Salmos 116
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Salmos 116:1-4
116:1-4 This Psalm was written by a faithful follower facing death (cf. Ps. 116:3). He explains his thought processes on how to deal with this situation. affirmation ‒ I love the Lord, BDB 12, KB 17, Qal PERFECT (cf. Deut. 6:5; 30:6; Ps. 31:23) why he loves YHWH He hears my prayers, BDB 1033, KB 1570, Qal IMPERFECT He has inclined His ear to me (parallel to a.), BDB 639, KB 692, Hiphil PERFECT result ‒ I will call upon Him as long as I live, BDB 894, KB 1128, Qal IMPERFECT the psalmist's condition cords of death (cf. Ps. 18:4-5) encompassed him, BDB 67, KB 79, Qal PERFECT terrors (BDB 865 twice, of distress, cf. Ps. 118:5; Lam. 1:3) of Sheol came upon (lit. "found," BDB 592, KB 619, Qal PERFECT) him (see SPECIAL TOPIC: WHERE ARE THE DEAD?) conclusion ‒ I called upon the name of the Lord, BDB 894, KB 1128, Qal IMPERFECT His words were, "O Lord, I beseech You, save my life," BDB 572, KB 589, Piel IMPERATIVE SPECIAL TOPIC: "THE NAME" OF YHWH 116:3 "terrors" The MT has "distress" (BDB 865, KB 624), but some suggest an emendation to "snares" (KB 622), which fits the parellelism with "cords," v. 3a, better. terrors, מצר ‒ BDb 865, KB 624 snares, מצוד ‒ KB 622
Salmos 116:5-11
116:5-11 After the psalmist prays he contemplates the characteristics of YHWH. gracious righteous compassionate preserves the simple (BDB 834, KB 989, an untrained or naive person, but open to instruction, cf. Ps. 19:7) YHWH shows His character. He saved me ‒ BDB 446, KB 440, Hiphil IMPERFECT, Ps. 116:6b return to rest ‒ BDB 996, KB 1427, Qal IMPERATIVE (he talks to himself of a mental place of safety and security in YHWH), Ps. 116:7a He has dealt bountifully with him (cf. Ps. 13:6; 119:17; 142:7), Ps. 116:7b He rescued my soul (i.e., nephesh, BDB 659) from death ‒ BDB 322, KB 321, Piel PERFECT, Ps. 116:8a; see SPECIAL TOPIC: NEPHESH) He rescued my eyes from tears, Ps. 116:8b He rescued my feet from stumbling, Ps. 116:8c (cf. Ps. 56:13; see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE PATH, THE WAY) The psalmist's response. see #2 above I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living (i.e., YHWH will heal/save him) Ps. 116:10-11 is difficult to interpret in context. It may reflect current faith past statements (Paul quotes Ps. 116:11b in Rom. 3:4) These two verses must refer to those who seek/plot against the psalmist's life. If so, the context of this Psalm is not sickness but treachery (cf. Ps. 116:11b). The LXX translation of Ps. 116:10 can be seen in 2 Cor. 4:13, but the MT is uncertain. SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARACTERISTICS OF ISRAEL'S GOD (OT) 116:6 NASB, NKJV, NRSV, NJB, JPSOA "the simple" "the simple-hearted" "the helpless" "infants" "the little ones" "the untrained" The MT has the ADJECTIVE (BDB 834, KB 984) which has several connotations (usually negative), but here in a positive sense (i.e., #1). open to instruction (cf. Ps. 19:7; 119:130; Prov. 1:4) believing everything said to them (naive, cf. Prov. 1:22; 14:15) easily enticed (cf. Prov. 8:5; 9:16; 22:3) 116:11 "in my alarm" This Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT (BDB 342, KB 339) denotes a state of mental fear, panic (cf. Ps. 31:22). The "rest" of Ps. 116:7 is the direct opposite of this word! ▣ "All men are liars" As "rest" is the opposite of "alarm," lying humans are the opposite of YHWH (cf. Num. 23:19a; 1 Sam. 15:29; Rom. 3:4).
Salmos 116:12-19
116:12-19 This strophe has all IMPERFECTS (except Ps. 116:16c), which denotes ongoing, continuous activity. The psalmist describes what he will do in worship at the temple and in life (cf. Ps. 116:9) because of YHWH's great care and deliverance (cf. Ps. 116:12). he will lift up the cup of salvation, Ps. 116:13a ‒ AB (p. 149) says it was a ritual part of the thanksgiving sacrifice in the temple; it denotes a libation, not a drink (cf. NIDOTTE, vol. 2, p. 618; see SPECIAL TOPIC: CUP) he will call upon the name of the Lord, Ps. 116:13b,17b (see SPECIAL TOPIC: "THE NAME" of YHWH) he will pay his vows, Ps. 116:14,18 (cf. Leviticus 27) he will offer sacrifice, Ps. 116:17 (see SPECIAL TOPIC: PEACE OFFERING) he will praise YHWH in the temple, Ps. 116:19 (cf. 116:14) ‒ this IMPERATIVE may go at the beginning of Psalm 117 (LXX) 116:15 NASB, NKJV, NRSV, LXX, Peshitta "precious" "precious thing" "costly" "how painful" "grievous" The ADJECTIVE "precious" (BDB 429) is usually used of valuable items. In this context it denotes the fact that YHWH cares deeply when His faithful followers go through trials and sickness on earth (cf. Ps. 72:14). He is aware of their situations and quickly comes to their aid (cf. Exod. 3:7). In a fallen world, not every believer is physically delivered. Crises, problems, and fears do come. Even if we do not see God's presence, He is with us and for us. One day we will be with Him! The NIDOTTE, vol. 2, p. 525, has a suggested an emendation that an "n" has dropped out of the word "death" and the root should be seen as the Aramaic word for "trust," thereby rendering the line as "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the faith/trust of His loyal ones." The problem is the use of "precious" with "death." Surely the death of saints is not precious (i.e., valuable). Some scholars have changed the meaning of the Hebrew "precious" (BDB 429) to "costly" or "painful." It grieves YHWH for His faithful followers to suffer and die! The terrible results of the Fall were never His purpose in creation! SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FALL OF MANKIND ▣ "saints" See note online at Ps. 16:10 and 30:4. SPECIAL TOPIC: SAINTS SPECIAL TOPIC: HOLY ONE, HOLY ONES 116:16 Notice "I am Your servant" is repeated for emphasis. The term "servant" (BDB 713) has a wide semantic field but here it probably denotes "worshiper" (see SPECIAL TOPIC: WORSHIP) The next line, "the son of Your handmaid," is also found in Ps. 86:16 and denotes a righteous mother an Israelite mother an idiom of humility a slave family or faithful servant family The psalmist bases this conclusion on the fact that YHWH has loosed (BDB 834, KB 986, Piel PERFECT) his bonds (BDB 64), which could denote saved him from terminal sickness (straits or Sheol) saved him from enemies saved him from prison or exile saved him from distress (the term [BDB 865] "straits" in Ps. 116:3 [twice] is used in Ps. 118:5 and Lam. 1:3 of "distress") A simple way to express this verse would be "Here Am I" or "I am available for service." YHWH has saved him, now he will willingly and fully serve Him (cf. Rom. 12:1-2).