The Syntax of Psalm 112:2b

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Psalm Overview

Exegetical Issues for Psalm 112:

  • The Identity of the Person in Psalm 112
  • The Syntax of Psalm 112:2b
  • The Syntax and Subject(s) in Ps. 112:4

    • Introduction

    The Hebrew text of Ps 112:2 is as follows:[1]

    גִּבּ֣וֹר בָּ֭אָרֶץ יִהְיֶ֣ה זַרְע֑וֹ
    דּ֭וֹר יְשָׁרִ֣ים יְבֹרָֽךְ׃

    The syntax of this verse, particularly v. 2b, is not immediately clear. There are at least three options.

    • Verse 2b is an independent clause with דּוֹר יְשָׁרִים ("generation of upright ones") as the subject. "His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed" (ESV, cf. KJV, NRSV, NIV, NLT, NET, NJB, CEV, GNT, LUT, NJB, LUT, NGÜ, ELB, EÜ, ZÜR, HFA, GNB, RVR95, NVI, BTX4, TOB, NBS, NVS78P, S21, NFC, PDV2017).
    • דּוֹר יְשָׁרִים ("generation of upright ones") in v. 2b is in apposition to זַרְעוֹ ("his offspring") in v. 2a and יְבֹרָךְ is an asyndetic relative clause. "His descendants will be mighty in the land, a blessed generation of upright men" (JPS85, cf. NEB, REB).
    • דּוֹר יְשָׁרִים is an adverbial accusative. "He will be blessed in the generation of the upright" (Targum, cf. Peshitta).[2]

    Argument Maps

    דּוֹר יְשָׁרִים as subject of v. 2b

    The vast majority of modern translations read v. 2b as an independent clause with דּוֹר as the subject. The ESV, for example, says, "His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed" (ESV, cf. KJV, NRSV, NIV, NLT, NET, NJB, CEV, GNT, LUT, NJB, LUT, NGÜ, ELB, EÜ, ZÜR, HFA, GNB, RVR95, NVI, BTX4, TOB, NBS, NVS78P, S21, NFC, PDV2017). Psalm 112 - EI3.jpg 

    
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[Subject]: דּוֹר יְשָׁרִים is the subject of יְבֹרָךְ: "a generation of upright ones will be blessed." #dispreferred
 + <Valency of and agreement with יְבֹרָךְ>: The finite verb יְבֹרָךְ (v. 2b) requires a masculine singular noun as its subject. דּוֹר, which is the only masculine singular noun on the same poetic line, is the most likely candidate for the subject. #dispreferred
 + <Ancient versions>: The LXX and Jerome appear to have understood דּוֹר as the subject of the independent clause in v. 2b. #dispreferred
  + [LXX]: δυνατὸν ἐν τῇ γῇ ἔσται τὸ σπέρμα αὐτοῦ, γενεὰ εὐθείων εὐλογηθήσεται #dispreferred
  + [Jerome (iuxta Hebr.)]: potens in terra erit semen eius; generatio iustorum benedicetur #dispreferred


    Argument Mapn0Subjectדּוֹר יְשָׁרִים is the subject of יְבֹרָךְ: "a generation of upright ones will be blessed." n1LXXδυνατὸν ἐν τῇ γῇ ἔσται τὸ σπέρμα αὐτοῦ, γενεὰ εὐθείων εὐλογηθήσεται n4Ancient versionsThe LXX and Jerome appear to have understood דּוֹר as the subject of the independent clause in v. 2b. n1->n4n2Jerome (iuxta Hebr.)potens in terra erit semen eius; generatio iustorum benedicetur n2->n4n3Valency of and agreement with יְבֹרָךְThe finite verb יְבֹרָךְ (v. 2b) requires a masculine singular noun as its subject. דּוֹר, which is the only masculine singular noun on the same poetic line, is the most likely candidate for the subject. n3->n0n4->n0


    דּוֹר יְשָׁרִים as predicate complement of זַרְעוֹ (preferred)

