subject]: E.g.: Isa 41:7; Prov 2:16; 7:5; 29:5.

פֶּשַׁע (v. 2) (preferred)

• because its speech is seductive to him till his iniquity be found out and he be hated. (JPS85)

 
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[פֶּשַׁע]: פֶּשַׁע (v. 2) is the subject of הֶחֱלִיק — "transgression flatters."
 + <Gender and Number Agreement>: The subject and verb agree in gender and number (see BHRG §11.1.6 :G:).
  + [Agreement]: Subject: פֶּשַׁע (masculine singular); Verb: הֶחֱלִיק (masculine singular).
 + <Context>: After נְאֻם־פֶּשַׁע, one "expect(s) to hear further what and how transgression speaks to (the wicked person)" (Delitzsch 1871, 4 :C:).
 

Function of לִמְצֹא עֲוֺנוֹ לִשְׂנֹא

Translations render the לְ + infinitive construct phrases as:

1. complements of the finite verb (NET, NIV, CEV)
2. a purpose/result clause (DRC1752)
3. a negated purpose/result clause (ESV, NRSV, RVR95)
4. a temporal clause (REB, NEB, JPS85)
5. indicating specification (NASB)

Complement

• In their own eyes they flatter themselves too much to detect or hate their sin. (NIV)
• They like themselves too much to hate their own sins or even to see them. (CEV)

 
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[Complement]: The לְ + inf. cstr. phrases are complements within a verbal clause.#dispreferred
 + <לְ + inf. cstr. = complement>: A לְ preposition prefixed to an infinitive construct can indicate the complement within a verbal clause (BHRG §39.11.3.a :G:).#dispreferred
  + [E.g.]: Deut 3:24 - אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה אַתָּה הַחִלּוֹתָ לְהַרְאוֹת אֶת־עַבְדְּךָ "O Lord GOD, you have only begun to show your servant" (ESV); Judg 3:12 - וַיֹּסִפוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לַעֲשׂוֹת הָרַע בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה "and the Israelites continued to do evil in the sight of YHWH."#dispreferred
 - <Verbs that take complements>: The finite verbs which take complements are typically those that refer to a temporal phase, a quantitative or qualitative dimension, ability, or (un)willingness. הֶחֱלִיק does not fit these categories. (BHRG §39.11.3.a :G:).

Purpose/Result

• For in his sight he hath done deceitfully, that his iniquity may be found unto hatred. (DRC1752)

 
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[Purpose/Result]: The לְ + inf. cstr. phrases are purpose/result clause(s).#dispreferred
 + <לְ + inf. cstr. = purpose/result>: A לְ preposition prefixed to an infinitive construct can signal a purpose/result clause (BHRG §39.11.3.b :G:).#dispreferred
   + [Ps 50:4]: יִקְרָא אֶל־הַשָּׁמַיִם מֵעָל וְאֶל־הָאָרֶץ לָדִין עַמּוֹ "He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that he may judge his people" (ESV).#dispreferred
 - <Context>: In light of the overall negative depiction of the wicked person in vv. 2-5, it is unlikely that being flattered leads him to find and hate his own iniquity, for finding and hating one's iniquity is a positive matter.

Negated Purpose/Result

• For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated. (ESV)
• For they flatter themselves in their own eyes that their iniquity cannot be found out and hated. (NRSV)

 
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[Purpose/Result]: The לְ + inf. cstr. phrases are purpose/result clause(s).#dispreferred
 + <לְ + inf. cstr. = purpose/result>: A לְ preposition prefixed to an infinitive construct can signal a purpose/result clause (BHRG §39.11.3.b :G:).#dispreferred
   + [Ps 50:4]: יִקְרָא אֶל־הַשָּׁמַיִם מֵעָל וְאֶל־הָאָרֶץ לָדִין עַמּוֹ "He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that he may judge his people" (ESV).#dispreferred
 - <Negator>: Adding a negator where none is present in the Hebrew text results in "precisely the reverse of the Hebrew rendering" (le Mat 1957, 13 :M:).

Temporal

• For he flatters himself in his own eyes, When he finds out his iniquity and when he hates. (NKJV)
• because its speech is seductive to him till his iniquity be found out and he be hated. (JPS85)

 
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[Temporal]: The לְ + inf. cstr. phrases are temporal.#dispreferred
 + <לְ + inf. cstr. = temporal>: A לְ preposition prefixed to an infinitive construct can signal a temporal clause (IBHS §36.2.3d :G:).#dispreferred
 - <Atypical Usage>: When indicating temporality, a לְ + inf. cstr. phrase typically occurs with verbs of movement/completion and/or the preposition עַד (see IBHS §36.2.3d :G:).
  + [Movement/Completion verbs]: Judg 19:26 - וַתָּבֹא הָאִשָּׁה לִפְנֹות הַבֹּקֶר "The woman arrived back at daybreak" (NET); 2 Chron 29:29 - וּכְכַלֹּות לְהַעֲלֹות "When the offering was finished" (ESV)
  + [עַד preposition]: 1 Kgs 18:29 - וַיִּתְנַבְּאוּ עַד לַעֲלֹות הַמִּנְחָה "they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation" (ESV)

