‫גּוּ־ריק׃‬
ִֽ ְ‫לָמָּ ה ָרגְ ֣שׁוּ גֹויִ֑ם וּ֝ לְ א ִֻ֗מּים יֶה‬
A Question verb agent
B Waw agent verb_adverb
a b c
c' b' (2)
‫גֹויִ֑ם‬
‫ָרגְ ֣שׁוּ‬
‫גֹויִ֑ם‬
‫וּ֝ לְ ֻא ִ֗מּים‬
‫גּוּ־ריק׃‬
ִֽ ְ‫וּ֝ לְ אֻ ִ֗מּים יֶה‬
‫ֹוסדוּ־יָ ִ֑חַ ד‬
ְ ִֽ‫ֵי־א ֶרץ וְ רֹוזְנִ֥ים נ‬
ֶ ִ֗ ‫י ְִ֥תיַצְּ ֨בוּ ׀ מַ לְ כ‬
‫יחֹו׃‬
ִֽ ‫עַל־משׁ‬
ְ
ְ‫ל־יהוָה ו‬
ְ ֝ ַ‫ע‬
1 Why do the nations rage
and the peoples make futile plans?
Why is “rage” in the perfect?
Rage – insurrection, in tumult
What is the contrast between goyim and ammim?
Ethnoq and the extra wide space indicates this is the
end of the pair.
‫ָרגְ ֣שׁוּ‬
‫גּוּ־ריק׃‬
ִֽ ְ‫יֶה‬
2 The kings of the earth band together and rulers plot
together against Yahweh and his anointed.
Meaning of the Hithpael?
‫יחֹו‬
ִֽ ‫עַל־משׁ‬
ְ
ְ‫ – ו‬The anointed. The Messiah.
Who is this messiah
‫רֹותימֹו וְ נ ְַשׁ ִ֖ליכָה מ ֶ ֣מּנּוּ‬
ִ֑ ֵ ‫ֹוס‬
ְ ‫ת־מ‬
ִֽ ֶ‫ְ ִֽננ ְַתּקָ ה א‬
‫עֲבֹ ֵ ִֽתימֹו׃‬
3 saying, “We will break their bonds
and cast their cords from us.”
This is a cohortative of resolve. “We will do this
thing”
‫ַג־למֹו׃‬
ִֽ ָ ‫יֹושׁב בַּ שָּׁ ַ ֣מים י ְשׂ ָחִ֑ק ֝אֲ דֹ ִָ֗ני ילְ ע‬
ֵ֣
4 He who sits in the heavens laughs, the lord mocks
them
Mock: lāʿag̱; a primitive root; to deride; by
implication (as if imitating a foreigner) to
speak unintelligibly:
‫אַפֹּו וִּֽ בַ חֲרֹונִ֥ ֹו יְ בַ ה ֵ ֲִֽלמֹו׃‬
ִ֑ ְ‫אָ֤ז יְ דַ ֵבּ֣ר אֵ לֵ ֣ימֹו ב‬
5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath and in his
fury he will terrify them.
‫ַל־ציִּ֗ ֹון הַ ר־קָ ְד ִֽשׁי׃‬
֝ ‫וַאֲ ני נ ַָס֣כְ תּי מַ לְ ִ֑כּי ע‬
6 I pour out (place) my king on Zion my holy
mountain.
‫ – נ ַָס֣כְ תּי‬almost always used of pouring liquids,
also used once in Isaiah for making an alliance
maybe? ‫ וְ לנְ ֹ֥סְך מַ סֵּ כָ ִ֖ה‬to pour out a molten image
Is this a reference to pouring out a drink offering?
Is a reference to anointing.
Related to nsyk – prince. Likely the anointed.
‫אָמר אֵ לַ ִ֥י בְּ נִ֥י אִַ֑תָּ ה‬
ַ ַ֘ ‫אֲסַ פְּ ָ ִ֗רה ֶ ֶֽ֫ ִֽאל חִֹ֥ ק ְ ִֽיה ִ֗ ָוה‬
‫֝אֲ ִ֗ני הַ יִּ֥ ֹום יְל ְד ִֽתּיָך׃‬
7 I will recount the decree, Yahweh said to me “you
are my son, this day I have begotten you.
What does it mean that Yahweh has begotten him?
Why does he say “this day”
This day is a very intentional contrast between the
lines. It adds temporal reference that was lacking.
Metaphorical. Coronation ceremony.
What is the El? Of specification? Seems like a direct
object marker.
‫אֲסַ פְּ ָ ִ֗רה‬
‫ְשׁאַ֤ל מ ִ֗ ֶמּנּי וְ אֶ ְתּנָ ֣ה ֭גֹוים ַנ ֲחל ֶ ִָ֑תָך ֝ ַו ֲא ֻחזּ ְָת ִָ֗ך‬
‫אַפְ סֵ י־אָ ִֶֽרץ׃‬
‫יֹוצ֣ר ְתּנַפְּ ֵ ִֽצם׃‬
ֵ ‫֭ ְתּרֹ עֵ ם בְּ ֵ ֣שׁבֶ ט בַּ ְרזֶ ִ֑ל כּכְ ִ֖לי‬
- Impf or cohortative?
How common/uncommon is it for Yahweh to call
someone his “son”?
What does sonship imply?
Volition: Generally request or resolve.
See 2 Samuel 7:14
Common King as God’s Son in ANE literature
- Expresses authority of king
Typological Psalm – refers to someone now and also
someone later
Type: a divinely ordained person/place/institution
which has significance in its original historical and
literary context, but which also points to
someone/place/thing/institution in later Biblical
history.
‫ילד‬- Deut. 32:18
8 “Ask of me and I will make the nations your
inheritance and the ends of the earth your
possession.
