The Meaning of רגזו in Ps. 4:5

Introduction

The Hebrew text of Ps. 4:5a reads as follows:

רִגְז֗וּ וְֽאַל־תֶּ֫חֱטָ֥אוּ

To illustrate the exegetical difficulty in this verse, consider the following modern translations:

• Tremble and do not sin (NIV, cf. CEV, JPS85, GNT, NET, ELB, GNB, RVR95, DHH94I)
• Stand in awe, and sin not (KJV, cf. REB, GNT, NET, EÜ)
• Be angry, but sin not (RSV, cf. ESV, NLT, NEB, LUT, HFA, NGÜ, NVI, BTX4, BDS, PDV2017, NFC, S21)

The basic meaning of the verb רָגַז (qal) is a "process by which humans or objects shake involuntarily (SDBH), which is why some translations render the verb in Ps. 4 as 'tremble.' This physical act of 'shaking'/'trembling' can be associated with different emotions, including "fear, insecurity, shock, excitement, or other emotions" (SDBH). Where the translations of Ps. 4:5 differ is in the identification of the emotion associated with the trembling. According to the RSV and others, the emotion which causes the trembling is 'anger.' According to the KJV and others, the emotion which causes the trembling is 'fear' or 'awe.'

The identification of the emotion affects the overall sense of v. 5a. For example, if the verb refers to 'anger', then the first imperative is probably conditional or concessive conditional ('[even] if you are angry...' cf. NEB, LUT, HFA, NGÜ, NVI, S21, PDV2017). If, however, the verb refers to 'fear/awe', then the first imperative is probably an exhortation.

Argument Map

'Be angry'

Some translations interpret the verb רִגְזוּ to mean 'tremble (with anger)' or 'be angry.' The RSV, for example, says "Be angry, but sin not" (cf. NLT, ESV, NEB, LUT, HFA, NGÜ, NVI, BTX4, BDS, PDV2017, NFC, S21).

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[Anger]: The word רִגְזוּ means 'be angry.' #dispreferred
 + <Ancient interpretation>: Most of the ancient translations understood רִגְזוּ in the sense of 'be angry.' #dispreferred
  + [Ancient interpretation]: LXX: ὀργίζεσθε; Symmachus: ὀργίσθητε; Peshitta: ܪܓܙܘ; Jerome: irascimini #dispreferred
  <_ <Aramaic influence>: The LXX translators might have been influenced by the Aramaic cognate רְגַז, which means 'to be angry' (CAL :L:). "Many biblical words were explained by the translators according to their meaning in Aramaic" (Tov 2015:85-6 :M:; cf. Joosten 2010 :A:).
   + [Example of Aramaic influence]: E.g., LXX Psalms renders בגיא צלמות in Ps. 22(23):4 as ἐν μέσῳ σκιᾶς θανάτου. "The translation reflects the Aramaic בגוא (in the middle)" (Tov 2015:86).
 + <Apostolic support>: The Apostle Paul quotes the LXX (ὀργίζεσθε - 'be angry') in his letter to the Ephesians and thereby endorses its translation. #dispreferred
  + [Eph. 4:26]: ὀργίζεσθε καὶ μὴ ἁμαρτάνετε· ὁ ἥλιος μὴ ἐπιδυέτω ἐπὶ παροργισμῷ ὑμῶν #dispreferred
  <_ <Not necessarily an endorsement>: "It is not necessary to understand Paul as endorsing the correctness of the Septuagint rendering of these words by employing them in his epistle. He merely found in a celebrated, but uninspired and often erroneous translation of the OT words which precisely suited his argument or purpose, and he inserted them without preface or apology" (Plumer 1975:68 :C:).
 + <'Anger' possible association>: The verb רגז (lit: tremble) is associated with "a variety of emotions" (Ges-18 :L:), including anger. #dispreferred
  + ['Anger' possible association]: E.g., Isa. 28:21 (cf. Ges-18 :L:); cf. Job 12:6 (hiphil), 2 Kgs. 19:27f = Isa. 37:28f (hithpael); cf. Hab. 3:2 (n. רֹגֶז). #dispreferred
 - <Exhortation to 'anger' incoherent>: It is not clear why the psalmist would exhort his adversaries to 'be angry.' Anger against YHWH's 'loyal one' (v. 4) would be reprehensible (Baethgen 1904:10 :C:; Waltke 2010:235 :C:).
  <_ <Concessive/permissive>: The first imperative in v. 5 functions not as a command but as a concession: 'if you are angry...' (cf. NEB, LUT, HFA, NGÜ, NVI, NFC). "The psalmist advises his adversaries to keep their rage within themselves, to maintain control of their actions and their evil words" (Craigie 1983:81 :C:). #dispreferred
   <_ <Silent anger inappropriate>: Anger against YHWH and his loyal one would be inappropriate and unacceptable even if it is silent (cf. Baethgen 1904 :C:; Waltke 2010 :C:).

'Tremble (in fear)' (preferred)

Some translations interpret the word רִגְזוּ to mean 'tremble (in fear)' or 'fear.' For example, the GNT says, "Tremble in fear and stop sinning", and the REB says, "let awe restrain you from sin" (cf. KJV, NET, EÜ).

