Salmos 93
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Salmos 93:1-2
93:1-2 This strophe describes YHWH as the reigning King of creation (cf. Ps. 47:2; 96:10; 97:1; 99:1). The first four VERBS of Ps. 93:1 are PERFECTS denoting completed action. reigns ‒ BDB 573, KB 590, Qal PERFECT, cf. Ps. 96:10; 97:1; 99:1 clothed ‒ BDB 527, KB 519, Qal PERFECT (twice) girded Himself ‒ BDB 25, KB 25, Hithpael PERFECT, note He girded Himself, which denotes the sovereignty of YHWH, cf. Ps. 65:6 It seems surprising that the next two VERBS of Ps. 93:1, which speak of His world being firmly established (cf. 93:2, a Niphal; Ps. 96:10) and that it will not be moved, are both IMPERFECTS, which denote an ongoing action (cf. 1 Chr. 16:30). In this context the PERFECTS may denote past time and the IMPERFECXTS current/future time, but limited to this age. 93:1 Notice that these PERFECT VERBS speak of YHWH's kingly dress. His dress is a metaphorical way of asserting His character and power. clothed with majesty (BDB 145) clothed with strength (BDB 738) Psalm 104:1 asserts He is clothed with "splendor" (BDB 217) and "majesty" (BDB 214). Psalm 65:6 asserts He is girded with "might" (BDB 150). 93:2 The eternal reign of the eternal YHWH (cf. Ps. 93:5c; 45:6; 90:2) is secure (cf. Ps. 10:16; 29:10; 46:10; 52:7)! Circumstances may seem to be supreme but they are only temporary. Our God reigns (cf. Dan. 2:44; 7:14,27; Luke 1:33; Rev. 11:15,17; 19:6)!
Salmos 93:3-5
93:3-4 The NASB divides this Psalm into two strophes, 93:1-2 and 93:3-5, but all the other English translations I use to compare strophe divisions (NKJV, NRSV, TEV, NJB), have Ps. 93:5 as a separate concluding statement. Psalm 93:3-4 speaks of YHWH's creation and control of watery chaos (cf. Ps. 74:12-17; 89:9-10; Isa. 51:9). As Ps. 93:1 had a contrast between PERFECTS and IMPERFECTS denoting past and current/future acts of this age (cf. Zech. 14:9), so too, Ps. 93:3. There is no VERB in Ps. 93:4, but it also reflects YHWH as the eternal, victorious King of the universe! SPECIAL TOPIC: WATERS SPECIAL TOPIC: LEVIATHAN 93:3 The opening NOUN and VERB (BDB 669, KB 724) are used three times, once in each line of poetry. This verse may reflect a poetic line used of Ba'al found in the Ras Shamra texts (i.e., Ugaritic). The Hebrew language often took the religious imagery of their neighbors/captors and applied it to YHWH, the only true God! 93:4 "mighty" The ADJECTIVE (BDB 12) is used to describe the raging of the waves (i.e., enemies of God at creation and through time, such as Egypt, Babylon) but YHWH is higher, greater, more powerful than all the enemies (initial, temporal, and eschatological)! 93:5 "testimonies" This term (BDB 730 III) reflects YHWH's revelation. See SPECIAL TOPIC: TERMS FOR GOD'S REVELATION. YHWH has established Himself as King forever is victorious over watery chaos has fully revealed Himself (see SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARACTERISTICS OF ISRAEL'S GOD) fully revealed His purposes (see SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN) ▣ "Holiness befits Your house" For "holiness" see SPECIAL TOPIC: HOLY. The AB, vol. 17, by Mitchell Dahood (also see NIDOTTE, vol. 3, #2, p. 2) takes "holy" as a title for the angels of the heavenly council (cf. Ps. 29:1), thus making the line read: "In your temple the holy ones will laud you" (pp. 339, 343). SPECIAL TOPIC: HEAVENLY COUNCIL OF ANGELS ▣ The VERB "befits" can be analyzed in two ways. a VERB ‒ BDB 610, KB 659, Pilel PERFECT (OT Parsing Guide by Beall, Banks and Smith, p. 449) an ADVERB ‒ BDB 610 (Analytical Key to the OT, by Owens, p. 425) "House" refers to the Tabernacle of the wilderness and later the temple in Jerusalem.