Inheritance – seems to emphasize an inheritance
view of sonship
Original setting, this wasn’t fulfilled.
Is this hyperbole?
Unfulfilled by insufficient obedience.
Eschatological fulfilment.
Yahweh owns it all. Creator is owner. Son inherits.
9 You will break them with an iron scepter, like a
potter’s vessel you will shatter them.”
Emblematic parallelism – The point of line A is
illustrated by an image in line B.
‫וְ עַתָּ ה ְמל ָ֣כים הַ ְשׂ ִ֑כּילוּ ֝הוּ ְָס ִ֗רוּ שֹׁ֣ פְ טֵ י אָ ִֶֽרץ׃‬
10 Now kings, be wise. Be warned rulers of the earth.
‫עבְ ֣דוּ אֶ ת־יְ הוָ ֣ה בְּ י ְראִָ֑ה ְ֝ו ִ֗גילוּ בּ ְרע ָ ִָֽדה׃‬
11 Serve Yahweh with fear, rejoice with trembling
‫קוּ־בר פֶּן־יֶאֱ נַ ַ֤֤ף ׀ וְ ֹ֬ת ֹאבְ דוּ ִ֗ ֶד ֶרְך ִֽכּי־‬
ַ ַ֡ ‫נ ְַשּׁ‬
‫ָל־חֹוסֵ י ִֽבֹו׃‬
ִ֥ ‫אַפֹּו אַ ְ֝שׁ ֵ ִ֗רי כּ‬
ִ֑ ‫יבְ עַ ֣ר כּ ְמעַ ֣ט‬
12 Kiss the son lest he become angry and you perish
on the road because his anger (is kindled quickly).
Blessed are those who take refuge in him.
A’ B’ C’
CBA
‫אָמר אֵ לַ ִ֥י‬
ַ ַ֘ ‫ְ ִֽיה ִ֗ ָוה‬
‫אֲסַ פְּ ָ ִ֗רה ֶ ֶֽ֫ ִֽאל חִֹ֥ ק‬
C’ B’ D A’
CBA
‫אֲ ִ֗ני הַ יִּ֥ ֹום יְ ל ְד ִֽתּיָך׃‬
‫בְּ נִ֥י אִַ֑תָּ ה‬
A’ B’
BA
‫וְ אֶ ְתּנָ ֣ה‬
‫ְשׁאַ֤ל מ ִ֗ ֶמּנּי‬
A’ B’ C
CBA
‫וַאֲ ֻחזּ ְָת ִָ֗ך אַפְ סֵ י־אָ ִֶֽרץ׃‬
‫גֹוים ַנ ֲחל ֶ ִָ֑תָך‬
C A’ B C’
B’ C A B
‫יֹוצ֣ר ְתּנַפְּ ֵ ִֽצם‬
ֵ ‫כּכְ ִ֖לי‬
‫ְתּרֹ עֵ ם בְּ ֵ ֣שׁבֶ ט בַּ ְרזֶ ִ֑ל‬
A B C(2)’
C(2) B A
Psalm 119:11, 18, 105, 133
‫בְּ לבּי צָ פַ ֣נְ תּי א ְמ ָר ֶ ִ֑תָך לְ֝ ִ֗ ַמעַן ֣ל ֹא ֶ ִֽאחֱטָ א־‬
‫ָ ִֽלְך׃‬
11 I have hidden your word in my heart, so that I
might not sin against you.
A-line B-line contrast Qatal vs Yiqtal
‫צָ פַ ֣נְ תּי‬
Could
be gnomic? Or perfect?
Really hard to say. Poetry has an inherent
ambiguity.
‫תֹּור ֶ ִֽתָך׃‬
ָ ‫אַבּיטָ ה ֝נפְ ל ִָ֗אֹות מ‬
ִ֑ ְ‫גַּל־עֵ ינַ ִ֥י ו‬
18 Open my eyes so that I may behold wonderful
things (in) your law.
‫ גַּל‬- Piel imperative
‫אַבּיטָ ה‬
ִ֑ ְ‫ ו‬- Hiphil imperfect cohortative
Cause-effect: Open-so.that
What is the “torah,” very complex. Probably not
“the” torah here.
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to
my path
No verbs
133 Make my steps firm according to your word,
and Let not any sin control me.
‫נֵר־לְ ַרגְ ִ֥לי ְדבָ ֶ ִ֑רָך ְ֝ו ִ֗אֹור לנְ תיבָ ִֽתי׃‬
‫ֶט־בּי‬
ִ֥ ‫פְּ עָ מַ י הָ כֵ ֣ן בְּ א ְמ ָר ֶ ִ֑תָך ְ ִֽואַל־תַּ ְשׁל‬
‫כָל־אִָֽוֶן׃‬
‫ֶט־בּי‬
ִ֥ ‫ – ְ ִֽואַל־תַּ ְשׁל‬jussive because of the
negative particle. Al+Jussive = limited negation.
Psalm 3
‫מז ְִ֥מֹור לְ דָ וִ֑ד בְּ֝ בָ ְר ִ֗חֹו מפְּ נֵ ֤י ׀ אַבְ שָׁ ֹ֬לֹום‬
‫בְּ נִֽ ֹו׃‬
A psalm of David when he fled from Absalom his
son.
‫ – לְ דָ וִ֑ד‬What’s the prepositional prefix for? Is it
‫ה־ר ֣בּוּ צָ ָ ִ֑רי ֝ ַר ִ֗בּים קָ ִ֥מים ע ָ ִָֽלי׃‬
ַ ‫֭ ְיהוָה ָ ִֽמ‬
a
‫ַרבּים֮ אֹ ְמ ִ֪רים לְ ֶַֽ֫נפְ ִ֥שׁי ֵ ֤אין ְ ִֽישׁוּ ָָ֓עתָ ה ֹ֬לֹּו‬
‫אֹלהים ֶ ִֽסלָה׃‬
ֹ֬ ‫ֵ ִֽב‬
possession, author, dedication, genitive?