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[Tremble (in fear)]: The word רִגְזוּ means 'tremble (in fear/awe)' (BDB :L:, Ges-18 :L:, Targum, Rashi :C:, Radak :C:).
 + <Context>: 'Fear' "seems more appropriate as a warning to the psalmist’s enemies" (Bratcher and Reyburn 1991:45 :C:).
 + <'Fear' most common association>: The verb רגז (lit: tremble) is associated with "a variety of emotions" (Ges-18 :L:), fear being the most common (cf. DCH :L:, HALOT :L:, BDB :L:, Ges-18 :L:).
  + ['Fear' most common association]: Ex. 15:14 (with חיל); Deut. 2:25 (with פחד, ירא and חיל); Isa. 32:10f (with חרד); Jer. 33:9 (with פחד); Joel 2:1; Mic. 7:17 (with פחד and ירא); Ps. 99:1.
 + <'Do not sin'>: The notion of 'fear' fits well with the second imperative, 'do not sin' or 'stop sinning', because 'fearing' naturally leads to 'not sinning' (cf. Zenger 1993:61 :C:).
  + [Ex. 20:20]: 'Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin (לְבִלְתִּי תֶחֱטָאוּ)”' (Ex. 20:20 ESV).

Conclusion

The trembling called for in Ps. 4:5 (רִגְזוּ) is probably the result of fear. Fear is the emotion most often associated with the verb רגז in Biblical Hebrew. Furthermore, fear fits well in the context, both the immediate context of v. 5a (cf. the second imperative 'and do not sin') and the broader discourse context. By contrast, the interpretation 'be angry' does not work as well in the context. The LXX, which translates the verb as 'be angry', is probably influenced by the Aramaic cognate רְגַז, and Paul's use of this translation in Ephesians is not an endorsement of its accuracy.

Translations

Ancient

• LXX: ὀργίζεσθε καὶ μὴ ἁμαρτάνετε
  • "Be angry, and do not sin"
• Aquila: κλονεῖσθε καὶ μὴ ἁμαρτάνετε
  • "Be agitated, and do not sin"
• Symmachus: ὀργίσθητε ἀλλὰ μὴ ἀμάρτητε
  • "Be angry, but do not sin"
• Jerome iuxta Hebreaos: irascimini et nolite peccare
  • "Be angry, and do not sin"
• Peshitta: ܪܓܙܘ ܘܠܐ ܬܚܛܘܢ܂
  • "Be angry and do not sin"
• Targum: זעו מיניה ולא תחטון
  • "Tremble because of me, and do not sin"

Modern

Trembling

• Tremble and do not sin; (NIV)
• But each of you had better tremble and turn from your sins. (CEV)
• So tremble, and sin no more; (JPS85)
• Erbebt, aber sündigt nicht! (ELB)
• Zittert vor ihm und macht Schluss mit dem Unrecht! (GNB)
• ¡Temblad y no pequéis! (RVR95)
• ¡Tiemblen y no pequen más! (DHH94I)

Fear/Awe

• Tremble with fear and stop sinning; (GNT)
• Tremble with fear and do not sin! (NET)
• Stand in awe, and sin not (KJV)
• Let awe restrain you from sin; (REB)
• Erschreckt und sündigt nicht! (EÜ)

Anger

• Be angry, but sin not; (RSV)
• Don’t sin by letting anger control you. (NLT)
• Be angry, and do not sin; (ESV)
• However angry your hearts, do not do wrong (NEB)
• Zürnet ihr, so sündiget nicht; (LUT)
• Auch wenn ihr vor Zorn bebt, ladet nicht Schuld auf euch, indem ihr etwas gegen mich unternehmt. (HFA)
• Wenn ihr zornig seid, dann versündigt euch dabei nicht! (NGÜ)
• Si se enojan, no pequen; (NVI)
• Airaos, pero no pequéis (BTX4)
• Mettez-vous en colère ╵mais n’allez pas jusqu’à pécher (BDS)
• Si vous êtes en colère, ne commettez pas de péché. (PDV2017)
• Quand vous êtes fâchés, ne vous mettez pas en tort (NFC)
• Si vous vous mettez en colère, ne péchez pas! (S21)

Other

• Ereifert euch, doch sündigt nicht, (ZÜR)
• When you are disturbed, do not sin; (NRSV)
• Be careful not to sin (NJB)
• Frémissez et ne péchez pas (TOB)
• Agitez-vous, mais ne péchez pas (NBS)
• Agitez-vous, mais ne péchez pas (NVS78P)

Secondary Lit.

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

Bratcher, Robert G., and William D. Reyburn. 1991. A Handbook on Psalms. UBS Handbook Series. New York: United Bible Societies.

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

Hossfeld, Frank-Lothar, and Erich Zenger. 1993. Die Psalmen I: Psalm 1–50. Neue Echter Bibel. Würzburg: Echter.

Joosten, Jan. 2010. “The Aramaic Background of the Seventy.” Bulletin of the International Organization for Septuagint and Cognate Studies 43: 53–72.

Plumer, William S. 1975. Psalms: A Critical and Expository Commentary with Doctrinal and Practical Remarks. Carlisle, Pa: Banner of Truth Trust.

Tov, Emanuel. 2015. The Text-Critical Use of the Septuagint in Biblical Research. Third edition, Completely revised and Expanded. Winona Lake, Indiana: Eisenbrauns.

Waltke, Bruce K., J. M. Houston, and Erika Moore. 2010. The Psalms as Christian Worship: A Historical Commentary. Grand Rapids, Mich: William B. Eerdmans Pub. Co.

References

45 Approved