The Text of Ps. 28:8a

Back to Psalm 28.

Exegetical issues for Psalm 28:

• The Meaning of וּמִשִּׁירִי in Ps. 28:7b
• The Text of Ps. 28:8a
• The Identity of the "Anointed" in Ps. 28:8b

Introduction

The Hebrew text of Ps. 28:8a, according to the Masoretic text, reads as follows:

יְהוָ֥ה עֹֽז־לָ֑מוֹ

The Masoretic text's reading עֹֽז־לָ֑מוֹ is disputed, however. Translations have rendered this line in three different ways:

1. Diverging from the MT and instead reading עֹז־לְעַמּוֹ ("the strength of his people"). The majority of modern translations follow this option. This option is represented by the modern translation ESV: "The LORD is the strength of his people" (cf. also NET, NIV, REB, TOB, Luther 2017, DHH, etc.).
2. Following the MT reading עֹז־לָמוֹ ("their strength") and interpreting the מו ending of לָמוֹ as a 3mp pronominal suffix referring cataphorically to the people (v. 9a עַמֶּךָ - "your [YHWH's] people"). The minority of modern translations follow this option. This option is represented by the modern translation JPS1985: "The LORD is their strength" (cf. also NASB, KJB, NBS, EÜ, etc.).
3. Following the MT reading עֹז־לָמוֹ ("his strength") and interpreting the מו ending of לָמוֹ as a 3ms pronominal suffix referring cataphorically to YHWH's anointed (v. 8b מְשִׁיחֹו - "his [YHWH's] anointed"). At least one modern translation follows this option translating Ps 28:8a as: "YHWH [is] strength to him" (LSV).

Argument Maps

The argument maps below present three ways in which translations have chosen to render the line יְהוָ֥ה עֹֽז־לָ֑מוֹ (Ps 28:8a).

לְעַמּוֹ "to his people" (preferred)

The majority of modern translations adopt the emendation לְעַמּוֹ ("to his people"). The emendation is represented in the ESV: "The LORD is the strength of his people."

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[לְעַמּוֹ "to his people"]: The earlier reading is לְעַמּוֹ ("for his people") (BHS, Barthélemy 2005).
 - <לָמוֹ>: Most witnesses read לָמוֹ and not לְעַמּוֹ. #dispreferred
  + [לָמוֹ]: MT; cf. Targum (להון - "their"); Symmachus, Quinta, and Sexta (αὐτῶν - "their"). #dispreferred
  <_ <Quiescence of ayin>: The reading לָמוֹ can be explained as a phonetic spelling variant of לְעַמּוֹ. "At a time when the ayin was not pronounced . . . a scribe copied לעמו as למו" (McCarter 1986, 55 :M:). 
   + <ayin dropped>: "When preceded by a Sheva, ע is often dropped, like א and ה, as בְּעֵל contr. בְּעִי, בֵּל contr. בִּי; to which we may also refer נִשְׁקְעֶה for נִשְׁקֶה Am. 8,8, and למו for לעמו Ps. 28, 8" (Gesenius 1865, 737 :L:).
 + <Textual support for לְעַמּוֹ>: Several witnesses, including the LXX, Syriac Peshitta, and Judeo-Arabic exegetes attest to the reading לְעַמּוֹ. 
  + [Medieval manuscripts]: Seven medieval manuscripts read לעמו (cf. Kennicott 1776, 327).
  + [LXX and Syriac]: LXX (τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτοῦ - “his people”) and Syriac (ܕܥܡܗ/ܕܥܡ̈ܡܐ - "his people"). 
  <_<Harmonization>: This reading can be explained as a harmonization to Ps 29:11a. #dispreferred 
   + [Ps 29:11a]: יְהוָה עֹז לְעַמּוֹ (Ps 29:11a). #dispreferred 
   <_<Psalm pairs>: Adjacent psalms often share identical phrasing (e.g., Pss 3-4). If יְהוָה עֹז לְעַמּוֹ is the original reading in Ps 28, as in Ps 29, then it might partially explain why an early editor put Ps 28 and Ps 29 together.  

לָמוֹ "for them" (3mp)

Some modern translations follow the Masoretic text's reading לָמוֹ and interpret this form as a 3mp pronominal suffix referring cataphorically to YHWH's people who are mentioned in v. 9a (עַמֶּךָ - "your [YHWH's] people"). The following translation illustrates this view: “The LORD is their strength” (JPS, 1985; cf. NASB, KJB, NBS, EÜ, etc.).