Only way to have an indefinite construct with a
definite absolute form.
What do we do with these superscriptions?
- traditionally, not part of the psalm, but not
secondary.
Yahweh, how many are my enemies! Many rise
against me.
(are rising?)
Many are saying to my soul, there is no salvation
for him in God. Selah.
b
‫בֹודי וּמֵ ִ֥רים‬
ִ֗ ‫אַתּה ֭ ְיהוָה מָ גֵ ֣ ַ֤ן בַּ ע ֲִ֑די ֝ ְכּ‬
֣ ָ ְ‫ו‬
‫ֹאשׁי׃‬
ִֽ ‫ר‬
‫֭קֹולי אֶ ל־יְ הוָ ֣ה אֶ קְ ָ ִ֑רא ו ַ ִַֽיּ ֲע ֵ֨נני מֵ ַהִ֖ר‬
‫קָ ְד ֣שֹׁו ֶ ִֽסלָה׃‬
a
a
a
We have no idea what Selah means. No one does.
Plenty of options.
His goose is cooked. Ain’t no getting out of that
one.
But you Yahweh are a shield behind me,
‫ישׁנָה הֱק ִ֑יצֹותי ִ֖כּי יְ הוָ ֣ה‬
ִ֥ ָ ‫אֲ נִ֥י שָׁ ִַ֗כבְ תּי ָו ִֶֽֽ֫א‬
‫י ְס ְמ ֵ ִֽכני׃‬
‫א־א ָירא מֵ רבְ ִ֥בֹות עָ ִ֑ם אֲ ֶ ִ֥שׁר סָ֝ ִ֗ביב‬
֭ ֹ ‫ִֽל‬
‫ָ ֣שׁתוּ עָ ָ ִֽלי׃‬
ָ‫הֹושׁיעֵ ֤ני אֱ ֹלהִַ֗ י ִֽכּי־ה ֣כּית‬
ַ֘ ‫וּמה יְ ה ֨ ָוה ׀‬
֤ ָ ‫ַ֘ק‬
‫אֶ ת ־כָּל־אֹ יְ ַב֣י לֶ ִ֑חי שׁנֵּ ִ֖י ְרשָׁ ֣עים‬
‫שׁ ַ ִֽבּ ְרתָּ ׃‬
‫לַיהוָ ִ֥ה הַ יְ שׁוּעָ ִ֑ה ַ ִֽעל ־עַ ְמָּךִ֖ ב ְרכ ֶ ָ֣תָך‬
‫ֶ ִֽסּלָה ׃‬
a
c
b
a
a
b
Psalm 139
A fearful praise
There are four different sections every 6 verses.
‫ל ְַמנַצֵּ חַ לְ דָ ו֣ד מז ְִ֑מֹור יְ הוָ ִ֥ה ֝ ֲחקַ ְר ִ֗ ַתּני‬
‫וַתֵּ ָ ִֽדע׃‬
a
‫קוּמי ַבִּ֥נְ תָּ ה לְ֝ ֵר ִ֗עי‬
ִ֑ ְ‫אַתּה ָ֭ידַ עְ תָּ שׁבְ ֣תּי ו‬
ָ֣
‫מֵ ָר ִֽחֹוק׃‬
‫ָל־דּ ָרכַ ִ֥י ה ְס ַ ִֽכּנְ תָּ ה׃‬
ְ ‫אָר ֣חי וְ רבְ ֣עי ז ִֵ֑ריתָ ְ ִֽוכ‬
ְ
ָ‫֤כּי ֵ ֣אין ֭מלָּה בּלְ שֹׁונִ֑י ֵהִ֥ן ֝ ְיה ִ֗ ָוה י ַ ִָ֥דעְ תּ‬
‫כ ָ ִֻֽלּהּ׃‬
To the director, a psalm of David.
Yahweh, you have searched me and you know
me.
(Or have known me)
You know when I sit and when I rise, you
understand my thoughts from far off.
3 … and all my ways you are acquainted with.
Last word has the Mater Lectionis (the He)
4 When there is not a word on my tongue, you,
Yahweh, you know all of it.
‫אָחֹור ו ֶ ָ֣קדֶ ם צַ ְר ָ ִ֑תּני ו ָ ִַ֖תּשֶׁ ת עָ לַ ֣י כּ ֶ ִַֽפּכָה׃‬
֣
a
a
Hinneh, Hen emphatically points out the word (or
phrase) it precedes.
5 Behind and in front you confine me and you lay
your hand against me.
‫ – ו ָ ִַ֖תּשֶׁ ת‬qamets prefix vowel means its
hollow or geminate
Verse 5 seems very adversative.
God puts his hand on him and he wants to
flee?
‫וּכל‬
ִֽ ַ ‫ֹא־א‬
ִ֥ ‫פְּ ֣לאִָֽיה ַ ֣דעַת מ ֶ ִ֑מּנּי ֝נ ְשׂגְּ ִ֗ ָבה ל‬
‫ָ ִֽלהּ׃‬
b
a
6 Such knowledge inspires awe in me. It is far
above me, I cannot reach it.
‫ פְּ ֣לאִָֽיה‬- wonderful is also terrifying.
