Exegetical Issues for Psalm 31:

Introduction[ ]

The MT of Psalm 31:7 reads:^[1]

שָׂנֵ֗אתִי הַשֹּׁמְרִ֥ים הַבְלֵי־שָׁ֑וְא וַ֝אֲנִ֗י אֶל־יְהוָ֥ה בָּטָֽחְתִּי׃

The first word of the verse is a first person verb, "I hate" (שָׂנֵאתִי). Some modern translations, however, choose to read a second person singular verb, "you hate" (שָׂנֵאתָ), instead.

I hate those who pay regard to worthless idols, but I trust in the Lord. (ESV)
You hate those who pay regard to worthless idols, but I trust in the Lord. (NRSV)

The choice between rendering the verb in the first or second person affects the meaning of the verse. The MT version (שָׂנֵ֗אתִי) means the psalmist (1st person) hates idol worshippers. The alternative version (שָׂנֵאתָ) means that YHWH (2nd person) hates idol worshippers.

Argument Maps[ ]

First Person Verb (שָׂנֵאתִי)[ ]

Most modern translations render the verb as it is preserved in the MT, i.e., as a first person verb (שָׂנֵאתִי). The ESV, for example, says "I hate those who pay regard to worthless idols..."

 
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[שָׂנֵ֗אתִי | "I hate"]: The first person singular reading is the earlier reading reading. #dispreferred
 + <שָׂנֵאתִי in the Psalms>: שָׂנֵ֗אתִי is widely used in the Psalms for "dissociating oneself from idolatry or impiety" (Barthélemy 2005, 173 :M: Dahood 1966, 188 :C:). #dispreferred
  + [שָׂנֵאתִי in the Psalms]: Pss 16:4; 26:5; 101:3; 139:19, 22; cf. Prov 8:13; (Barthélemy 2005: 173 :M:; Hengstenberg 1863, 499. :C:). #dispreferred
 + <Manuscript Evidence>: The vast majority of Hebrew manuscripts, along with some other ancient witnesses, support the first person singular verb. #dispreferred
  + [Manuscript Evidence]: MT: שָׂנֵ֗אתִי ; Secunda: σα̣νη̣θι; Targum: שנאתי; Peshitta: ܣܢܝܬ (marked as a 1cs form in Codex Ambrosianus). #dispreferred
  <_ <Theological Influence>: A scribe changed the verb to the first person singular in an effort to avoid anthropomorphizing YHWH with the emotion of hatred (Laberge 1985, 158 :A:).
    - <YHWH's Hatred of Evildoers>: Other passages in the OT, including Psalms, say that YHWH hates evildoers.#dispreferred
     + [YHWH's Hatred of Evildoers>]:  Ps 5:5 "...you hate all evildoers" (ESV); Ps 11:5 "his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence" (ESV). #dispreferred
  <_ <Phonological Harmonization>: The 1cs reading (שָׂנֵ֗אתִי) reflects a scribal error which probably originated because of the frequency of long i sounds in the verse. The vowel hireq yod appears six times in the vv. 6-7.
 + <Contextual Coherence>: The 1cs verb "I hate" makes sense in the context (Hengstenberg 1863, 499. :C:). #dispreferred
  + <Statement of Loyalty>: With the 1cs verb, both halves of v. 7 represent a statement of loyalty (i.e., "I hate idol worshippers"; "I trust in YHWH") following the psalmist's request that YHWH redeem him. A similar pattern appears in Ps 119:13 (cf. Kraus 1988, 363. :C:). #dispreferred
    +[Psalm 119:113]: סֵעֲפִ֥ים שָׂנֵ֑אתִי וְֽתוֹרָתְךָ֥ אָהָֽבְתִּי׃ ("I hate the double-minded, but I love your law" NRSV). #dispreferred
     <_ <Hate Word Pair>: "Hate" and "trust" are not attested as a word pair in the OT. One would expect "hate" and "love" as in Ps 119:113 etc..
       + [Hate + Love]: Ps 45:8 "you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness..." Ps 97:10 "O you who love the LORD, hate evil!" Ps 119:113 "I hate the double-minded, but I love your law." 
  + <Waw Conjunction (וַאֲנִי)>: The phrase וַאֲנִי at the beginning v. 7b indicates a contrast between the psalmist's hatred for idol worshippers in the previous line (v. 7a) and his love for YHWH in v. 7b. It provides the reason YHWH should redeem him (v. 6) (cf., Craigie 2004, 260-261 :C:; Ehrlich 1905, 65-66 :C: Baethgen 1904: 86-87 :C:; Kraus 1988, 360). #dispreferred
   + <Waw + Non-Verb = Disjunction>: When the ו (waw) conjunction is attached to a non-verb, it most often highlights some type of contrast with the preceding clause (IBHS 39.2.3.a-b :G:). #dispreferred
     <_ <The Nature of the Disjunction>: The disjunction is probably not between the psalmist's feelings toward idol worshippers (i.e., hatred) and his feelings toward YHWH (i.e., trust) but between himself and the idol worshippers.
        + <The Psalmist vs. the Enemies>: The contrast between YHWH's treatment of the psalmist and his enemies is a major theme of the psalm. 
         + [Ps 31:15, 17, 23]: v. 15 "My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors!" v. 17 "O LORD, let me not be put to shame, for I call upon you; let the wicked be put to shame;" v. 23 "The LORD preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride."
        <_ <Not Decisive>: This interpretation of the contrast can work just as well with the 1cs reading (שָׂנֵאתִי): "I hate those who worship idols. (In contrast to them,) I trust in YHWH." #dispreferred