Specification (preferred)

• For it flatters him in his own eyes Concerning the discovery of his wrongful deed and the hatred of it. (NASB)
• No, he is rather flattering himself in his eyes with regard to the finding out of his hateful guilt. (le Mat)

 
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[Specification]: The לְ prepositions indicate specification.
 + <לְ prep. indicates specification>: A "quasi-locational" function of the לְ prep. indicates specification (IBHS §11.2.10d :G:). 
  + [E.g.]: Gen 17:20 - וּלְיִשְׁמָעֵאל שְׁמַעְתִּיךָ "As for Ishmael, I have heard you" (ESV); Gen 41:19 - לֹא־רָאִיתִי כָהֵנָּה בְּכָל־אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם לָרֹעַ "such as I had never seen in all the land of Egypt, in regard to ugliness" (LSB).
 + <Context>: Reading the לְ prepositions as specifying what the wicked person flatters himself about makes the best sense within the context of a section describing the wicked person (vv. 2-5). 
 

Conclusion

Many translations identify the subject of "flattered" (הֶחֱלִיק) as the "wicked person" (v. 2). Though certainly possible grammatically, the semantics of vv. 2-3 suggest otherwise. Some translations identify the לְ + infinitive construct phrases as subjects, however it is unlikely that the subject of הֶחֱלִיק is impersonal.

Although several subjects have been suggested for הֶחֱלִיק, the most likely option is "Rebellion" (v. 2): it is coreferential with the nearest agent, it agrees with הֶחֱלִיק in gender and number, it continues the semantics of speech with the same subject as v. 2, it explains the nature of rebellion’s declaration, and it makes the best sense of the passage describing the wicked person: himself deceived, he continues in deceit.

Determining the relationship of לִמְצֹא עֲוֺנוֹ לִשְׂנֹא to what precedes is difficult due to the elasticity of לְ prepositions and infinitive constructs. The complement option can be ruled out, for הֶחֱלִיק is not included among those verbs which typically take complements. The Hebrew text does not include a negator, so it is best not to render לִמְצֹא עֲוֺנוֹ לִשְׂנֹא as a negated purpose/result clause. In a similar vein, that the wicked person is flattered in order to find and hate his iniquity is incoherent with the message of vv. 2-5, for a positive depiction of the wicked person here would be out of place. Furthermore, it is also unlikely that לִמְצֹא עֲוֺנוֹ לִשְׂנֹא indicates a temporal clause, for such clauses are usually preceded by a verb denoting time or the prep. עַד. We therefore conclude that לִמְצֹא עֲוֺנוֹ לִשְׂנֹא is best understood as specifying the matter with which wicked person is flattered. That is, the wicked person flatters himself "that he has found his iniquity and hated it"; in other words, the wicked person falsely believes that his sin has come to light and been dealt with. The result of such deception is that he will continue sinning (vv. 4-5).

The cumulative effect of (1) understanding פֶּשַׁע "Rebellion" to be the subject of הֶחֱלִיק and (2) understanding לִמְצֹא עֲוֺנוֹ לִשְׂנֹא as indicating specification results in a coherent reading of v. 3 within the context of a section describing the wicked person (vv. 2-5). Consider the following series of questions and answers which attempt to bring out the sense of the verse:

• Q: After giving its declaration, how does Rebellion speak to the wicked person?
• A: It flatters (הֶחֱלִיק).
• Q: Whom does Rebellion flatter?
• A: The wicked person (אֵלָיו).
• Q: Where does such flattery take place?
• A: In the wicked person's own eyes (i.e., his perception) (בְּעֵינָיו).
• Q: What exactly does Rebellion's flattery entail?
• A: That the wicked person's iniquity is found (i.e., brought to the light) and hated (לִמְצֹא עֲוֺנוֹ לִשְׂנֹא).

Research

Translations

Ancient

• LXX: ὅτι ἐδόλωσεν ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ τοῦ εὑρεῖν τὴν ἀνομίαν αὐτοῦ καὶ μισῆσαι
  • "because he practiced deceit before him, that he might find lawlessness in him and hate.
• Secunda: χι ε̣ ἐλικ ηλαυ β*νναυ λαμσω
• Aquila: ὅτι ἐλείωσε πρὸς αὐτὸν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς αὐτοῦ τοῦ εὑρεῖν ʼ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣̣̣̣̣̣̣̣ ̣́ αὐτ>οῦ
• Symmachus: ὅτι ἐξολισθάν(ειν) τὰ περὶ αὐτοῦ δοκεῖ τοῦ εὑρεθῆναι τ<ὴν ἀδικίαν αὐτ>οῦ <εἰ>ς τ<ὸ> μισηθῆν(αι) αὐτ(ήν̣)
• Quinta: ὅτι ἐξολισθαίνειν αὐτὸν ἐν ἐνώπι(ον) τ(οῖς) ὀφθαλμ(οῖς) αὐτοῦ τοῦ εὑρεῖν <* *̀ * * * * * αὐτ>οῦ καὶ μισῆσαι
• Peshitta: ܡܛܠ ܕܣܢܝܐ ܗܝ ܒܥܝ̈ܢܘܗܝ ܕܢܫܒܘܩ ܚ̈ܛܗܘܗܝ ܘܢܣܢܐ ܐܢܘܢ܂
  • "For it is detestable in his sight that he should forsake his sins and hate them.
• Jerome: quoniam dolose egit in conspectu eius ut inveniatur iniquitas eius ad odium
• Targum: ארום שעיע ליה בעינוי למשכח חובין למיסני אולפנא׃
  • "For he flatters him­ self in his own eyes, (as regards) the finding out of his sin^b (and his) hating instruction."