‫רוּחִָ֑ך ְ֝ואִָ֗נָה מפָּ נֶ ִ֥יָך אֶ בְ ָ ִֽרח׃‬
ֶ ֵ‫אָנָ ִ֥ה אֵ לֵ ְ֣ך מ‬
‫אַצּיעָה‬
ִ֖ ְ‫אם־אֶ ַסּ֣ק שָׁ֭ מַ ים ָ ֣שׁם אִָ֑תָּ ה ו‬
‫ְשּׁ ֣אֹול ה ֶנִַּֽ֤ךָּ׃‬
8
‫־שׁחַ ר אֶ֝ ְשׁכְּ ִָ֗נה בְּ אַח ֲִ֥רית‬
ִ֑ ָ ‫אֶ ָ ִ֥שּׂא כַנְ פֵי‬
‫ָיִֽם׃‬
c
b
9
a
‫גַּם־שָׁ֭ ם י ְָדָך֣ תַ נְ ֵ ִ֑חני ְ ִֽות ֹאחֲזֵ ִ֥ני יְ מ ֶינִַָֽ֤ך׃‬
a
‫ָ֭ואֹ מַ ר אְַך־חֹ֣ שֶׁ ְך יְ שׁוּפֵ ִ֑ני ְ֝ו ִַ֗ליְ לָה ֣אֹור‬
‫בַּ ע ֵ ֲִֽדני׃‬
b
a
10
11
7 Where can I go from your spirit and where can I
flee from your presence?
This is a modal use of Halak.
Who or what is God’s spirit?
Why is he fleeing? Barach is us to flee from
righteousness or a mortal enemy.
If I ascend to heaven you are there, if I lie down
in Sheol, even there you are!
Shamayim and Sheol is used as a merism.
What is Sheol? (distress, death, or the opposite
direction from heaven)
If I take the wings of dawn, if I dwell in the
furthest parts of the sea
Conditional doesn’t seem necessary, a modal
could suffice.
What does it mean to take the wings of dawn.
What does Bullinger have to say about this?
East to West movement? Israelite geography: the
sea is to the West and the rising sun is to the
East.
Even there your hand guides me, and your right
hand holds me.
Still likely negative because this may be
controlling. Dragging?
Bullinger: right hand of God’s power
I said, “Surely the darkness will cover me and
light will become night around me.”
c
Is this a preterite? If so, why is there a preterite
here?
‫גַּם־חֹ שֶׁ ְך֮ ִֽל ֹא־יַחְ ִ֪שׁיְך ֶֽ֫מ ֶ ִ֥מָּך ֭ ְולַיְ לָה‬
‫ָאֹורה ׃‬
ִֽ ָ ‫כַּיּ֣ ֹום י ִָ֑איר ַ֝כּחֲשֵׁ י ִָ֗כה כּ‬
12
a
a
Even darkness is not dark to you, and night shines
like the day for darkness is like the light to you.
a
‫ִֽכּי־אַ֭תָּ ה קָ נ֣יתָ כלְ יֹ ָ ִ֑תי ְ֝תּ ֻס ִֵ֗כּני בְּ ֶב֣טֶ ן‬
‫א ִֽמּי׃‬
13
‫נֹור ִ֗אֹות ֶֽ֫נפְ לֵ ִ֥יתי נפְ ל ִָ֥אים‬
ָ ‫ִֽא ְֹוד ִָ֗ך עַ ֤ל ִ֥כּי‬
‫ֲשׂיָך ְ֝ונַפְ ִ֗שׁי יֹ ַ ִ֥דעַת ְמאִֹֽ ד׃‬
ִ֑ ֶ ‫מַ ע‬
14
‫ל ֹא־נכְ ַחִ֥ד עָצְ ִ֗מי ֶֽ֫מ ֶ ִ֥מּ ָךּ אֲ שֶׁ ר־ע ֵ ִֻ֥שּׂיתי‬
‫בַ ֵ ִ֑סּתֶ ר רֻ֝ קִַּ֗ ְמתּי ְ ִֽבּתַ חְ תּיִּ֥ ֹות אָ ִֶֽרץ׃‬
15
‫גָּלְ ֤מי ׀ ָ ַ֘ר ֤אוּ עֵ י ִֶ֗ניָך וְ ַ ִֽעל־ספְ ְרָך֮ כֻּלָּ ִ֪ם‬
‫י ֶָֽ֫כּ ֵ ִ֥תבוּ י ִָ֥מים י ָֻצִּ֑רוּ וְ ל ֹא [וְ ][לִ֖ ֹו] אֶ ָח֣ד‬
‫בָּ ֶ ִֽהם׃‬
16
For you created my inner parts, you weaved me
in my mother’s womb.
Attah is emphatic
What does Qanah signify? To create but also to
possess. Creatorship has to do with ownership in
Hebrew.
Tone shift starts in 13.
I praise you because I am fearfully and
wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works, I
know it well.
Utterly distinct in all creation.
Nephesh generally should be rendered “soul”
since that does not give the right idea in English.
My frame was not hidden from you, when I was
made in secret, I was woven in the depths of the
earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body,
‫וְ ִ֗לי מַ ה־יָּקְ ֣רוּ ֵרעֶ ֣יָך ֵ ִ֑אל ֶ ִ֥מה ֝עָ צְ מוּ‬
‫יהם׃‬
ִֽ ֶ ֵ‫ָראשׁ‬
17
18
19
20
21
Love and hate are not primarily emotional in
Hebrew. More support/obey or oppose.
Psalm 51
‫ל ְַמנַצִֵּ֗ חַ מז ְִ֥מֹור לְ דָ ִֽוד׃‬
‫ר־בָּ א אֶ ל־‬
ִ֗ ֝ ֶ‫ְ ִֽבּבֹוא־אֵ֭ לָיו נ ָ ָ֣תן הַ נּ ִָ֑ביא ַ ִֽכּאֲ שׁ‬
‫ת־שׁבַ ע׃‬
ִֽ ָ ַ‫בּ‬
To the director of music, a psalm by David
When Nathan the prophet came to him after he
had committed adultery with Bathsheba.
