The Syntax of Ps 92:8

Introduction

The first two clauses of Ps 92:8 begin with an infinitive construct with a בְּ preposition and a wayyiqtol final verb, respectively:

בִּפְרֹ֤חַ רְשָׁעִ֨ים ׀כְּמ֥וֹ עֵ֗שֶׂב

וַ֭יָּצִיצוּ כָּל־פֹּ֣עֲלֵי אָ֑וֶן

לְהִשָּֽׁמְדָ֥ם עֲדֵי־עַֽד׃

The major interpretations of this verbal sequence are illustrated by the NASB and KJV:

• When the wicked sprouted up like grass and all who did injustice flourished, It was only that they might be destroyed forevermore (NASB)
• When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever (KJV)

The NASB understands the sequence as a pair of past – and completed – events, while the KJV understands the events contained in the verse as a general observation.

Argument Maps

Past Event

Under this understanding, the sequence of infinitive construct + wayyiqtol refers to a particular past event, which has already been completed at the time of composition of Ps 92.

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[Particular past event]: The sequence of infinitive construct + wayyiqtol in Ps 92:8 refers to a particular past event, which has already been completed at the time of composition of the psalm (Sarna 1962, 159-160 :A:; Goldingay 2008, 52 :C:).#dispreferred
 + <Syntactic Construction>: The syntactic construction בְּ inf. cstr. + wayyiqtol points to a particular event in the past (Driver 1892, 139 :M:; Sarna 1962, 159-160 :A:; Cook 2012, 300 :M:).#dispreferred
  + [Other examples]: See also Gen 28:6; Lev 16:1; Judg 11:16; 1 Sam 17:24; 1 Kgs 10:9; 18:18; Isa 38:9; Ps 52:2; 54:2; 59:1, Job 38:7.#dispreferred
   <_ <Context>: The past-occurrence of the sequence of events described in the examples cited in support of a past event are determined by the semantic probability of the sequential reading of the two events, whereas the pair of verb phrases in our verse more naturally refer to the same event.
    - <Sequential events>: Very similar verb phrases are found in Num 17:23, referring to a sequence of events.#dispreferred
     + [Num 17:23]: וְהִנֵּ֛ה פָּרַ֥ח מַטֵּֽה־אַהֲרֹ֖ן לְבֵ֣ית לֵוִ֑י וַיֹּ֤צֵֽא פֶ֙רַח֙ וַיָּ֣צֵֽץ צִ֔יץ וַיִּגְמֹ֖ל שְׁקֵדִֽים׃ (ESV: and behold, the staff of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted and put forth buds and produced blossoms, and it bore ripe almonds).#dispreferred
  - <Exceptions>: Our current example seems to function differently (Cook 2012: 301 :M:)
 + <Ugaritic Parallel>: The events described in Ps 92:9-10 find strong parallels in Ugaritic literature, such that the surrounding co-text should also be understood with this mythological background (Sarna 1962, 161 :A:), giving meaning to the mention of Sabbath in the superscription, which essentially refers to YHWH's victory of chaotic forces at creation (Sarna 1962, 166 :A:).#dispreferred 
  <_ <Time reference>: While it is highly plausible that parts of Ps 92 draw upon ancient Canaanite literary traditions, v. 10, which has the most obvious Ugaritic parallels and which – it has been claimed – speaks the same event as v. 8, uses yiqtol verb forms, as does the Ugaritic text, so a future / imperfective reading of v. 10 is in view, neither of which leaves room for a past, completed event.
   + [Time reference]: v. 10: כִּ֤י הִנֵּ֪ה אֹיְבֶ֡יךָ׀ יְֽהוָ֗ה כִּֽי־הִנֵּ֣ה אֹיְבֶ֣יךָ יֹאבֵ֑דוּ יִ֝תְפָּרְד֗וּ כָּל־פֹּ֥עֲלֵי אָֽוֶן (For look, YHWH, for look, your enemies (will) perish; all evildoers will be/are scattered); CTA IV (68) 8-9: ht ibk b'lm ht ibk tmẖṣ ht tṣmt ṣrtk (Now your enemy, O Baal, Now your enemy will you smite, Now will you cut off your adversary; Avishur 1994, 235 :M:).
 + <Ancient versions>: This is the interpretation of the LXX and Jerome.#dispreferred
  + [Ancient versions]: LXX: ἐν τῷ ἀνατεῖλαι τοὺς ἁμαρτωλοὺς ὡς χόρτον καὶ διέκυψαν πάντες οἱ ἐργαζόμενοι τὴν ἀνομίαν, ὅπως ἂν ἐξολεθρευθῶσιν εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦ αἰῶνος (NETS: "When the sinners sprang up like grass also all who practice lawlessness popped up so that they may be destroyed forever and ever"); Iuxta Hebraeos: germinaverunt impii quasi faenum et floruerunt omnes qui operantur iniquitatem ut contererentur usque in sempiternum ("The wicked sprouted forth like hay and all those who do iniquity flourished so that they might be crushed forever").#dispreferred

General Assertion

The sequence of infinitive construct + wayyiqtol refers to a general assertion, which remains a true observation at the time of composition of Ps 92.