    A few translations interpret דּוֹר in v. 2b as an additional predicate complement to זַרְעוֹ in v. 2a. The JPS85, for example, says "His descendants will be mighty in the land, a blessed generation of upright men" (JPS85, cf. NEB, REB). Psalm 112 - EI1.jpg 

    
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[Predicate complement]: The phrase דּוֹר יְשָׁרִים is an additional predicate complement to זַרְעוֹ: "His offspring will be mighty in the land; (his offspring will be) a generation of upright ones (who) will be blessed" (cf. Rashi :C:).
 + <Coreferential>: זַרְעוֹ and דּוֹר are a poetic word pair and are probably coreferential.
   + [Coreferential]: E.g., Ps 22:31; cf. Ps 89:5.
  - <Singular seed>: Whereas דּוֹר יְשָׁרִים is a plural entity, זַרְעוֹ is singular. #dispreferred
   <_ <Collective singular>: זַרְעוֹ is a collective ("offspring, descendants") (cf. HALOT :L:).
    + <Targum>: The Targum reads זַרְעוֹ as a collective: בנוי ("his sons").
    - <גִּבּוֹר>: In the previous line, the "seed" is described as a גִּבּוֹר, a singular substantive used to refer to an individual great warrior. If "seed" were a collective, then "we should at least expect to see the plural גִּבּוֹרִים" (Sherwood 1989:61 :A:). #dispreferred
     + <גִּבּוֹר as substantive>: גִּבּוֹר is probably a substantive, either a noun or a substantival adjective. #dispreferred
      <_ <Analogy with גֵּר>: Even if גִּבּוֹר is a singular substantive, it can still function as the predicate complement of a collective noun: "his offspring will be a warrior" = "his offspring will be warriors") (cf. analogy with the noun גֵּר).
       + [גֵּר]: Gen. 15:13 כִּי־גֵ֣ר׀ יִהְיֶ֣ה זַרְעֲךָ֗ בְּאֶ֨רֶץ֙ לֹ֣א לָהֶ֔ם
      + [גִּבּוֹר as substantive]: 1 Sam 2:4; 17:51; Isa 3:2; 42:13; Ps 19:6; etc. #dispreferred
     - <גִּבּוֹר as adjective>: גִּבּוֹר is probably an adjective (BDB :L:, Ges-18 :L:, DCH :L:), and it is normal for the predicate adjective of a singular-collective noun to be singular (cf. JM 148b :G:).
      + [גִּבּוֹר as adjective]: E.g., 1 Sam 14:52 (אִישׁ גִּבּוֹר); Isa 9:5 (אֵל גִּבּוֹר); Dan 11:3 (מֶלֶךְ גִּבּוֹר) 
      + [Ancient versions]: LXX: δυνατὸν (adj); Jerome (iuxta Hebr.): potens (adj); Syriac: ܚܝܠܬܢ (adj)
 - <Finite verb יְבֹרָךְ>: If דּוֹר is in apposition to זַרְעוֹ, then the verb יְבֹרָךְ has no subject. We might instead have expected מְבֹרָךְ. #dispreferred
  - <Relative Clause>: יְבֹרָךְ is an asyndetic relative clause (= אֲשֶׁר יְבֹרָךְ) (Rashi :C:).
 + <Nature of Hebrew Poetry>: In Biblical Hebrew Poetry, poetic couplets tend to communicate a single thought, or sentence, across two lines (cf. Tsumura 2023 :M:). This is most clearly the case for v. 2 if דּוֹר יְשָׁרִים is an additional predicate complement of זַרְעוֹ in v. 2a.