‫֝ ִ֗בָּ א‬
‫ֹלהים כְּ חַ ְס ֶ ִ֑דָּך כְּ ִ֥רֹ ב ֝ ַרח ִ֗ ֲֶמיָך ְמ ֵ ֣חה‬
֣ ֱ‫חָ נֵּ ֣ני א‬
‫פְ שָׁ ָ ִֽעי׃‬
A euphemism for
seemed necessary.
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your
graciousness, according to your abundant
compassion wipe out my wrongdoings (pshaa).
‫ חָ נֵּ ֣ני‬and ‫ ְמ ֵ ֣חה‬- are imperatives
‫ פְ שָׁ ָ ִֽעי‬- seems to imply criminal action
‫אתי‬
ִ֥ ָ‫הַ ְרבֵּ ה [הֶ֭ ֶרב] כַּבְּ ֵ ֣סני מֵ עֲֹונִ֑י וִּֽ מֵ חַ טּ‬
‫טַ ה ֵ ֲִֽרני׃‬
4
‫י־פשָׁ עַ י אֲ נ֣י אֵ ָ ִ֑דע‬
ְ ֭ ‫ִֽכּ‬
‫אתי נֶגְ ֣דּי תָ ִֽמיד׃‬
ִ֖ ָ‫וְ חַ טּ‬
5
֮‫לְ ָך֤ לְ בַ ְדּ ָ֨ך ׀ חָ טָ אתי‬
‫וְ הָ ַ ִ֥רע בְּ עֵ י ִֶ֗ניָך עֶָֽ֫ ִ֥שׂיתי‬
‫֭ ְלמַ עַן תּצְ ַ ִ֥דּק בְּ דָ בְ ֶ ִ֗רָך‬
‫תּזְכֶּ ִ֥ה בְ שָׁ פְ ֶ ִֽטָך׃‬
6
What is Hesed?
RHM is a maternal metaphor. Idea: love between
mother and child.
Wash away my guilt, and purify me from my sin
(hatta’).
Or treason and failures.
Because I know my wrongdoings and my sin is
always in front of me.
The presence of a Ki is noteworthy in poetry.
Paraphrase: my sin is continually staring me in
the face.
Sin, but also the effects of the sin.
Against you and you only, have I sinned and that
which is evil in your sight I have done
so you are righteous when you speak
and you are blameless when you judge.
‫ ֭ ְלמַ עַן‬- for result
‫הֵ ן־בְּ עָ וִ֥ ֹון חֹולָ ִ֑לְ תּי וּ֝ בְ חִֵ֗ ְטא ֶ ִֽיח ַ ֱִ֥מ ְתני‬
‫א ִֽמּי׃‬
7
Adversative Lamed is unusual
This is a very bold claim that this sin is only
against God.
Surely in guilt I was born and in sin did my
mother conceive me.
Difficult verse
“Painfully brought forth?”
This seems to be a merism
‫ן־אֱ מֶ ת חָ פַ ֣צְ תָּ בַ טּ ִֻ֑חֹות וּ֝ בְ סָ תִֻ֗ ם חָ כְ ָ ִ֥מה‬
֭ ֵ‫ה‬
‫יעני׃‬
ִֽ ֵ ‫תֹוד‬
8
‫ְתּחַ ְטּ ֵ ֣אני בְ אֵ ז֣ ֹוב וְ אֶ ְט ָהִ֑ר ְ֝תּכַבְּ ִ֗ ֵסני‬
‫וּמ ֶ ִ֥שּׁלֶג אַלְ ִֽבּין׃‬
9
‫תַּ֭ ְשׁמיעֵ ני שָׂ ֣שֹׂון וְ שׂ ְמ ָחִ֑ה תָּ֝ ִ֗ ֵגלְ נָה‬
‫עֲצָ ִ֥מֹות דּ ִֽכּיתָ ׃‬
‫הַ ְס ֵ ֣תּר פָּ֭ נֶיָך מֵ חֲטָ אִָ֑י ְ ִֽוכָל־עֲֹוִ֖ נֹ ַ ֣תי ְמ ֵ ִֽחה׃‬
Did David slip up? NO, he has been thoroughly
sinful since the beginning of his life until now.
Stop here and meditate.
Surely you desire faithfulness in the inner parts,
and make me know wisdom in the secret place
Difficult verse
Whose inner parts?
Modal impf
Cleanse me with hyssop and I will be clean,
Wash me and I will be whiter than snow.
10
Let me hear joy and the bone you have broken
will rejoice.
11
Hide your face from my sins, and wipe out all my
avon.
‫ – הַ ְס ֵ ֣תּר‬Hiphil Imperative
‫ ְמ ֵ ִֽחה‬‫ֹלהים וְ ִ֥רוּחַ ָ֝נכִ֗ ֹון‬
ִ֑ ֱ‫א־לי א‬
֣ ‫לֵ ֣ב טָ֭ הֹור בְּ ָר‬
‫חַ ֵ ִ֥דּשׁ בְּ ק ְר ִֽבּי׃‬
12
‫אַל־תַּ ְשׁליכֵ ִ֥ני מלְּ פָנֶ ִ֑יָך וְ ִ֥רוּחַ קָ֝ ְד ְשׁ ִָ֗ך‬
‫אַל־תּ ַ ִ֥קּח מ ֶ ִֽמּנּי׃‬
13
Create for me a pure heart, O God, and renew a
steadfast spirit within me.
