1

Psalm 31

(31:1) (= English superscription)

1לדוד

(31:2) (= English 31:1)

escape”, Piel “bring into security, deliver, cause to escape” under BDB“ = פלט812a.2

.seek refuge” (mostly poetry and figurative) under BDB 340a“ = חסה

(31:3)

”Hiphil “take away, snatch away; rescue, recover; deliver from (not Qal) = נצלunder BDB 664b.3

place or means of safety, protection” under BDB 731b.4“ = מעוז

.fastness, stronghold” under BDB 845a“ = מצודה

(31:4)

.crag, cliff” under BDB 700b“ = סלע

.lead, guide”, Hiphil “lead, guide” under BDB 634b“ = נחה

Piel “lead, guide to a watering-place or station, cause to rest there; bring to a = נהלstation or place of rest; lead, guide, refresh” under BDB 624b.

5שמך

6תנחני ותנהלני

1 “Septuagint adds εκσταδεως compare 23 (Septuagint)”.2 “Septuagint adds και εξελου με compare 71:2 (Septuagint)”.3 “Syriac ⁽njnj = ענני compare 69:18, 102:3; one manuscript adds יהוה”.4 “Quinta (Origen?) κατοικητηριον ισχυρον compare 71:3 מעון”.5 “Manuscript, Syriac add יהוה”.6 “Syriac bj⁾jnj = נחמני”.

2

(31:5)

.ירש net” under BDB 440a. Root“ = רשת

Note = 3זו mp pronoun?!? זו = “this” (poetic? undeclinable), a relative (particle? pronoun?) so “that” under BDB 262a. Grammatical note = The relative pronoun is rare and (זה and זו also spelled) זו The relative pronoun .(who, which, that) זוoccurs only in poetry. See Williams §129a.

.hide, conceal” (especially in earth) under BDB 380a“ = טמן

(31:6)

.ransom” under BDB 804a“ = פדה

(31:10) (English 31:9)

.shew favor, be gracious”, under BDB 335b“ = חנן

.”I “bind, tie up, be restricted צרר II “straits, distress” under BDB 865a. Root = צר

Odd construction. Literally “it is restricted/cramped to/for-me = I am in – צר־יdistress”. Note how being in distress is described in terms of “cramped, no room” and sometimes the psalmist asks God to bring him to a “wide, spacious” space.

.waste away” under BDB 799b. Another geminate verb. Very rare“ = עשש

be vexed, angry”.7“ = כעס vexation, anger” under BDB 495a. Root“ = כעס

(31:11)

”be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, spent“ = כלהunder BDB 477a. .grief, sorrow” under BDB 387a“ = יגון

אנחה and יגון sighing, groaning” under BDB 58b. Note“ = אנחהtogether in Isaiah 35.7 “A few manuscripts, SeptuagintRL, Targum מכעס”.

3

stumble, stagger, totter” under BDB 505a. Syr “give“ = כשלoffence (occasion for stumbling)”. Arb kasila “be heasy, sluggish”. Also in Isaiah 35. Hunh.

err? err“ = עוה iniquity, guilt, punishment of iniquity” under BDB 730b. < II“ = עוןfrom the way?” under BDB 730b.8

.Note pausal form. Gives insight into “original” vowels - עששו

(31:12)

.reproach” under BDB 357b“ = חרפה

,settle down, abide“ = שכן inhabitant, neighbor” under BDB 1015b. Root“ = שכןdwell”.

dread, be in dread, in awe” under“ = פחד dread” under BDB 808a. Root“ = פחדBDB 808a.

?so literally “known ones = acquaintance”. Rare. Dialect ידע Pual – מידעElsewhere 2 Kings 10, Job 19, Psalm 31*, Ruth 2, Psalm 88.

.the outside, a street” under BDB 299b“ = חוץ

.retreat, flee, depart, stray, wander, flutter” under BDB 622a“ = נדד

(31:13)

find”. Here Niphal so “I am“ שכח forget” under BDB 1013a. Arm“ = שכחforgotten”.

.article, utensil, vessel” under BDB 479a. Common noun. Learn it now“ = כלי

(31:14)

.whispering, defamation, evil report” under BDB 179a“ = דבה

8 “Septuagint (Syriac) εν πτωχεια = בעני, Symmachus δια την κακωσιν μου = בעניי”.

4

dread”. Do not confuse with“ = גור fear, terror” under BDB 159a. Root = (?II) מגורsojourning-place, dwelling-place, sojourning”.9“ = מגור

10מגור מסביב

establish, found, fix” under BDB 413b. What does the verb express in the“ = יסדNiphal conjugation? You might need to look it up. Note difficult form יסד Niphal infinitive construct + 3mp suffix.

,Arb zamma “speak .זמם consider, purpose, devise” under BDB 273a. Arm“ = זמםtalk (rare)”. Note pausal form.

(31:15) (= English 31:14)

Relatively easy. Note בטח takes preposition על.

(31:16) (= English 31:15)

(31:17)

11שנאתי

be or become light”, Hiphil “light up, cause to shine, shine” under“ = האירה > אורBDB 21a.

9 “Septuagint παροικουντων”.10 “Syriac omits”.11 “Manuscript, Septuagint, Syriac, Hieronymous ־ת” so 2ms?