The Syntax of Ps 92:8

Psalm Overview

Exegetical issues for Psalm 92:

The Sabbath Day in Ps 92

The Syntax of Ps 92:8

The Grammar and Meaning of Ps 92:11b

Introduction

The first two clauses of Ps 92:8 in the Masoretic Text begin with an infinitive construct with a בְּ preposition (בִּפְרֹחַ) and a wayyiqtol verb (וַיָּצִיצוּ), 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

Some scholars interpret the sequence of infinitive construct + wayyiqtol in this verse to refer to a sequence of specific past events, which have already been completed at the time of the composition of Ps 92. This interpretation is reflected in the NASB: "When the wicked sprouted up like grass and all who did injustice flourished, It was only that they might be destroyed forevermore."

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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 the psalm's composition (Sarna 1962, 159-160 :A:; Goldingay 2008, 52 :C:).#dispreferred
 - <World knowledge>: The interpretation of Ps 92:8 as a past, completed event implies "the wicked" and "any evildoers" already being destroyed, which is not reality in the Psalms.
 + <Usage>: The syntactic construction בְּ inf. cstr. + wayyiqtol usually points to a particular event in the past (Driver 1892, 139 :M:; Sarna 1962, 159-160 :A:; Cook 2012, 300 :M:).#dispreferred
  + [Usage]: See 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 (narrative, sequential)>: In these examples, the past-tense semantics are not the result of the grammatical forms per se but of the past-tense (narrative) context and the sequentiality of the events. By contrast, the verbs in Ps 92:8 ("flourish...prosper") are probably not sequential but refer to the same event.
    - <Sequential events>: The pair of verb phrases in Ps 92:8 probably also refer to a sequence of events (cf. the similar verb phrases in Num 17:23). #dispreferred
     + [Num 17:23]: "...and behold, the staff of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted (פָּרַח) and put forth buds (וַיֹּצֵא פֶרַח) and produced blossoms (וַיָּצֵץ צִיץ), and it bore ripe almonds" (Num 17:23, ESV).#dispreferred
 + <Creation context>: The allusions to creation and the creation conflict in this psalm suggest that the defeat of the wicked in v. 8 is a past event, something that happened at creation. #dispreferred
  + <Ugaritic parallel>: Ps 92 has clear parallels with Ugaritic literature describing Baal's victory at creation. Just as CTA IV (68) 8-9 speaks of Baal's victory over his enemies in creation and thereby defeating the chaotic Yamm, so Ps 92:10 speaks of YHWH's victory of the chaotic forces of the waters at creation (Sarna 1962, 166 :A:).#dispreferred 
   + [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:; "Now thine enemy, O Baal, Now thine enemy wilt thou smite, Now wilt thou cut of thine adversary" (Sarna 1962, 160 :A:).#dispreferred
   <_ <Time reference>: Although 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 speaks of the same event as v. 8, uses yiqtol verb forms, as does the Ugaritic text, so a future reading of v. 10 is in view.
    + [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:; "Now thine enemy, O Baal, Now thine enemy wilt thou smite, Now wilt thou cut of thine adversary"; Sarna 1962, 160 :A:).
    - <Incantation>: The yiqtol forms in the Ugaritic text are not a promise, but in fact an incantation to influence the battle in favor of Baal (Kapelrud 1952, 104 :M:; cf. Smith's rendering "Now your enemy, Baal, Now smash your enemy, Now vanquish your foe"; Smith 1997, 103 :M:).#dispreferred
     <_ <Non-past>: In any case, neither a promise nor incantation accommodates a past, completed, event.
  + <Superscription>: The superscription of Ps 92 refers to the "Sabbath" (cf. Gen 1-2). #dispreferred
 + <Ancient versions>: The Septuagint and Jerome interpret the verb sequence in this verse as past tense.#dispreferred
  + [Ancient versions]: LXX: "When the sinners sprang up (ἐν τῷ ἀνατεῖλαι) like grass also all who practice lawlessness popped up (διέκυψαν) so that they may be destroyed forever and ever"); Jerome (iuxta Hebraeos): "The wicked sprouted (germinaverunt) forth like hay and all those who do iniquity flourished (floruerunt) so that they might be crushed forever." #dispreferred

General Assertion (preferred)

According to most modern translations, the sequence of infinitive construct + wayyiqtol in Ps 92:8 is a general assertion, which remains a true observation at the time of the composition of Ps 92. The KJV, for example, reflects this interpretation: "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."