    Argument Mapn0Predicate complementThe phrase דּוֹר יְשָׁרִים is an additional predicate complement to זַרְעוֹ: "His offspring will be mighty in the land; (his offspring will be) a generation of upright ones (who) will be blessed" (cf. Rashi 🄲).n1CoreferentialE.g., Ps 22:31; cf. Ps 89:5.n6Coreferentialזַרְעוֹ and דּוֹר are a poetic word pair and are probably coreferential.n1->n6n2גֵּרGen. 15:13 כִּי־גֵ֣ר׀ יִהְיֶ֣ה זַרְעֲךָ֗ בְּאֶ֨רֶץ֙ לֹ֣א לָהֶ֔םn12Analogy with גֵּרEven if גִּבּוֹר is a singular substantive, it can still function as the predicate complement of a collective noun: "his offspring will be a warrior" = "his offspring will be warriors") (cf. analogy with the noun גֵּר).n2->n12n3גִּבּוֹר as substantive1 Sam 2:4; 17:51; Isa 3:2; 42:13; Ps 19:6; etc. n11גִּבּוֹר as substantiveגִּבּוֹר is probably a substantive, either a noun or a substantival adjective. n3->n11n4גִּבּוֹר as adjectiveE.g., 1 Sam 14:52 (אִישׁ גִּבּוֹר); Isa 9:5 (אֵל גִּבּוֹר); Dan 11:3 (מֶלֶךְ גִּבּוֹר) n13גִּבּוֹר as adjectiveגִּבּוֹר is probably an adjective (BDB 🄻, Ges-18 🄻, DCH 🄻), and it is normal for the predicate adjective of a singular-collective noun to be singular (cf. JM 148b 🄶).n4->n13n5Ancient versionsLXX: δυνατὸν (adj); Jerome (iuxta Hebr.): potens (adj); Syriac: ܚܝܠܬܢ (adj)n5->n13n6->n0n7Singular seedWhereas דּוֹר יְשָׁרִים is a plural entity, זַרְעוֹ is singular. n7->n0n8Collective singularזַרְעוֹ is a collective ("offspring, descendants") (cf. HALOT 🄻).n8->n7n9TargumThe Targum reads זַרְעוֹ as a collective: בנוי ("his sons").n9->n8n10גִּבּוֹרIn the previous line, the "seed" is described as a גִּבּוֹר, a singular substantive used to refer to an individual great warrior. If "seed" were a collective, then "we should at least expect to see the plural גִּבּוֹרִים" (Sherwood 1989:61 🄰). n10->n8n11->n10n12->n11n13->n10n14Finite verb יְבֹרָךְIf דּוֹר is in apposition to זַרְעוֹ, then the verb יְבֹרָךְ has no subject. We might instead have expected מְבֹרָךְ. n14->n0n15Relative Clauseיְבֹרָךְ is an asyndetic relative clause (= אֲשֶׁר יְבֹרָךְ) (Rashi 🄲).n15->n14n16Nature of Hebrew PoetryIn Biblical Hebrew Poetry, poetic couplets tend to communicate a single thought, or sentence, across two lines (cf. Tsumura 2023 🄼). This is most clearly the case for v. 2 if דּוֹר יְשָׁרִים is an additional predicate complement of זַרְעוֹ in v. 2a.n16->n0


    דּוֹר יְשָׁרִים as adverbial accusative

    Although none of the modern translations we consulted interpret דּוֹר as an adverbial accusative, two of the ancient versions (Peshitta and Targum) reflect this interpretation. The Targum, for example, says, "He will be blessed in the generation of the upright."[3] Psalm 112 - EI2.jpg 

    
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[Adverbial accusative]: דּוֹר is an adverbial accusative: "(in) the generation of the upright he will be blessed" (cf. Zenger 2011 :C:). #dispreferred
 + <Ancient tradition>: Some ancient readers interpreted דּוֹר is an adverbial (= בְּדוֹר). #dispreferred
  + [Targum]: בדר תריציא יתברך #dispreferred
  + [Peshitta]: ܘܢܬܒܪܟ ܒܕܪܐ ܕܙܕܝܩ̈ܐ #dispreferred
  <_ <בְּדוֹר>: The Targum and Peshitta probably read a different Hebrew parent text: בְּדוֹר (BHS).
   - <Acrostic>: A word beginning with dalet (דּוֹר) is essential to the acrostic structure of the poem. It is unlikely that a scribe would have changed דּוֹר to בְּדוֹר. #dispreferred