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[General truth]: The sequence of infinitive construct + wayyiqtol in Ps 92:8 refers to a general assertion, which remains a true observation at the time of composition of the psalm (Ibn Ezra :C:; Kraus 1989, 229 :C:; Waltke-O'Connor 1990, 562 :G:; Tate 1998, 461 :C:; Terrien 2003, 655 :C:).
 - <Syntactic Construction>: The syntactic construction בְּ inf. cstr. + wayyiqtol points to a particular event in the past (Driver 1892, 139 :M:; Sarna 1962, 159-160 :A:; Cook 2012, 300 :M:).#dispreferred
  <_ <Manuscript variants>: If indeed the continuity of a present בְּ-prefixed infinitive construct would be communicated by וְ, not וַ (Driver 1892, 137 :M:), manuscripts with the former pointing support the "general truth" interpretation.
   + [Manuscript variants]: See, e.g., (the Babylonian equivalent of) וְיָּצִיצוּ in BL Or 2373.
  <_ <Other similar constructions>: Though not with the בְּ preposition, other infinitive constructs with followed by wayyiqtols continue the present time reference into the wayyiqtol clause (GKC §111v :G:).
   + [Other similar constructions]: See, e.g., Isa 30:12: יַ֥עַן מָֽאָסְכֶ֖ם בַּדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֑ה וַֽתִּבְטְחוּ֙ בְּעֹ֣שֶׁק וְנָל֔וֹז וַתִּֽשָּׁעֲנ֖וּ עָלָֽיו ("Because your reject this word and your trust in oppression and crookedness and you relied on them..."); Jer 10:13: לְק֨וֹל תִּתּ֜וֹ הֲמ֥וֹן מַ֙יִם֙ בַּשָּׁמַ֔יִם וַיַּעֲלֶ֥ה נְשִׂאִ֖ים מִקְצֵ֣ה אֶרֶץ (ESV: When he utters his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth).
  - <Exception>: Though not common, a wayyiqtol may continue the present time reference (GKC §111v :G:) of even a בְּ-prefixed infinitive construct.
   + [Exception]: See, e.g., the generic statement in Num 12:12 אַל־נָ֥א תְהִ֖י כַּמֵּ֑ת אֲשֶׁ֤ר בְּצֵאתוֹ֙ מֵרֶ֣חֶם אִמּ֔וֹ וַיֵּאָכֵ֖ל חֲצִ֥י בְשָׂרֽוֹ (ESV: Let her not be as one dead, whose flesh is half eaten away when he comes out of his mother’s womb). 
 + <Ancient versions>: This is the interpretation of the Peshitta, Targum Psalms and Symmachus.
  + [Ancient versions]: Symmachus: ... καὶ ἐν τῷ ἀσθῆναι πάντας τοὺς ἐργαζομένους τὴν ἀδικίαν ("... and when all workers of iniquity bloom"); Peshitta: ܡܐ ܕܦܪܥܝܢ ܪ̈ܫܝܥܐ ܐܝܟ ܥܣܒܐ ܘܫܘܚܝܢ ܟܠ ܥܒ̈ܕܝ ܥܘܠܐ ܕܢܐܒܕܘܢ ܠܥܠܡ ܥܠܡܝܢ (Taylor 2020, 383: "that although the wicked spring up like grass and all the workers of iniquity flourish, they will perish forever and ever"); Targum: כד מיתלבלבן רשיעיא היך עסבא ונצצין כל עבדי שקר ועתיד דישצינון אלהא עד עלמא׃ (Stec 2004, 176: "when the wicked sprout like grass, and all those who deal falsely flourish, God is ready to destroy them forever"). 
 + <Syntactic environment>: The construction is followed by a similar event communicated by yiqtol verb forms in v. 10.
  + [Syntactic environment]: v. 10: כִּ֤י הִנֵּ֪ה אֹיְבֶ֡יךָ׀ יְֽהוָ֗ה כִּֽי־הִנֵּ֣ה אֹיְבֶ֣יךָ יֹאבֵ֑דוּ יִ֝תְפָּרְד֗וּ כָּל־פֹּ֥עֲלֵי אָֽוֶן.
 + <Parallel passages>: The parallel context found in Ps 73:27 employs both yiqtol and qatal verb forms, though the wicked's actions are construed as contemporaneous with the performance of the psalm throughout vv. 4-12.