David’s spirit – paired with heart so this is
something internal to David
Do not cast me from your presence and do not
take your Holy Spirit from me.
‫ – אַל־תַּ ְשׁליכֵ ִ֥ני‬is a negated jussive
‫אַל־תּ ַ ִ֥קּח‬
‫יב֣ה‬
ָ ‫הָ ֣שׁיבָ ה ֭לּי ְשׂ ֣שֹׂון י ְשׁעֶ ִָ֑ך וְ ִ֖רוּחַ נְ ד‬
‫ת ְס ְמ ֵ ִֽכני׃‬
14
Taking the spirit is tantamount to being removed
from God. It is “your Holy Spirit” this is God’s
spirit.
How is the Holy Spirit used in the OT? OT: given
by God to individual, to prophets, artisans, civil
administrators (judges and kings)
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and
support me with a willing spirit.
What is the request? Restored relationship. This
is probably not about restoring joy. This is a
metonymy (of effect for the cause) Ultimately the
request is for forgiveness/restoration.
‫אֲ ל ְַמּ ָ ֣דה פֹ ְשׁ ֣עים ְדּ ָרכֶ ִ֑יָך ְ֝וחַ טָּ ִ֗אים אֵ לֶ ִ֥יָך‬
‫י ִָֽשׁוּבוּ׃‬
15
‫ֹלהִ֥י‬
ֵ ֱ‫ֱֹֽלהים א‬
ִ֗ ‫הַ ַ֘צּילֵ ֤ני מדָּ ֨מים ׀ א‬
‫שֹׁוני צ ְדקָ ֶ ִֽתָך׃‬
ִ֗ ְ֝‫שׁוּעָתי ְתּ ַרנֵּ ִַ֥֤ן ל‬
ִ֑
‫ְתּ‬
16
‫פָתי תּפְ ָ ִ֑תּח וּ֝ ִ֗פי יַגִּ֥יד ְתּהלּ ֶ ִָֽתָך׃‬
֣ ַ ‫֭אֲ דֹ נָי ְשׂ‬
17
‫֤כּי ׀ ל ֹא־תַ חְ ֣ ֹפּץ זֶ ֣בַ ח וְ אֶ ֵ ִ֑תּנָה ֝עֹו ִָ֗לה ֣ל ֹא‬
‫ת ְר ֶ ִֽצה׃‬
18
‫ִֽזבְ ֵ ֣חי אֱ ֹלהים֮ ִ֪רוּחַ נ ְשׁ ֶֽ֫ ָבּ ָ ִ֥רה לֵב־נ ְשׁ ָבִּ֥ר‬
‫ֹלהים ֣ל ֹא תבְ ֶזִֽה׃‬
ִ֗ ‫וְ נ ְדכֶּ ִ֑ה ֝ ֱא‬
19
Let me teach transgressors your ways so sinners
may turn back to you.
Transgressors, rebels, insurrectionists,
treasonous persons.
Piel cohortative – resolve or request. I will teach,
or let me teach.
(is there really a difference between resolve and
our English future?)
Translating with resolve seems a bit
presumptuous for such a sinner.
“Let me teach transgressors your ways”
Deliver me from bloodguilt O God, God of my
salvation, then my tongue will sing of your
righteousness.
‫דמם‬- the plural of Dam means bloodguilt. It’s an
idiom.
How do these two lines relate? If/then?
Feels more like a resolve idea.
“So my tongue can sing?”
“Sing” is “ululation”
Open my lips O Lord and my mouth will declare
your praise.
“Open my lips so my mouth can declare your
praise.”
“Open my lips, let my mouth declare your praise”
You do not delight in sacrifice and I give whole
burnt offering you do not desire.
“You do not delight in
What is this Ki doing?
How is this broken up? Does Vuetenah go with
the A or B line.
This is a bold claim
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken
and contrite heart you will not despise.
This is a bold claim.
‫יטיבָ ה ֭ב ְרצֹונְ ָך אֶ ת־ציִּ֑ ֹון ֝תּבְ ִֶ֗נה‬
֣ ֵ‫ה‬
‫חֹומֹות יְ רוּשָׁ ָ ִֽלם׃‬
ִ֥
20
‫אָ֤ז תַּ חְ ֣ ֹפּץ זבְ חֵ י־צֶ֭ דֶ ק עֹולָ ֣ה וְ כ ִָ֑ליל אָ֤ז‬
‫פָרים׃‬
