Salmos 92
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Salmos 92
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS This Psalm uses agricultural growth imagery, as in Ps. 1:3, to describe one's spiritual life. negatively the wicked sprout up like grass, Ps. 92:7 all who did iniquity flourished, Ps. 92:7 positively the righteous man will flourish, Ps. 92:12 he will grow, Ps. 92:12 planted in the house of the Lord, Ps. 92:13 they will flourish in the courts of our God, Ps. 92:13 they will still yield fruit in old age, Ps. 92:14 they will be full of sap and very green, Ps. 92:14 There is a recurrent use of words beginning with פ (sound plays). sprouted (lit. "bud"), Ps. 92:7 ‒ BDB 827, KB 965 did flourish, Ps. 92:7 ‒ BDB 821, KB 950 scattered (lit. "be divided"), Ps. 92:9 ‒ BDB 825, KB 962 all who do iniquity, Ps. 92:9 ‒ BDB 821, KB 950 flourish (lit. "bud"), Ps. 92:12 ‒ BDB same as #1 flourish (lit. "bud"), Ps. 92:13 ‒ same as #1 There are no prayer requests (i.e., IMPERATIVES, JUSSIVES, COHORTATIVES), just statements to the works of God. His character, Ps. 92:2,15 His works creation, Ps. 92:5 justice, Ps. 92:6-9 blessings, Ps. 92:10-14
Salmos 92:1-4
92:1-4 This strophe emphasizes praise. Notice the recurrent references to music. This would refer to worship in the temple on a feast day. VERBS give thanks, Ps. 92:1 ‒ BDB 392, KB 389, Hiphil INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT sing praises, Ps. 92:1 ‒ BDB 274, KB 273, Piel INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT make glad, Ps. 92:4 ‒ BDB 970, KB 1333, Piel PERFECT sing for joy, Ps. 92:4 ‒ BDB 943, KB 1247, Piel IMPERFECT musical instruments (a. may define b. and, therefore, refer to only two instruments, cf. Ps. 33:2; 144:9) ten-stringed lute, Ps. 92:3 ‒ BDB 797 harp, Ps. 92:3 ‒ BDB 614 II lyre, Ps. 92:3 ‒ BDB 490 (b. and c. are both mentioned in Ps. 57:8) 92:1 "to Your name" See SPECIAL TOPIC: "THE NAME" OF YHWH ▣ "Most High" See SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, B. 92:2 This Psalm begins with three INFINITIVE CONSTRUCTS. give thanks ‒ BDB 392, KB 389, Hiphil sing praises ‒ BDB 274, KB 273, Piel declare ‒ BDB 616, KB 665, Hiphil Notice that number 3, "declare," also closes (inclusio) the Psalm at Ps. 92:15. The declaration involves YHWH's lovingkindness, Ps. 92:2 (see SPECIAL TOPIC: LOVINGKINDNESS [hesed]) YHWH's faithfulness, Ps. 92:2 (cf. Ps. 33:4; 143:1, see SPECIAL TOPIC: BELIEVE, TRUST, FAITH AND FAITHFULNESS IN THE OT) YHWH's uprightness, Ps. 92:15 (see SPECIAL TOPIC: RIGHTEOUSNESS) YHWH's stability and strength (lit. "He is my rock"), Ps. 92:15 YHWH's perfect character (lit. "there is no unrighteousness in Him," cf. Rom. 9:11; James 1:17), Ps. 92:15 ▣ "morning. . .night" These are parallel and are idiomatic for "always." The other option is that they reflect the times of the daily sacrifice (i.e., 9 A.M., 3 P.M. in the temple and, therefore, have a liturgical emphasis. 92:4 "what You have done" The two poetic lines of Ps. 92:4 repeat this thought (i.e., Psalm 1, i.e., "The Two Ways," cf. Deut. 30:15,19). YHWH's work is the destruction of the wicked, Ps. 92:5-9 (esp. Ps. 92:7) the blessing of the righteous, Ps. 92:10-15