    Argument Mapn0Adverbial accusativeדּוֹר is an adverbial accusative: "(in) the generation of the upright he will be blessed" (cf. Zenger 2011 🄲). n1Targumבדר תריציא יתברך n3Ancient traditionSome ancient readers interpreted דּוֹר is an adverbial (= בְּדוֹר). n1->n3n2Peshittaܘܢܬܒܪܟ ܒܕܪܐ ܕܙܕܝܩ̈ܐ n2->n3n3->n0n4בְּדוֹרThe Targum and Peshitta probably read a different Hebrew parent text: בְּדוֹר (BHS).n4->n3n5AcrosticA word beginning with dalet (דּוֹר) is essential to the acrostic structure of the poem. It is unlikely that a scribe would have changed דּוֹר to בְּדוֹר. n5->n4


    Conclusion (B)

    In conclusion, the phrase דּוֹר יְשָׁרִים ("a generation of upright people") in v. 2b is probably an additional predicate complement to זַרְעוֹ ("his offspring") in v. 2a, and the verb יְבֹרָךְ is an asyndetic relative clause: His offspring will be great in the land; [his offspring will be] a generation of upright ones [who] will be blessed (cf. Rashi, JPS85, NEB, REB). This interpretation is the most consistent with the understanding that Biblical Hebrew poetic couplets tend to communicate one thought, or sentence, through two lines (cf. Tsumura 2023). It also accounts for the fact that דּוֹר and זַרְעוֹ, a poetic word-pair, are probably co-referential. Although זַרְעוֹ is singular and דּוֹר יְשָׁרִים is plural, זַרְעוֹ is probably a collective (so Targum). The singular predicate complement גִּבּוֹר in the previous line does not require that we understand זַרְעוֹ as a singular individual, because גִּבּוֹר is probably an adjective (so lexicons and ancient versions). And even if גִּבּוֹר is a noun, it can still function as the predicate complement of a collective noun (cf. Gen. 15:13).

    The whole verse, therefore, is about the offspring of the man who fears YHWH. The a-line says that his offspring will be "great" (i.e., characterized by "physical strength, power, bravery, skill, wealth, good character, or a combination thereof" [SDBH]), and the b-line says that they will be a "generation of upright people [who] will be blessed," making explicit the notion of "good character" ("upright people") as well as the source of their greatness ("blessed [by YHWH]").

    Research

    Translations

    Ancient

    • LXX: δυνατὸν ἐν τῇ γῇ ἔσται τὸ σπέρμα αὐτοῦ, γενεὰ εὐθείων εὐλογηθήσεται[4]
      • "Powerful in the land his offspring will be; a generation of upright will be be blessed."[5]
    • Peshitta: ܢܗܘܐ ܚܝܠܬܢ ܙܪܥܗ ܒܐܪܥܐ܂ ܘܢܬܒܪܟ ܒܕܪܐ ܕܙܕܝܩ̈ܐ܂[6]
      • "His descendants will be mighty in the land; he will be blessed in the generation of the righteous"[7]
    • Jerome (iuxta Hebraeos): potens in terra erit semen eius; generatio iustorum benedicetur[8]
      • "His seed will be powerful in the land; a generation of righteous ones will be blessed."[9]
    • Targum: גבר באוריתא יהוין בנוי בדר תריציא יתברך׃[10]
      • "His sons will be mighty in the land; he will be blessed in the generation of the upright."[11]