ִֽ ֣‫ַיעֲלִ֖ וּ עַ ל־מזְבַּ חֲָך‬
21
Psalm 90
‫ְתּפלָּה֮ לְ מֹ ֶ ִ֪שׁה ִֽאישׁ־הָ אֱ ֶֹֽ֫ל ִ֥הים אֲֽדֹ ִָ֗ני מָ ע֣ ֹון‬
‫אַ֭תָּ ה הָ יִ֥יתָ ִָ֗לּנוּ בְּ דֹ֣ ר וָדִֹֽ ר׃‬
b
a
‫ֹולל ֶ ֣א ֶרץ‬
ִֽ ֵ ‫בְּ ֶט ֶ֤רם ׀ הַָ֘ ֤רים יֻ ִָ֗לּדוּ ו ְַתּ ֣ח‬
‫אַתּה ֵ ִֽאל ׃‬
ִ֥ ָ ‫וְ תֵ ֵ ִ֑בל וִּֽ מֵ עֹולָ ִ֥ם עַד ֝־עֹו ִָ֗לם‬
2
a
d
c
b
‫תָּ ֵ ֣שׁב ֭אֱ נֹושׁ עַד־דַּ כָּ ִ֑א ֝ ַו ִ֗תּ ֹאמֶ ר ֣שׁוּבוּ‬
‫ֵי־אָדם׃‬
ִֽ ָ ‫בְ נ‬
3
a
‫֤כּי ֶ ִ֪אלֶף שָׁ ַ֡נים ְ ִֽבּעֵי ִֶ֗ניָך כְּ י֣ ֹום אֶ֭ ְתמֹול‬
‫מוּרה בַ ָ ִֽלּיְ לָה ׃‬
ִ֥ ָ ‫אַשׁ‬
ְ ְ‫֣כּי ַיעֲבִֹ֑ ר ו‬
a 4
c
d
c
b
5
a
‫בַּ֭ בֹּ קֶ ר י ָ֣ציץ וְ חָ לָ ִ֑ף ֝ ָלעִֶ֗ ֶרב יְ מֹולֵ ִ֥ ל‬
‫וְ י ֵ ִָֽבשׁ׃‬
6
a
‫ִֽכּי־כ ִָ֥לינוּ בְ אַפֶּ ִָ֑ך וִּֽ בַ חֲמָ ְתָךִ֥ נבְ ָ ִֽהלְ נוּ׃‬
7
‫שַׁ ָ ֣תּ עֲֹונֹ ֵ ֣תינוּ לְ נֶגְ ֶ ִ֑דָּך ֝ ֲעל ִ֗ ֵֻמנוּ ל ְמ ִ֥אֹור‬
‫פָּ ֶנִֽיָך׃‬
8
a
‫֣כּי כָל ־ ָ֭ימֵ ינוּ פָּ נ֣ וּ בְ עֶבְ ָר ֶ ִ֑תָך כּ ִ֖לּינוּ‬
‫מֹו־הגֶה ׃‬
ִֽ ֶ
ְ‫שָׁ נֵ ֣ינוּ כ‬
9
a
dc
c
‫נֹותינוּ בָ ֶהִ֥ם שׁבְ ִ֪עים שָׁ ַָ֡נה‬
ֵ ֨ ‫י־שׁ‬
ְ ‫יְ ֵ ִֽמ‬
‫וְ ֤אם בּגְ בוּרֹ֨ ת ׀ ְשׁ ַ֘מֹונ֤ים שָׁ ִָ֗נה ֭ ְו ָרהְ בָּ ם‬
‫עָ ָ ֣מל ָואִָ֑וֶן כּי־גָ ִ֥ז ֝ ִ֗חישׁ ַונּ ֻ ִָֽעפָה׃‬
b
c
a
a 10
d
‫אָת ִָ֗ך עֶבְ ָר ֶ ִֽתָך׃‬
ְ ‫ִֽמי־י֭ ֹודֵ עַ ֣ ֹעז אַפֶּ ִָ֑ך וּ֝ כְ י ְר‬
a
This is likely a frozen term, but son of man also
has the allusions to Adam and the ground. This
metaphor could be retrieved.
For a thousand years in your sight are as a day
passed over, or as a watch in the night.
cb
‫֭ ְז ַר ְמתָּ ם שֵׁ נָ ֣ה יהְ יִ֑ וּ בַּ֝ ִ֗ ֹבּקֶ ר כֶּחָ ִ֥ציר‬
‫ַיחֲֹלִֽ ף׃‬
b
Before the mountains were brought forth or you
brought forth the world, from age to age you are
God.
El – is a term for God (undoubtedly very old)
You turn men to dust saying, “Return (to dust)
sons of Adam.”
11
You sweep them away as a dream in the
morning, as grass that withers.
Psalm 116
‫ת־ק ִֹ֗ולי‬
֝ ֶ‫אָהַ בְ תּי ִֽכּי־י ְשׁ ַ ִ֥מע ׀ יְ הוָ ִ֑ה א‬
‫ֲנוּנִֽי׃‬
ָ ‫תַּ ח‬
‫ִֽכּי־ה ָ ֣טּה אָזְנ֣ ֹו ִ֑לי וּבְ י ַ ִָ֥מי אֶ קְ ָ ִֽרא׃‬
I love that Yahweh hears the pleas of my voice.
2
‫וּמצָ ֵ ֣רי ְשׁ ֣אֹול‬
ְ ‫ֵי־מוֶת‬
ָ ִ֗ ‫אֲפָפוּני ׀ חֶ בְ ל‬
֤
‫ְמצָ ִ֑אוּני צָ ָ ִ֖רה וְ יָג֣ ֹון אֶ ְמ ָ ִֽצא׃‬
3
‫וּבְ ֵ ִֽשׁם־יְ הוָ ִ֥ה אֶ קְ ָ ִ֑רא אָנָּ ִ֥ה ֝ ְיה ִ֗ ָוה מַ לְּ ָ ִ֥טה‬
‫נַפְ ִֽשׁי׃‬
4
‫ִ֖אֹלהינוּ ְמ ַר ֵ ִֽחם׃‬
֣ ֵ ֵ‫חַ נּ֣ וּן יְ הֹוָ ֣ה וְ צַ ִ֑דּיק ו‬
5
‫לֹּותי וְ ֣לי‬
ִ֗ ַ֝‫שֹׁ ֵ ֣מר פְּ תָ אי֣ם יְ הֹוָ ִ֑ה דּ‬
‫הֹושׁיעַ׃‬
ִֽ ְ‫י‬
6
‫י־יה ִ֗ ָוה גּ ַ ִָ֥מל‬
ְ ֝ ‫נוּחִ֑יְכי ִֽכּ‬
ָ ‫שׁוּבי ַ֭נפְ שׁי ל ְמ‬
֣
‫עָ ָ ִֽליְ כי׃‬
7
‫֤כּי חלַּ ִ֥צְ תָּ נַפְ ִ֗שׁי ֶֽ֫מ ָ ִ֥מּוֶת אֶ ת־עֵ ינִ֥י מן־‬
‫ת־רגְ ִ֥לי מ ֶ ִֽדּחי׃‬
ַ ֶ‫דּ ְמעָ ִ֑ה א‬
8
‫אַר ִ֗צֹות ַ ִֽהחַ ִֽיּים׃‬
ְ ְ֝‫אֶ֭ ְתהַ לְֵּך לפְ נֵ ֣י יְ הוָ ִ֑ה בּ‬
9
Odd mixing of Yahweh and the causal clause.