Conclusion (A)

The message of the psalm is directly affected by the conclusion reached in this exegetical issue. In the first case, the psalmist can be confident because the wicked have already been destroyed (despite once flourishing). Though the past and completed event is certainly the correct reading of the majority of infinitive construct + wayyiqtol constructions, we have seen enough exceptions and sufficient contextual reasons against this interpretation here. Thus, according to our preferred view (and just as in Ps 73), the psalmist can be confident that this fate of the wicked is generally what is observed, though the reality is not yet observed.

Research

Translations

Ancient

• LXX:ἐν τῷ ἀνατεῖλαι τοὺς ἁμαρτωλοὺς ὡς χόρτον καὶ διέκυψαν πάντες οἱ ἐργαζόμενοι τὴν ἀνομίαν, ὅπως ἂν ἐξολεθρευθῶσιν εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦ αἰῶνος.
  • "When the sinners sprang up like grass also all who practice lawlessness popped up so that they may be destroyed forever and ever."
• Symmachus: ... καὶ ἐν τῷ ἀσθῆναι πάντας τοὺς ἐργαζομένους τὴν ἀδικίαν.
  • "... and when all workers of iniquity bloom."
• Gallican Psalter: cum exorti fuerint peccatores sicut faenum et apparuerint omnes qui operantur iniquitatem ut intereant in saeculum saeculi:
  • "When the wicked shall spring up as grass: and all the workers of iniquity shall appear: That they may perish for ever and ever."
• Iuxta Hebraeos: germinaverunt impii quasi faenum et floruerunt omnes qui operantur iniquitatem ut contererentur usque in sempiternum
  • "The wicked sprouted forth like hay and all those who do iniquity flourished so that they might be crushed forever."
• Peshitta: ܡܐ ܕܦܪܥܝܢ ܪ̈ܫܝܥܐ ܐܝܟ ܥܣܒܐ ܘܫܘܚܝܢ ܟܠ ܥܒ̈ܕܝ ܥܘܠܐ ܕܢܐܒܕܘܢ ܠܥܠܡ ܥܠܡܝܢ
  • "that although the wicked spring up like grass and all the workers of iniquity flourish, they will perish forever and ever."
• Targum: כד מיתלבלבן רשיעיא היך עסבא ונצצין כל עבדי שקר ועתיד דישצינון אלהא עד עלמא׃
  • "when the wicked sprout like grass, and all those who deal falsely flourish, God is ready to destroy them forever."

Modern

Past Event

• When the wicked sprouted up like grass And all who did injustice flourished, It was only that they might be destroyed forevermore. (NASB)

General Truth

• When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever (KJV ≈ CEB, CEV, CJB, CSB, ESV, GNT, NABRE, NET, NIV, NJPS, NLT, NRSV, REB)
• Auch wenn die Frevler wie Unkraut wuchern und alle Übeltäter blühen, sie werden vernichtet für immer. (ZÜR ≈ ELB, EÜ, Luther 2017)
• que los impíos brotan como la hierba, y que todos los que hacen iniquidad florecen para ser destruidos

para siempre. (RVA ≈ DHH)

• Quand les méchants fleurissent comme l'herbe, quand s'épanouissent tous les malfaisants, c'est pour être détruits à jamais. (NBS ≈ BDS, NFC, NVSR, PDV, SG21, TOB)

Secondary Literature

Avishur, Yitzhak. 1994. Studies in Hebrew and Ugaritic Psalms. Jerusalem: Magnes Press.

Cook, John A. 2012. Time and the Biblical Hebrew Verb: The Expression of Tense Aspect and Modality in Biblical Hebrew. Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns.

Driver, Samuel R. 1892. A Treatise on the Use of the Tenses in Hebrew and Some Other Syntactical Questions. Oxford: Clarendon Press.

Goldingay, John. 2008. Psalms 90-150. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.

GKC = Gesenius, Wilhelm & Kautsch, Emil. 1909. A. E. Cowley (trans.) Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar. Oxford: Clarendon Press.

Ibn Ezra, Abraham on Psalms.

Kraus, H. J. 1989. Psalms 60-150: A Commentary (trans.) H. C. Oswald. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press.

Sarna, Nahum S. 1962. "The Psalm for the Sabbath Day (Ps 92)" in JBL 81, no. 2: 166-168.

Tate, Marvin E. 1990. Psalms 51-100. Dallas, TX: Word Books.

Terrien, Samuel. 2003. The Psalms: Strophic Structure and Theological Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.

Waltke, Bruce K. & O'Connor, Michael. O. 1990. An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax. Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns.

References

92:8