Salmos 8
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Salmos 8:1-2
8:1 "O Lord, our Lord" This is a combination of YHWH – the covenant name (BDB 217) for God (see SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D.) Adon – the term (BDB 10) means "owner," "husband," "master," or "lord." Here it is PLURAL. Everywhere else this title is used in the Psalms it is SINGULAR (cf. Ps. 45:12; 57:5; 105:21; 110:1; 114:7, except in Ps. 136:3, where the CONSTRUCT "Lord of Lords" is used. This, then, must be an example of the "PLURAL OF MAJESTY." They are used together here of one God, but in Ps. 110:1 they are used separately of YHWH and His Messiah (cf. Matt. 22:44; Mark 12:36; Luke 20:42,43; Acts 2:34,35; Heb. 1:13). Also notice that in English translations the two terms are identified by the capitalization. YHWH = Lord Adon = Lord SPECIAL TOPIC: Lord (Adon and Kurios) SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM SPECIAL TOPIC: MESSIAH ▣ NASB, NRSV, NJB, JPSOA "majestic" NKJV, Peshitta "excellent" "greatness" "glorious" "magnificent" This Hebrew ADJECTIVE (BDB 12, KB 13) is used of things, people, and God. When used of God it is an attempt to describe His incomprehensible grandeur (cf. Ps. 76:4; 93:4). The NOUN form (no VERB) is regularly used of clothing. Esau's hair like a hairy mantle ‒ Gen. 25:25 expensive mantle stolen from Jericho by Achan ‒ Josh. 7:21,24 Elijah's mantle (symbol of YHWH's enabling) ‒ 1 Kgs. 19:13,19; 2 Kgs. 2:8,13,14 a prophet's hairy mantle (a symbol of his prophetic office) ‒ Zech. 13:4 It can also mean glory ‒ Zech. 11:3 noble ‒ Ezek. 17:8 This phrase may be linked by subject (God's place in creation) and the NOUN "majesty" (clothing) to the throne scene of Isa. 6:1-4. ▣ "name" This stands for YHWH Himself. See SPECIAL TOPIC: "THE NAME" OF YHWH. ▣ "In all the earth" This refers to the entire creation (cf. Psalm 104; see SPECIAL TOPIC: LAND, COUNTRY, EARTH). YHWH is the only true creator, redeemer God. SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM ▣ "Who has displayed your splendor above the heavens" There are several issues with the Hebrew text of this phrase. The MT has an IMPERATIVE of the VERB "give" (BDB 678, KB 733, Qal IMPERATIVE), "set Your splendor above the heavens" The UBS Text Project (p. 169, see NIV) changes it to an INFINITIVE of the same VERB, "You have set Your splendor above the heavens" (the UBS rates this change as "D," i.e., "highly doubtful"). NET Bible takes it as PERFECT or IMPERFECT form, "You who place Your majesty upon the heavens" (p. 857). Anchor Bible (vol. 16, p. 45) takes it as "I will adore Your majesty above the heavens," by relating the VERB to Ugaritic root usages. UBS Handbook on Psalms (pp. 78-79, cf. REB) revocalizes it to "to tell" or "to praise," "whose glory is told/praised above the heavens" Just a personal note, I love this Psalm and the song "The Majesty and Glory of Your Name." I feel God's presence in a wonderful way when I think of this message about the incomprehensible grandeur of our God. I do not want an academic issue to take away from this worshipful message. But at the same time, I want to be true to the message of the inspired author! May the Spirit of God help us to know Him, proclaim Him, and live in the light of His presence! SPECIAL TOPIC: HEAVENS ▣ "above the heavens" This can be understood in several ways. the whole verse is extolling the God of creation God's praises reach as high as the heavens creation tells/reveals the glory/majesty of its Creator (i.e., the night sky, Ps. 8:3) SPECIAL TOPIC: HEAVEN SPECIAL TOPIC: HEAVENS AND THE THIRD HEAVEN 8:2 "from the mouth of infants and nursing babes" This is obviously hyperbole. These infants cannot speak, yet their very presence shows the glory