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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 the psalm's composition (Ibn Ezra :C:; Ḥakham 1979, 181 :C:; Kraus 1989, 229 :C:; IBHS 562 :G:; Radak :C:; Rashi :C:; Tate 1998, 461 :C:; Terrien 2003, 655 :C:).
 - <Syntactic Construction>: The continuity of a present context following an infinitive construct, supporting the "general truth" interpretation, would be communicated by וְיָצִיצוּ (weyiqtol), not וַיָּצִיצוּ (wayyiqtol) (Driver 1892, 137 :M:).#dispreferred
  <_ <Manuscript variants>: Some medieval Hebrew manuscripts actually vocalize ויציצו as a weyiqtol verb (instead of wayyiqtol).
   + [Manuscript variants]: See, e.g., (the Babylonian equivalent of) וְיָּצִיצוּ in BL Or 2373.
  - <Parallel contexts>: The two verbs in Ps 92:8 ("flourish... prosper") refer to the same event. And in contexts in which the two clauses refer to the same event and the temporal reference time of the first event is the present the wayyiqtol is often interpreted also as generic present (Cook 2012, 301 :M:).
   + [Parallel contexts]: See, e.g., the present contexts of Pss 29:5, 9; 42:6; 50:16; 52:9; 55:6; 90:3; 136:17-18; and even the future of Ps 49:15.
   <_ <Sequential events>: The pair of verb phrases in Ps 92:8 may refer to a sequence of events rather than the same event (cf. the similar verb phrases in Num 17:23). #dispreferred
    + [Num 17:23]: "...and behold, the staff of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted (פָּרַח) and put forth buds (וַיֹּצֵא פֶרַח) and produced blossoms (וַיָּצֵץ צִיץ), and it bore ripe almonds" (Num 17:23, ESV).#dispreferred
  - <Exceptions>: Sometimes the sequence infinitive construct + wayyiqtol indicates present time (GKC §111v :G:).
   + [Exceptions]: E.g., "When a wicked person turns away (וּבְשׁוּב) from the wickedness he has committed and does (וַיַּעַשׂ) what is just and right, he shall save his life" (Ezek 18:27, ESV; cf. Isa 30:12; Num 12:12; Jer 10:13).
 + <Ancient versions>: The Peshitta, Targum Psalms, and Symmachus interpreted the verb sequence as present tense, referring to general truths.
  + [Ancient versions]: Symmachus: "... and when all workers of iniquity bloom (ἐν τῷ ἀσθῆναι)"; Peshitta: "that although the wicked spring up (ܕܦܪܥܝܢ) like grass and all the workers of iniquity flourish (ܘܫܘܚܝܢ), they will perish (ܕܢܐܒܕܘܢ) forever and ever" (Taylor 2020, 383); Targum: "when the wicked sprout (מיתלבלבן) like grass, and all those who deal falsely flourish (ונצצין), God is ready to destroy them (דישצינון) forever" (Stec 2004, 176). 
 + <Syntactic environment (v. 10)>: Verse 10 uses yiqtol verb forms to describe the same event (i.e., the destruction of the wicked).
  + [Syntactic environment (v. 10)]: "...your enemies will perish (יֹאבֵדוּ); all evildoers will be scattered (יִתְפָּרְדוּ)" (v. 10).
 + <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.
  + [Ps 73:27]: כִּֽי־הִנֵּ֣ה רְחֵקֶ֣יךָ יֹאבֵ֑דוּ הִ֝צְמַ֗תָּה כָּל־זוֹנֶ֥ה מִמֶּֽךָּ (ESV: "For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you."); cf. the Syr. ܘܬܘܒܕ "and you will destroy."

Conclusion (A-)

If the verbal sequence refers to a past, completed event, the psalmist can be confident because the wicked have already been destroyed (despite once flourishing). Though the past and completed event is the standard interpretation of a large number of infinitive construct + wayyiqtol constructions, these are defined by their narrative context and the sequential nature of the two events. Furthermore, v. 10 and its Ugaritic parallel, which are said to license the reading of v. 8 as cosmic beginnings, both use yiqtol verb forms, which are unlikely to communicate past, completed events. Finally, the past reading of v. 8 would imply the present destruction of any wicked or evildoers, which does not seem to be the reality in the book of Psalms or the Bible as a whole.

On the other hand, as indicated by a number of ancient versions, the generic present interpretation of Ps 92:8 is most plausible because of the co-referentiality of the two clauses—they most likely refer to the same event in parallel fashion. Not only are there examples of בְּ-prefixed infinitive constructions followed by wayyiqtols interpreted as the present, but the wayyiqtol is well-known to continue the present tense when activated by the previous clause, whether an infinitive construct or other construction. As mentioned above, the events related in v. 8 are similar to those in v. 10, which have yiqtol verbs, as does the parallel passage in Ps 73:27. Thus, taking v. 8 as a general observation, the psalmist can be confident that this fate of the wicked is guaranteed (just as in Ps 73), despite its fulfillment not yet being observed by the psalmist.

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."
• Jerome (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.

Ḥakham, Amos. 1979. ספר תהלים: ספרים ג–ה (in Hebrew; The Book of Psalms: Books 3-5). Jerusalem: Mossad Harav Kook.

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

Ibn Ezra, Abraham on Psalms.

Kapelrud, Arvid S. 1952. Baal in the Ras Shamra Texts. Copenhagen: G. E. C. Gad Publisher.

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

Radak (Kimchi, David) on Psalms.

Rashi (Yitzchaki, Shlomo) on Psalms.

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

Smith, Mark S. 1997. Ugaritic Narrative Poetry. Atlanta, GA: Scholars Press.

Tate, Marvin E. 1998. Psalms 51-100. Dallas, TX: Word Books.

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

Vogel, Dan. 2000. "A Psalm for the Sabbath? A Literary View of Psalm 92." JBQ 28, no. 4: 211-221.

References

92:8 Approved