Second Person Verb (שָׂנֵאתָ) (preferred)[ ]

Three modern translations (NRSV, GNT, NJB) choose to read a 2ms verb (שָׂנֵאתָ). The NRSV, for example, says, "You hate those who pay regard to worthless idols, but I trust in the Lord."

 
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[שָׂנֵאתָ | "you hate"]: The earliest form of the text read the second person singular verb (שָׂנֵאתָ).
 + <Ancient Witnesses>: Most of the ancient versions attest the 2ms verbal form (שָׂנֵאתָ).  
  + [Ancient Witnesses]: LXX: ἐμίσησας; Aquila, Symmachus, Quinta: ἐμίσησας; Vulgate: odisti; Peshitta: ܣܢܝܬ.
    <_ <The Ambiguity of the Peshitta>: The consonantal text of the Peshitta (ܣܢܝܬ) is ambiguous. In fact, Codex Ambrosianus uses a dot to indicate that the form is a 1cs verb . #dispreferred
    <_ <One Text Tradition>: The various ancient witnesses that attest the 2s verb (שָׂנֵאתָ) may be influenced by one text tradition and not actually witnesses to multiple traditions (Barthélemy 2005, 173 :M:). #dispreferred
      <_ <Evaluating Attestation>: Ultimately, a variant's attestation, whether broad or narrow, cannot determine whether that variant is the earliest or best reading of the text. In some cases, marginally attested variants should be adopted and broadly attested ones should be rejected. In other cases, the reverse is true (Tov 2012, 273-274 :M:). 
  <_ <Assimilation to פָּדִיתָה>: The 2ms reading (שָׂנֵאתָ) is the result of assimilation to the 2ms verb פָּדִיתָה in the previous line. #dispreferred
 + <YHWH hating evil-doers>: The Hebrew Bible, including the Psalms, frequently describes God hating the wicked.
     + [YHWH hating evil-doers]:  Ps 5:5 "...you hate all evildoers" (ESV); Ps 11:5 "his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence."
 + <Poetic Device>: The 2ms verb (שָׂנֵאתָ) preserves a chiastic structure in vv. 6-7.
  <_ <Circular>: Attempting to resolve a text-critical issue by appealing to a chiasm introduces circular logic (Watson 1994, 386 :M:). #dispreferred
    - <Aid in Resolving Text-Critical Issues>: The presence of a chiasm can offer a philological argument for making decisions about text-critical issues because it "operates a different level" than the philological problem introduced by textual variants (Watson 1994, 386 :M:).
      +[Chiasms Resolving Text-Critical Issues]: Isa 2:2; 32:1, 6; Jer 4:14-16; Pss 10:11-12; 78:33; 138:1; Prov 23:10 (Watson 1994, 386 :M:)
  + [Elements of the Chiasm]: v. 6a (1cs verb; declaration of trust); v. 6b (2ms verb; request to be redeemed); v. 7a (2ms verb: acknowledgment of YHWH's hatred for idol worshippers); v. 7b (1cs verb; declaration of trust) (Laberge 1985, 159 f.29 :A:).
  + <Contextual Coherence>: The second person verb makes sense in the context of the whole psalm because it contrasts God's actions towards the righteous and the wicked.
   + <God-the Faithful-the Wicked>: The psalm contrasts God's love for the faithful and his punishment of the wicked. 
    + [God-the Faithful-the Wicked in Ps 31]: v. 15 "My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors"; v. 17 "O Lord, let me not be put to shame, for I call upon you; let the wicked be put to shame; let them go silently to Sheol"; v. 23 "Love the LORD, all you his saints! The LORD preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride" (ESV).