Modern

Complement

• for he is too proud to recognize and give up his sin. (NET)
• In their own eyes they flatter themselves too much to detect or hate their sin. (NIV)
• They like themselves too much to hate their own sins or even to see them. (CEV)
• Because they think so highly of themselves, they think that God will not discover their sin and condemn it. (GNT)
• He sees himself with too flattering an eye to detect and detest his guilt; (NJB)
• Er bildet sich viel zu viel auf sich ein, um sein Unrecht einzusehen oder es gar zu hassen. (HFA)
• Er gefällt sich darin, Schuld auf sich zu laden und andere zu hassen. (NGÜ)
• Denn es schmeichelt ihm in seinen Augen, seine Sünde zu vollbringen, Hass zu üben. (ELB)
• Denn es schmeichelt ihm in seinen Augen, sich schuldig zu machen und zu hassen. (EÜ)
• Sie sind viel zu sehr von sich eingenommen, als dass sie ihr Unrecht einsehen könnten oder gar es hassen. (GNB)
• Er gefällt sich darin, schuldig zu werden, zu hassen. (ZÜR)
• Car il se voit d'un œil trop flatteur pour trouver sa faute et la détester. (TOB)
• Il se considère ╵d’un œil trop flatteur pour reconnaître sa faute, ╵et la détester. (BDS)
• Car il a trop bonne opinion de lui-même pour reconnaître sa faute et la détester. (NFC)
• car il se voit d’un œil trop flatteur pour reconnaître son crime et le détester. (S21)

Purpose/Result

• For in his sight he hath done deceitfully, that his iniquity may be found unto hatred. (DRC1752)
• Car il se regarde avec complaisance, pour consommer sa faute, pour assouvir sa haine. (NBS)
• Car il se flatte à ses propres yeux, Pour consommer sa faute, pour assouvir sa haine. (NVSE)

Negated Purpose/Result

• For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated. (ESV)
• For they flatter themselves in their own eyes that their iniquity cannot be found out and hated. (NRSV)
• Cet homme-là est trop content de lui, il ne peut donc pas reconnaître sa faute ni la détester. (PDV)
• Se jacta, por tanto, ante sus propios ojos, de que su maldad no será hallada y aborrecida. (RVR95)
• Se cree tan digno de alabanzas, que no encuentra odiosa su maldad. (DHH)
• Se ilusiona de que su culpa no será descubierta ni aborrecida. (BTX4)

Temporal

• For he flatters himself in his own eyes, When he finds out his iniquity and when he hates. (NKJV)
• For he flatters himself in his own opinion and, when he is found out, he does not mend his ways. (NEB)
• For it flatters and deceives him and, when his iniquity is found out, he does not change. (REB)
• because its speech is seductive to him till his iniquity be found out and he be hated. (JPS85)

Other

• In their blind conceit, they cannot see how wicked they really are. (NLT)
• Er schmeichelt Gott vor dessen Augen und findet doch seine Strafe für seinen Hass. (LUT)
• Cree que merece alabanzas, al punto de no hallar aborrecible su propio pecado. (NVI)

Secondary Literature

Baethgen, Friedrich. 1904. Die Psalmen. 3. neubearb. Aufl. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck und Ruprecht.

Briggs, Charles A., and Emilie Briggs. 1906. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Book of Psalms. Vol. 1. ICC. Edinburgh: T & T Clark.

deClaissé-Walford, Nancy L., Rolf A. Jacobson, and Beth LaNeel Tanner. 2014. The Book of Psalms. NICOT. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

Delitzsch, Franz. 1871. Biblical Commentary on the Psalms: Vol. 2. Translated by Francis Bolton. Vol. 2. T & T Clark.

Hupfeld, Hermann. 1868. Die Psalmen. Vol. 2. Gotha: Friedrich Andreas Perthes.

Jenni, Ernst. 2000. Die Hebräischen Präpositionen Band 3: Die Präposition Lamed. Stuttgart: Verlag W. Kohlhammer.

le Mat, Louis Alexis Frederic. 1957. Textual Criticism and Exegesis of Psalm XXXVI: A Contribution to the Study of the Hebrew Book of Psalms. Studia Theologica Rheno-Traiectina; v. 3. Utrecht: Kemink.

Rashi. Rashi on Psalms.

References

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