Salmos 92:5-9
92:5-9 This strophe focuses on YHWH's activity toward a senseless man, Ps. 92:6a ‒ BDB 35 CONSTRUCT BDB 129 a stupid man, Ps. 92:6b ‒ BDB 493, both #1 and #2 are used in Ps. 49:10; 94:8 the wicked, Ps. 92:7a ‒ BDB 957 he who does iniquity, Ps. 92:7b YHWH's enemies, Ps. 92:9 (twice) ‒ BDB 33, Qal PARTICIPLE They are characterized as having no knowledge flourishing in this fallen world ultimately and permanently being destroyed (this is what the senseless and stupid do not understand) YHWH is characterized as having great works, cf. Ps. 40:5; 111:2 deep thoughts (Qal PERFECT of BDB 770, KB 847 only here) on high forever (see SPECIAL TOPIC: FOREVER ['olam]) Ps. 92:15 is the praise due YHWH's faithful acts toward His faithful followers
Salmos 92:10-15
92:10-15 This strophe focuses on YHWH's activities toward the righteous man (Ps. 92:12). Note His activities on their behalf. exalted his horn (cf. Ps. 75:10; 112:9) anointed with fresh oil (cf. Ps. 23:5; 45:7; see SPECIAL TOPIC: ANOINTING IN THE BIBLE) would flourish like the palm (cf. Ps. 1:3; Jer. 17:8) would grow like the cedar (cf. Hosea 14:5-6) planted in YHWH's temple (cf. Ps. 52:8) would flourish in YHWH's courts (cf. Ps. 65:4; 84:10; 135:2) would yield fruit in old age full of sap and very green know YHWH is his rock and He is perfectly just (cf. Ps. 18:2; 94:22) The rabbis interpreted this strophe as referring to an eschatological setting (cf. b. Rosh Hash. 31a; Rashi). This may be right (cf. Ps. 92:7c). 92:10 "the wild ox" The LXX translated the Hebrew term BDB 910, ראם, as "unicorn," which was followed by the King James Version. NKJV changes it to "wild ox." This word is uncertain (KB 1163). wild bull (Akkadian root) wild buffalo white antelope (Arabic root) oryx (Targums) rhinoceros (Vulgate) ▣ NASB, NKJV "I have been anointed" "you have poured over me" "you have blessed me" "you anoint me" "I am soaked" "my old age with thick oil" "I will be anointed" The VERB (BDB 117, KB 134, Qal PERFECT) usually means "to mix" or "to confuse"; only here does it denote an anointing. This meaning possibly comes from an Arabic root, "to moisten." The UBS Text Project (p. 363) gives "I am moistened" a "B" (some doubt) rating. 92:11 If this Psalm reflects the praise of a King of Israel (LXX says David and "anointed," cf. Ps. 91:10b), then this verse may refer to a plot to overthrow the monarchy, which was discovered. 92:13 "planted" This VERB (BDB 1060, KB 1570, Qal PASSIVE PARTICIPLE) means "transplanted" and the PASSIVE implies, by God (cf. Ps. 1:3; Jer. 17:8; Ezek. 17:10,22; 19:10,13; Hosea 9:13). Faithful followers start out as unfaithful but the gracious God has an effect on them! ▣ "in the house of the Lord. . .in the courts of our God" Notice the parallelism between YHWH and Elohim (cf. Gen. 2:4). This imagery is referring to regular worship in the temple (cf. Ps. 23:6; 27:5), whether this is daily weekly feast days is uncertain. SPECIAL TOPIC: FEASTS OF ISRAEL 92:14 This may be an allusion to Moses' 120 years of active service. ▣ "no unrighteousness in Him" YHWH is holy, no sin, no partiality, no changing (cf. 2 Chr. 19:7; Deut. 32:4; Mal. 3:6; Rom. 9:14; Heb. 13:8; James 1:17).