Conclusion[ ]

Both forms of the verb have significant attestation in the ancient witnesses. This situation explains why translators differ over whether to follow the MT (שָׂנֵאתִי) or adopt the alternative reading (שָׂנֵאתָ).^[2]

The weight of the evidence, however, tilts the argument in favor of the second person singular reading (שָׂנֵאתָ). A variety of ancient witnesses, including the Septuagint, the Greek revisers, and Jerome (iuxta Hebr.), attest the second person singular verb (שָׂנֵאתָ). This reading also makes the most sense in the context of the psalm. The psalmist recognizes that YHWH treats the faithful with kindness, but he punishes the unfaithful. The second person singular verb in Ps 31:7 emphasizes this contrast. After asking that YHWH would redeem him, the psalmist declares that YHWH hates idol worshippers. The implication is that the psalmist is not one of those. Finally, the second person singular reading preserves a chiastic structure in Psalm 31:6-7.^[3] The verbal sequence is as follows: 1s, 2s, 2s, 1s. Additionally, the first and fourth clause declare the psalmist's trust in YHWH. The second and third clause are antithetical: the psalmist wants to be redeemed by the God who hates idol worshippers.

Research[ ]

Translations[ ]

Ancient[ ]

LXX: ἐμίσησας τοὺς διαφυλάσσοντας ματαιότητας διὰ κενῆς·^[4]
- "You hated those who carefully guarded vanities uselessly."^[5]
Secunda: σα̣νη̣θι ασσωμριμ αβλη σαυ^[6]
Aquila: ἐμίσησας τοὺς φυλάσσοντας ματαιότητας εικῆ ^[7]
Symmachus: ἐμίσησας τοὺς παραφυλάσσοντας ματαιότητας εικῆ ^[8]
Septuaginta (Origen): ἐμίσησας τοὺς διαφυλάσσοντας ματαιότητας διὰ κενῆς ^[9]
Quinta: ἐμίσησας τοὺς φυλάσσοντας ματαιότητας ψευδείς διὰ κενῆς ^[10]
Peshitta:ܣܢܝܬ ܠܐܝܠܝܢ ܕܢܛܪܝܢ ܕܚ̈ܠܬܐ ܣܪ̈ܝܩܬܐ܂ ^[11]
- "You hate those who keep vain idols."^[12]
Targum Psalms: שנאתי דנטרין עובדין דדמין ללמא ולשיקרא ^[13]
- "I hate those who maintain deeds that are like vanity and falsehood."^[14]
Jerome (iuxta Hebr.): odisti custodientes vanitates frustra

Modern[ ]

"I hate..."[ ]

English[ ]

I hate those who pay regard to worthless idols, but I trust in the Lord. (ESV)
I hate those who cling to worthless idols; as for me, I trust in the Lord. (NIV)
I hate those who worship worthless idols. I trust in the Lord. (NLT)
I hate the worshipers of worthless idols, but I trust you, Lord. (CEV)
I hate those who serve worthless idols, but I trust in the Lord. (NLT)
I hate all who worship worthless idols; I for my part put my trust in the Lord. (REB)
I detest those who rely on empty folly, but I trust in the LORD. (JPS 1984)

German[ ]

Verhasst waren mir, die nichtige Götzen verehren, ich setze auf den HERRN mein Vertrauen. (EÜ)
Ich hasse die, die sich an nichtige Götzen halten, doch ich, ich vertraue auf den HERRN. (ELB)
Ich verabscheue alle, die sich an die Götzen klammern; ich selber, HERR, verlasse mich nur auf dich! (GNB)
Ich verabscheue Menschen, die anderen Göttern nachlaufen – Göttern, die ja doch nicht helfen können. Darum vertraue ich nur dir, dem HERRN. (HFA)
Ich hasse, die sich halten an nichtige Götzen; ich aber vertraue auf den HERRN. (LUT)
(Ich verabscheue alle, die nutzlose Götzen verehren, und ich selbst vertraue ganz dem HERRN. (NGU)
Ich hasse, die sich an nichtige Götzen halten, ich aber vertraue auf den HERRN. (ZB)