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[לָמוֹ "to them >> their"]: The earlier reading of the text is לָמוֹ ("for them") (cf. Perowne 1871, 261 :C:; Ross 2011, 638 :C:; Keil and Delitzsch 1900, 362 :C:; etc.) #dispreferred
 + <Textual support for לָמוֹ>: The MT along with several early witnesses read the text as לָמוֹ. #dispreferred
  + [לָמוֹ]: Targum (להון - "their"); Symmachus, Quinta, and Sexta (αὐτῶν - "their"). #dispreferred
   <_ <Quiescence of ayin>: "At a time when the ayin was not pronounced . . . a scribe copied לעמו as למו" (McCarter 1986, 55 :M:). 
    + <Ayin dropped>: "When preceded by a Sheva, ע is often dropped, like א and ה, as בְּעֵל contr. בְּעִי, בֵּל contr. בִּי; to which we may also refer נִשְׁקְעֶה for נִשְׁקֶה Am. 8,8, and למו for לעמו Ps. 28, 8" (Gesenius 1865, 737 :L:).
 - <Not anaphoric>: לָמוֹ does not function anaphorically because there is no antecedent entity to which the suffix could refer (Martilla 2006, 149 :C:). 
  - <לָמוֹ "to them">: The מו ending of לָמוֹ is a 3mp pronominal suffix referring cataphorically to YHWH's people who are mentioned in v. 9a (עַמֶּךָ - "your (YHWH's) people"). #dispreferred
   + <Cataphoric pronouns>: Sometimes pronouns are cataphoric. "The cataphoric pronoun is attested in most periods of Biblical Hebrew . . . It is well attested in prose (e.g. Exod. 2:6; Num. 32:33; 2 Sam. 14:6) yet occurs in poetry as well (e.g. Ps. 87:5; Job 29:3; see also Prov. 5:22)" (Garr 2022, 4-5 :A:). #dispreferred
    + [Exod 35:5]: E.g., Exod 35:5 כֹּ֚ל נְדִ֣יב לִבֹּ֔ו יְבִיאֶ֕הָ אֵ֖ת תְּרוּמַ֣ת יְהוָ֑ה - Everyone so inclined should bring it, a contribution to YHWH (cf. Garr 2022, 6 :A:). #dispreferred
   - <Narrow pattern>: "When the two parts of the cataphoric construction are adjacent and clause-final they conform to a narrow pattern: the pronominal element is part of a complete clause to which the nominal is appended" (Garr 2022, 6-7 :A:). The example in Ps 28:8 does not conform to this narrow pattern.
    + [Exod 35:5]
  <_ <More difficult reading>: The absence of a clear antecedent for the suffix מו makes the reading לָמוֹ the more difficult reading and therefore probably the earlier reading (cf. Ross 2011, 638 :C:). #dispreferred
   + <Lectio difficilior praeferenda>: Scribes were more likely to ‘fix’ the text to make it more understandable than make its meaning more obscure. #dispreferred

לָמוֹ "for him" (3ms)

Another option is to follow the Masoretic text's reading לָמוֹ and interpret this form as a 3ms pronominal suffix referring cataphorically to YHWH's anointed who is mentioned in v. 8b (מְשִׁיחֹו - "his [YHWH's] anointed"). The following translation illustrates this view: "YHWH [is] strength to him" (Ps 28:8a, LSV).