and majesty of God and His creation. This is the natural revelation of Ps. 19:1-6. Through the things of this creation God is known (cf. Rom. 1:19-20; 2:14-16). The Peshitta (Aramaic translation of Koine Greek) has "out of the mouth of young men and infants." This addition is not in the MT or LXX. This verse from the LXX is quoted by Jesus to the Pharisees watching His "Triumphal Entry" into Jerusalem in Matt. 21:16. ▣ NASB, JPSOA "You have established strength" "You have ordained strength" NRSV, REB "You have founded a bulwark" "You make him a fortress" You established your glory" The VERB (BDB 413, KB 417, Piel PERFECT, cf. Ps. 89:11, Qal PERFECT) means "establish" NASB "appointed,", cf. 1 Chr. 9:22 "founded", cf. Josh. 6:26; 1 Kgs. 16:34; Ezra 3:10; Isa. 14:32; 28:16 The word "strength" (BDB 738) normally means "strength," but in this context it refers to "a stronghold for defense." There is a word play between "nursing babes" (BDB 413) and "establish" (BDB 413). YHWH, the Creator, is revealed in the heavens and in the little ones. All creation shouts His presence and purpose! The exact meaning of this verse is uncertain, but apparently the little ones who reveal God's majesty are under attack and God defends and protects them, as He does all who reveal His truths! 8:2b Notice the PARTICIPLES that express the evil opponents. adversaries – BDB 865 II, KB 1058, Qal PARTICIPLE enemy – BDB 33, KB 38, Qal PARTICIPLE revengeful – BDB 667, KB 721, Hithpael PARTICIPLE See full note on the names of the psalmist's opponents at Ps. 1:5 and 5:10.
Salmos 8:3-8
8:3 This verse expresses the wonder of humans as they view the night sky. For many in the ANE it was a source of superstition and fear. But for the Israelites it was the artistic canvas of YHWH (cf. Gen. 1:14-19). The VERB "ordained" (BDB 465, KB 464, Polel PERFECT) is also used of God's creation in Ps. 24:2; 119:90. The next verse focuses on God's creation of humans (cf. Deut. 32:6). Creation, beautiful creation, had a purpose—a platform for God and mankind to fellowship (see full note at Ps. 2:8). Everything in the Bible between Genesis 3 and Revelation 20 is God restoring the fellowship lost in Eden. It is not by accident that Genesis 1-2 parallel Revelation 21-22! ▣ "the work of Your fingers" This is anthropomorphic language. See SPECIAL TOPIC: GOD DESCRIBED AS HUMAN (ANTHROPOMORPHISM). I recommend reading John H. Walton, ANE Thought and the OT, chapter 7, "Cosmic Geography," pp. 165-178, as a way to orient the modern reader to the worldview of the ANE, so different from our own! The worship of the sun and moon were common in the ANE. Genesis 1 is a polemic against Babylonian astral worship (which had infected Israel, cf. Ezekiel 8), as the plagues of Egypt were a polemic against the nature gods of Egypt. God creates the heavenly bodies (cf. Gen. 1:14-19) and controls them. They are not gods. SPECIAL TOPIC: MOON WORSHIP 8:4 Note the synonymous parallelism between the two lines of poetry and especially "man" (BDB 60, enosh, cf. Ps. 9:20, also note Ps. 103:14) and "son of man" (BDB 119 CONSTRUCT BDB 9, "son of man," "ben Adam," cf. Ps. 144:3). The first term, enosh, has two meanings. BDB 60 I – weak, sick, frail (from the Hebrew VERB; Niphal, 2 Sam. 12:15; Qal PASSIVE, Isa. 17:11; Jer. 15:18; 17:9) BDB 60 II – mankind, as used here without the connotation of weak, quite the opposite The second term/phrase, "son of man," is a Hebrew idiom for a human person (i.e., Ps. 146:3; Ezek. 2:1; see SPECIAL TOPIC: SON OF MAN). YHWH gives special attention to His highest creation, made in His image (cf. Gen. 1:26-27), for fellowship (cf. Gen. 3:8). Humans are significant creatures, uniquely related to God. We are part of this creation, yet more than the