    Modern

    v. 2b independent clause with דּוֹר as subject

    • His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed (KJV)
    • Their children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed (NIV)
    • His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed (ESV)
    • Their descendants will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed (NRSV)
    • Their children will be successful everywhere; an entire generation of godly people will be blessed (NLT)
    • His descendants will be powerful on the earth; the godly will be blessed (NET)
    • His descendants shall be powerful on earth, the race of the honest shall receive blessings: (NJB)
    • Sein Geschlecht wird gewaltig sein im Lande; die Kinder der Frommen werden gesegnet sein (LUT)
    • Seine Nachkommen werden im ganzen Land einflussreich sein. Ja, sie alle, die aufrichtig vor Gott leben, werden von ihm gesegnet (NGÜ)
    • Seine Nachkommenschaft wird mächtig sein im Land. Das Geschlecht der Aufrichtigen wird gesegnet werden (ELB)
    • Seine Nachkommen werden mächtig im Land, das Geschlecht der Redlichen wird gesegnet (EÜ)
    • Mächtig werden seine Nachkommen sein im Land, das Geschlecht der Aufrichtigen wird gesegnet (ZÜR)
    • Su descendencia será poderosa en la tierra; la generación de los rectos será bendita (RVR95)
    • Su descendencia será poderosa en la tierra; la generación de los justos será bendecida (NVI)
    • Su linaje será poderoso en la tierra, La generación de los rectos será bendita (BTX4)
    • Sa lignée est puissante sur la terre, la race des hommes droits sera bénie (TOB)
    • Sa descendance sera vaillante dans le pays, la génération des gens droits sera bénie (NBS)
    • Sa descendance sera vaillante dans le pays, La génération des (hommes) droits sera bénie (NVS78P)
    • Sa postérité sera forte ╵dans le pays, et la génération du juste ╵sera bénie
    • Sa descendance sera puissante sur la terre, la génération des hommes droits sera bénie (S21)
    Causal relationship explicit
    • Their descendants will have great power in the land, because the LORD blesses all who do right (CEV)
    • Seine Nachkommen werden im ganzen Land hohes Ansehen genießen, denn Gottes Segen liegt auf jeder Generation, die aufrichtig mit ihm lebt (HFA)
    • Seine Nachkommen werden mächtig im Land; denn wer aufrichtig dem HERRN folgt, dessen Kinder segnet er (GNB)
    • Ses enfants seront puissants dans le pays, car Dieu bénit ceux qui ont le cœur pur (PDV2017)
    • Ses enfants seront puissants dans le pays, car Dieu fait du bien à la descendance de celui qui mène une vie droite (NFC)
    זַרְעוֹ = דּוֹר יְשָׁרִים explicit
    • The good man's children will be powerful in the land; his descendants will be blessed (GNT)

    דּוֹר יְשָׁרִים in apposition to זַרְעוֹ

    • His descendants will be mighty in the land, a blessed generation of upright men (JPS85)
    • His descendants shall be the mightiest in the land, a blessed generation of good men (NEB)
    • His descendants will be powerful in the land, a blessed generation of upright people (REB)

    Ambiguous

    • Los descendientes del hombre honrado serán bendecidos y tendrán poder en la tierra (DHH94I)

    Secondary Literature

    Surprisingly few commentators discuss this issue explicitly. The following commentators discuss the issue only briefly.

    Hossfeld, Frank-Lothar, and Erich Zenger. 2011. Psalms 3: A Commentary on Psalms 101-150. Edited by Klaus Baltzer. Translated by Linda M. Maloney. Hermeneia. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress.
    Rashi. Rashi on Psalms.
    Sherwood, Stephen K. 1989. “Psalm 112—A Royal Wisdom Psalm?” The Catholic Biblical Quarterly 51 (1): 50–64.
    Tsumura, David Toshio. 2023. Vertical Grammar of Parallelism in Biblical Hebrew. Ancient Israel and Its Literature 47. Atlanta: SBL Press.

    References

    112:2 Approved

    1. ↑ Text from OSHB, based on the Leningrad Codex.
    2. ↑ English translation by Stec 2004:204. See the Ancient Translations section of this page for the Aramaic text.
    3. ↑ English translation by Stec 2004:204. See the Ancient Translations section of this page for the Aramaic text.
    4. ↑ Rahlfs 1931.
    5. ↑ (NETS)
    6. ↑ CAL.
    7. ↑ Taylor 2021:473.
    8. ↑ Weber-Gryson 5th edition.
    9. ↑ Our translation.
    10. ↑ CAL.
    11. ↑ Stec 2004:204.
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