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[לָמוֹ "for him"]: The earlier reading of the text is לָמוֹ with 3ms pronominal suffix ("for him") (cf. Goldingay 2006, 403 :C:). #dispreferred
 - <Ancient versions>: The ancient versions which read לָמוֹ understand it as a 3mp pronoun, not as a 3ms pronoun. 
  + [Ancient versions]: Targum (להון - "their"); Symmachus, Quinta, and Sexta (αὐτῶν - "their"); Aquila and Theodotion (ἡμῶν - "us").
 + <YHWH's anointed>: "YHWH's anointed" in the b-line is parallel with לָמוֹ in the a-line (Goldingay 2006, 403 :C:). #dispreferred
 - <לָמוֹ plural>: The מוֹ suffix on לָמוֹ is a plural suffix.
  <_ <Sometimes singular>: The מוֹ suffix on לָמוֹ is sometimes singular (cf. JM §103f :G:). #dispreferred
   + [Isa 53:8]: "to him the stroke was due" (נֶגַע לָמוֹ) (Rabbi Moses cited by Abraham Ibn Ezra 2009, 206 :C:). #dispreferred
    <_ <Debatable>: The interpretation of לָמוֹ in Isa 53:8 is debatable. It is possible to read Isa 53:8 נֶ֫גַע לָ֫מוֹ "with the LXX נִגַּע לַמָּ֫וֶת" (GKC §103, footnote 3 :G:).
   + [לָמוֹ singular]: E.g., Gen 9:26,27; Deut 33:2; Isa 44:15. #dispreferred
    <_ <Explained as plural>: In such cases as Gen. 9 and Deut 33, "לָמוֹ can be better explained as plural. . . . On the other hand, in Is 44 its explanation as plural would be extremely forced" (GKC §103f :G:). #dispreferred
 - <Not anaphoric>: לָמוֹ does not function anaphorically because there is no antecedent entity to which the suffix could refer (Martilla 2006, 149 :C:). 
  <_ <Cataphoric pronouns>: Sometimes pronouns are cataphoric. "The cataphoric pronoun is attested in most periods of Biblical Hebrew . . . It is well attested in prose (e.g. Exod. 2:6; Num. 32:33; 2 Sam. 14:6) yet occurs in poetry as well (e.g. Ps. 87:5; Job 29:3; see also Prov. 5:22)" (Garr 2022, 4-5 :A:). #dispreferred
   + [Exod 35:5]: E.g., Exod 35:5 כֹּ֚ל נְדִ֣יב לִבֹּ֔ו יְבִיאֶ֕הָ אֵ֖ת תְּרוּמַ֣ת יְהוָ֑ה - Everyone so inclined should bring it, a contribution to YHWH (cf. Garr 2022, 6 :A:). #dispreferred
   <_ <Narrow pattern>: "When the two parts of the cataphoric construction are adjacent and clause-final they conform to a narrow pattern: the pronominal element is part of a complete clause to which the nominal is appended" (Garr 2022, 6-7 :A:). The example in Ps 28:8 does not conform to this narrow pattern.

Conclusion

The earlier reading is probably לְעַמּוֹ. This reading is found in the LXX, Peshitta, and some medieval manuscripts. The MT's reading לָמוֹ, which creates difficulties since there is no clear antecedent for the suffix, can be explained as a phonetic spelling variant of לְעַמּוֹ. "At a time when the ayin was not pronounced . . . a scribe copied לעמו as למו." Moreover, the cataphoric reading is unlikely insofar as it does not fit within a narrow pattern. For these reasons, we have rendered Ps 28:8a as, יְהוָ֥ה עֹֽז־לְעַמּוֹ ("YHWH is the strength of his people").

Research

Translations

Ancient

• LXX: Κύριος κραταίωμα τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτοῦ. ("The Lord is empowerment for his people").
• Symmachus: ἰσχὺς αὐτῶν ("their strength").
• Quinta: ἰσχὺς αὐτῶν ("their strength").
• Sexta: ἰσχὺς αὐτῶν ("their strength").
• Peshitta: ܡܪܝܐ ܚܝܠܐ ܗܘ ܕܥܡܗ/ܕܥܡ̈ܡܐ ("The Lord is the strength of his people").
• Jerome (Psalmi Iuxta LXX): Dominus fortitudo plebis suae ("The Lord is the strength of his people").
• Jerome (Psalmi Iuxta Hebr.): Dominus fortitudo mea ("The Lord is my strength").
• Targum: יהוה תקוף להון ("The Lord is strength to them").

Modern

לְעַמּוֹ "for his people"

• English
  • The LORD is the strength of his people (ESV)
  • The Lord strengthens his people (NET)
  • The Lord is the strength of his people (NIV)
  • The LORD protects his people (GNT)
  • The LORD gives his people strength (NLT)
  • The Lord is the strength to his people (NEB)
  • The Lord is the strength to his people (REB)
  • The Lord is the strength of his people (NRSV)
  • Yahweh is the strength of his people (NJB)
  • The Lord is the strength of his people (DRB)

• French
  • Le SEIGNEUR est la force de son peuple (TOB)
  • L’ Eternel est la force de tous les siens (BDS)
  • Le Seigneur est la force de son peuple (PDV)
  • Le Seigneur est la force de son peuple (NFC)
  • L’ Eternel est la force de son peuple (S21)

• German
  • Der HERR ist seines Volkes Stärke (Luther 2017)
  • Der HERR macht sein Volk stark (HFA)
  • Der HERR ist Stärke und Schutz für sein Volk (NGÜ)
  • Der HERR ist ein machtvoller Schutz für sein Volk (GNB)
  • Der HERR ist Schutz seinem Volk (ZÜR)