physical! Once created, we are eternal, spiritual creatures. Humans are a higher spiritual order than angels. I know that sounds ridiculous, but think with me. no angel is ever said to be made in the image and likeness of God (cf. Gen. 1:26-27) Jesus did not die to redeem angels (cf. Heb. 2:14-16) believers will judge the angels (cf. 1 Cor. 6:3) angels are to serve mankind (cf. Heb. 1:14) In the creation myth of Sumer and later Babylon, humans were noisy, bothersome, and expendable (see intro. notes to Genesis 1-11), but in the Bible it is just the opposite. They are the focus of YHWH's creative activity. ▣ NASB, NKJV, NRSV, JPSOA, REB "take thought of him" LXX, Peshitta "mindful of him" "think of them" "spare a thought for them" The VERB (BDB 269, KB 269, Qal IMPERFECT) means "remember," in the sense of "think about kindly" (cf. Ps. 9:12; 78:39; 98:3; 103:14; 105:8,42; 106:45; 111:5; 115:12; 136:23). Usually in the Bible, God is called on to "forget" human sin and humans are called on to "remember" God, but here the psalmist is awestruck with the vastness and beauty of creation and the thought that its Creator has time and concern for one special creature on this one planet! But, this is the intellectual/theological question, isn't it (i.e., purposeless naturalism vs. purposeful Creator)? 8:5 The dignity and worth of humans are clearly seen in this verse. We were "made" is a VERB (BDB 341, KB 338, Piel IMPERFECT) which means "cause to lack" or "made him inferior" to only God Himself (Elohim). The LXX interprets this as "angels" (quote in Heb. 2:7), but the context of Psalm 8 demands "God" because this Psalm reflects God's creation in Genesis. Although it is possible that the PLURAL "us" in Gen. 1:26; 3:22; 11:7, reflects God's heavenly council (cf. 1 Kgs. 22:19-23; Job 1:6; 2:1; Ps. 82:1,6; 86:8; 89:6,8; Dan. 7:10), and thereby, refers to angels in leadership (cf. Gen. 3:5). However, I think contextually "God" is best. Notice that enosh/ben Adam is crowned with glory – BDB 458 majesty – BDB 214 Humanity is the highest creation of God. They were created for fellowship with God. They function as His supervisors on earth (cf. Gen. 1:28). All physical creation is a stage for God and mankind to meet and come to know each other (cf. Gen. 3:8). SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, C. 8:6-8 As Ps. 8:3 surely has a Genesis 1 orientation, so too, Ps. 8:6 (cf. Gen. 1:28). Humans were God's stewards in the Garden (and by implication, all creation). Humans rule (BDB 605, KB 647, Hiphil IMPERFECT) subdue (BDB 461, KB 460, Qal IMPERATIVE, cf. Gen. 1:28) have dominion (BDB 921, KB 1190, Qal IMPERATIVE, cf. Gen. 1:28) only in their connection with God! We are stewards! SPECIAL TOPIC: GARDEN OF EDEN 8:6 "the works of Your hands" This is referring to Genesis 1 (cf. Job 14:15; Ps. 92:4; 138:8; 143:5), as is "the work of Your fingers" in Ps. 8:3 (cf. Ps. 102:25). It is interesting that in Genesis 1 God's creative activities are by the spoken word. Only mankind is made/fashioned by personal attention in Gen. 2:7. We know from the NT that the One who formed Adam from red clay was the pre-incarnate Jesus (cf. John 1:3,10; 1 Cor. 8:6; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:2). Jesus is the Father's agent in creation redemption judgment SPECIAL TOPIC: GOD DESCRIBED AS HUMAN (ANTHROPOMORPHISM) 8:7 The order of the creation of these creatures is parallel to Genesis 1. This Psalm (like Psalm 104) must be read in light of Genesis 1! If Genesis 1-2 were in the Psalms, we would not be debating their genre or literalness! See my exegetical notes on Genesis 1-11 free online, www.freebiblecommentary.org
Salmos 8:9
8:9 This Psalm ends as it began (Ps. 8:1b). The theme and major character of the Bible is God!