Doesn’t seem like an A-B line. Pretty prosaic.
Unclear why this separating line in here. Usually
it put space between God and a word like “sin”
Because he inclined his ear toward me, all my
days, I will proclaim Him.
This should be taken as a modal of resolve, not
simple future.
This could be calling or declaring. It is likely
intentionally ambiguous.
The cords of death surrounded me, and the
pangs of death found me, and I found distress
and anguish.
What are the cords of death?
Metaphor: Topic, Image, Point(s) of Comparison
So, I call(ed) on the name of Yahweh, “Yahweh,
save me!”
Is this resolve? Or this could be viewing the past
in the present. This could just be a preterite.
Yahweh is gracious and righteous and our God
has compassion.
Yahweh preserves the simple, when I was
brought low He saved even me.
Return to your rest my soul, because Yahweh has
provided for you.
There is no word for thinking to one’s self, so
there are some circumlocutions used.
What is this rest?
Because you delivered my life from death, my
eyes from tears, and my feet from stumbling.
This could be a gnomic perfect. “you deliver my
life from death”
I prefer the past due to verse 3.
I will walk before Yahweh in the land of the living.
‫הֶ֭ אֱ מַ נְ תּי ֣כּי אֲ דַ ֵבִּ֑ר ֝אֲ ִ֗ני עָ נִ֥יתי ְמאִֹֽ ד׃‬
‫אָדם כֹּ ֵזִֽב׃‬
ִ֥ ָ ָ‫אָמ ְרתּי בְ חָ פְ זִ֑י ָ ִֽכּל־ה‬
֣ ַ ‫֭אֲ ני‬
‫ה־אָשׁיב לַיהוָ ִ֑ה ָ ִֽכּל־תַּ גְ מוּלִ֥ ֹוהי ָע ָ ִֽלי׃‬
ִ֥
‫ָ ִֽמ‬
10
What is this Hithpael doing here? Could be
iterative. (henceforth this will be the pattern of
my life)
I trusted when I said, “I am greatly afflicted.”
11
This may be an allusion to what the previous
prayer was.
I said in my alarm, “all men are liars.”
12
‫כֹּוס־יְ שׁוּעִ֥ ֹות אֶ ָ ִ֑שּׂא וּבְ ֵ ִ֖שׁם יְ הוָ ֣ה‬
‫אֶ קְ ָ ִֽרא׃‬
13
‫֭ ְנדָ ַרי לַיהוָ ֣ה אֲ שַׁ לֵּ ִ֑ם נֶגְ דָ ה־ ִ֝֗ ָנּא לְ כָל־‬
‫עַ ִֽמֹּו׃‬
14
‫ידיו׃‬
ִֽ ָ ‫ָ֭יקָ ר בְּ עֵ ינֵ ֣י יְ הוָ ִ֑ה הַ֝ ִ֗ ָמּוְ תָ ה ַלחֲס‬
15
‫אִָֽנָּ ֣ה יְ הוָה֮ ִֽכּי־אֲ נִ֪י ֶַֽ֫עבְ ֶ ִ֥דָּך אֲֽני־ ַ֭עבְ ְדָּך‬
‫בֶּ ן־אֲ מָ ֶ ִ֑תָך ֝פּ ִ֗ ַתּחְ תָּ לְ מֹוסֵ ָ ִֽרי׃‬
16
‫תֹּודה וּבְ ֵ ִ֖שׁם יְ הוָ ֣ה‬
ִ֑ ָ ‫ְ ִֽלָך־אֶ֭ זְבַּ ח זֶ ֣בַ ח‬
‫אֶ קְ ָ ִֽרא׃‬
17
‫֭ ְנדָ ַרי לַיהוָ ֣ה אֲ שַׁ לֵּ ִ֑ם נֶגְ דָ ה־ ִ֝֗ ָנּא לְ כָל־‬
‫עַ ִֽמֹּו׃‬
18
‫בְּ חַ צְ ֤רֹות ׀ ֵבּ֤ית יְ ה ִ֗ ָוה ְ ִֽבּ ַ֘תֹוכֵ ֤כי‬
‫לוּ־יִֽהּ׃‬
ָ ְ‫ְ ִֽירוּשָׁ ִ֗ ָלם ַ ִֽהל‬
19
The ‫ אני‬is emphatic.
This may be an allusion to what the previous
prayer was.
May be acknowledging there is no help except
form God.
What shall I give to the Lord for all his benefits to
me?
Or “How can I repay the Lord?”
I lift the cup of salvation, and I will call on the
name of Yahweh
What’s the cup of salvation? Clearly a metaphor.
Is there a literal cup? What is the significance of
lifting a cup in that culture?
I will fulfill my vows to Yahweh before all his
people.
What does “nah” do? Is it equivalent to please?
Yes, no, maybe? “An emphatic plea for please” article
Precious in the sight of Yahweh is the death of
the godly saints.
Yahweh, I am your servant. I serve you a son of
your maidservant (as did my mother), you have
loosed me from my bonds.
I will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to you and I
will call on the name of Yahweh.