• Spanish
  • Jehová es la fortaleza de su pueblo (RVR95)
  • El Señor es la fortaleza de su pueblo (NVI)
  • El Señor es la fuerza de su pueblo (DHH)
  • YHVH es la fuerza de su pueblo (BTX4)

לָמוֹ "for them"

• English
  • The LORD is their strength (JPS, 1985)
  • The LORD is their strength (NASB)
  • The LORD is their strength (KJB)
  • The LORD is their strength (ERV)
  • The LORD is their strength (WBT)

• French
  • Le Seigneur est une force pour eux (NBS)
  • L'Éternel est une force pour eux (NVSR)

• German
  • Der HERR ist ihre Stärke (ELB)
  • Der HERR ist ihre Kraft (EÜ)

לָמוֹ "for him"

• English
  • YHWH [is] strength to him (LSV)

Secondary Literature

Article [A]

Garr, W. Randall Garr. 2022. "The Cataphoric Pronoun in Biblical Hebrew." Journal of Semitic Studies. Volume 67. Issue 2, pp. 353–393.

Tsumura, David Toshio. 1999. "Scribal Errors or Phonetic Spellings? Samuel As An Aural Text." Vetus Testamentum, 49(3), pp. 390-411.

Commentary [C]

Barthélemy, Dominique. 2005. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament. Tome 4: Psaumes. Fribourg, Switzerland: Academic Press.

Bullock, C. Hassell. 2015. Psalms. Volume 1: Psalms 1-72. Teach the Text Commentary Series. Edited by Mark Strauss and John Walton. Grand Rapids: BakerBooks.

Buttenwieser, Moses. 1969. The Psalms: Chronologically Treated with A New Translation. New York: KTAV Publishing House, INC.

Craigie, Peter C. 2004. Word Biblical Commentary: Psalms 1–50. 2nd ed. Vol. 19. Nashville: Nelson Reference & Electronic.

DeClaissé-Walford, Nancy L., Rolf A. Jacobson, and Beth Laneel Tanner. 2014. “Book One of the Psalter: Psalms 1–41,” in The Book of Psalms, ed. E. J. Young, R. K. Harrison, and Robert L. Hubbard Jr.. The New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

Delitzsch, Franz Julius. 1883. A Commentary on the Psalms. New York: Funk and Wagnalls.

Goldingay, John. 2006. Psalms: Psalms 1-41. Vol. 1. BCOT. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic.

Keil, Carl Friedrich, and Franz Delitzsch. 1900. Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament In Ten Volumes. Volume V. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

Kennicott, Benjamin. 1776. Vetus Testamentum Hebraicum: Cum Variis Lectionibus. Oxonii: E. Typographeo Clarendoniano.

Kissane, Monsignor Edward J. 1953. The Book of Psalms: Translated from A Critically Revised Hebrew Text. Vol. 1. Maryland: The Newman Press.

Kraus, Hans-Joachim. 1988. Psalms 1–59. Minneapolis: Fortress.

Marttila, Marko. 2006. Collective Reinterpretation in the Psalms: A Study of the Redaction History of the Psalter. Germany: Mohr Siebeck.

McCarter, P. Kyle. 1986. Textual Criticism: Recovering the Text of The Hebrew Bible. Philadelphia: Fortress Press.

Olshausen, Justus. 1853. Die Psalmen. Leipzig: S. Hirzel Verlag.

Perowne, J. J. Stewart. 1870. The Book of Psalms: A New Translation with Introductions and Notes, Explanatory and Critical. Vol. I. London: Bell and Daldy.

Rabbi Abraham Ibn Ezra's Commentary on the First Book of Psalms: Chapter 1-41. 2009. Translated and annoted by H. Norman Strickman. Boston: Academic Studies Press.

Ross, Allen P. 2011. A Commentary on the Psalms 1-41. Vol. 1. Grand Rapids: Kregel.

Terrien, Samuel L. 2003. The Psalms: Strophic Structure and Theological Commentary. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

VanGemeren, Willem. 2008. Psalms: The Expositor's Bible Commentary. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Weiser, Artur. 1962. The Psalms: A Commentary. Philadelphia: The Westminster Press.

Grammatical Resource [G]

GKC (Gesenius-Kautzsch-Cowley Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar).

JM (Joüon and Muraoka, A Grammar of Biblical Hebrew).

Lexical Resource [L]

Gesenius, Wilhelm. 1865. A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament: Including the Biblical Chaldee. Translated by Edward Robison. Boston: Crocker and Brewster.

References

28:8 Approved