French[ ]

Je déteste ceux qui s'attachent à des futilités illusoires ; moi, j'ai mis ma confiance dans le Seigneur. (NBS)
Je hais ceux qui s'attachent à de vaines idoles Et je me confie en l'Éternel. (NVS 78P)
Je les hais, tous ceux qui s’attachent à des idoles de néant ; je me confie en l’Eternel. (BDS)
Je déteste ceux qui adorent les faux dieux, moi, j’ai confiance dans le Seigneur. (PDV)
Je déteste ceux qui rendent un culte aux faux dieux; moi, je me confie en toi, Seigneur. (NFS)
Je déteste ceux qui s’attachent à des idoles sans consistance; moi, c’est en l’Eternel que je me confie. (S21)
Je hais ceux qui tiennent aux vanne chimères; moi, je compte sur le SEIGNEUR. (TOB)

Spanish[ ]

Aborrezco a los que esperan en ídolos vanos; mas yo en Jehová he esperado. (RVR95)
Odio a los que adoran ídolos vanos; yo, por mi parte, confío en ti, Señor. (NVI)
Odio a los que adoran ídolos inútiles. He puesto mi confianza en el Señor. (DHH)
Aborrezco a los que confían en ídolos vanos, Pero en cuanto a mí, en YHVH he esperado. (BTX IV)

"You hate..."[ ]

English[ ]

You hate those who pay regard to worthless idols, but I trust in the Lord. (NRSV)
You hate those who worship false gods, but I trust in you. (GNT)
God of truth, you hate worshippers of ineffectual idols; but my trust is in Yahweh. (NJB)

Secondary Literature[ ]

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

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

Craigie, Peter C. 1983. Psalms 1–50. WBC 19. Waco, TX: Word.

Ehrlich, Arnold B. 1905. Die Psalmen; Neu Uebersetzt Und Erklaert. Berlin: Poppelauer.

Hengstenberg, E. W. (Ernst Wilhelm). 1863. Commentary on the Psalms. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark.

Kraus, Hans-Joachim. 1988. Psalms 1-59 : A Commentary. MN: Augsburg Pub. House.

Laberge, Léo. 1985. “A Literary Analysis of Psalm 31.” Église et Théologie 16 (2): 147–68.

Tov, Emanuel. 2012. Textual Criticism of the Hebrew Bible. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress.

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

Watson, Wilfred. 1994. Traditional Techniques in Classical Hebrew Verse. Sheffield Academic Press.

References[ ]

31:5

↑ Hebrew text from OSHB.
↑ Barthélemy 2005, 172-174.
↑ This observation was described in a footnote as a conversation between the author and Michael L. Barré. Laberge 1985, 159 n.29.
↑ Rhalfs 1931.[1]
↑ NETS.
↑ Companioni 2022, 100.
↑ Hexapla
↑ Hexapla
↑ Hexapla
↑ Hexapla
↑ CAL.
↑ Taylor 2020, 107.
↑ CAL.
↑ Stec 2004: 70.

[1] Hebrew text from OSHB.

[2] Barthélemy 2005, 172-174.

[3] This observation was described in a footnote as a conversation between the author and Michael L. Barré. Laberge 1985, 159 n.29.

[4] Rhalfs 1931.[1]

[5] NETS.

[6] Companioni 2022, 100.

[7] Hexapla

[8] Hexapla

[9] Hexapla

[10] Hexapla

[11] CAL.

[12] Taylor 2020, 107.

[13] CAL.

[14] Stec 2004: 70.

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The Text of Psalm 31:7

Contents

Introduction[ ]

Argument Maps[ ]

First Person Verb (שָׂנֵאתִי)[ ]

Second Person Verb (שָׂנֵאתָ) (preferred)[ ]

Conclusion[ ]

Research[ ]

Translations[ ]

Ancient[ ]

Modern[ ]

"I hate..."[ ]

English[ ]

German[ ]

French[ ]

Spanish[ ]

"You hate..."[ ]

English[ ]

Secondary Literature[ ]

References[ ]