Psalms 3–8
Psalm 3:1-8
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Psa.3.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- מזמור: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לדוד: PREP+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- בברחו: PREP+VERB,qal,ptc,3,m,sg
- מפני: PREP
- אבשלום: NOUN,m,sg,abs,prop
- בנו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3ms
Parallels
- 2 Samuel 15:13 (thematic): Explains the cause of the flight: Absalom's rebellion and how he 'stole the hearts of the men of Israel,' providing the political background to David's flight mentioned in the Psalm heading.
- 2 Samuel 15:30 (structural): Narrative description of David's actual flight from Jerusalem (going up the Mount of Olives weeping), the concrete event to which the Psalm's superscription refers.
- 2 Samuel 17:23 (verbal): Repeats the motif/phrase of David's departure over the Mount of Olives 'weeping as he went,' a verbal echo of the same episode that frames Psalm 3.
- 2 Samuel 18:33 (thematic): David's emotional lament over Absalom after the battle ('O my son Absalom...'), showing the personal anguish connected to the crisis that prompted the Psalm.
Alternative generated candidates
- A psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.
- A psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.
Psa.3.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- מה: PRON,int
- רבו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- צרי: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- רבים: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- קמים: VERB,qal,ptc,3,m,pl
- עלי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
Parallels
- Psalm 22:12 (verbal): Speaks of many hostile opponents surrounding the psalmist — “many bulls have compassed me” parallels the image of numerous foes rising against him.
- Psalm 35:1 (thematic): A plea for the LORD to contend with enemies who rise against the psalmist; parallels the lament over many adversaries and the call for divine intervention.
- Psalm 109:3 (verbal): Describes being surrounded and attacked by hostile men (“they compassed me about… and fought against me”), echoing the complaint that many have risen against the speaker.
- Psalm 27:12 (verbal): Speaks of false witnesses and those who rise up against the psalmist (“they that rise up against me”), echoing the specific verb and theme of enemies rising up.
Alternative generated candidates
- O LORD, how many are my foes! Many rise up against me.
- LORD, how many are my foes! Many rise up against me.
Psa.3.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- רבים: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- אמרים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- לנפשי: PREP+NOUN,f,sg+PRON,1,sg
- אין: PART,neg
- ישועתה: NOUN,f,sg+PRON,3,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- באלהים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- סלה: MISC
Parallels
- Psalm 22:6-8 (verbal): Mockers taunt the sufferer with words about God’s saving help—'He trusts in the LORD; let Him deliver him'—which parallels 'Many say of my soul, There is no help for him in God.'
- Psalm 35:21 (thematic): Enemies gloat and speak against the psalmist ('They opened their mouths wide against me; they said, “Aha, aha!”'), echoing the communal derision that there is no salvation for him in God.
- Jeremiah 20:10-11 (thematic): Jeremiah reports hearing many whispering and denouncing him (’Let us denounce him’), contrasted with his confession that the LORD is with him—similar tension between others’ claims of no help and the prophet/psalmist’s trust in God.
- Matthew 27:41-43 (quotation): Those mocking Jesus say, 'He trusts in God; let God deliver him now,' a direct taunt about divine rescue that echoes the sentiment of people claiming there is no salvation from God.
Alternative generated candidates
- Many say of my soul, "There is no help for him in God." Selah.
- Many say of my soul, “There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah.
Psa.3.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואתה: CONJ+PRON,2,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- מגן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בעדי: PREP+1,sg
- כבודי: NOUN,m,sg,abs,poss:1cs
- ומרים: VERB,hiph,part,3,m,sg
- ראשי: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,1,sg
Parallels
- Psalm 28:7 (verbal): Explicitly calls the LORD 'my strength and my shield'—uses the same shield (מָגֵן) imagery and links divine protection with trust and help.
- Psalm 18:2 (verbal): Describes God as 'my rock, my fortress, my deliverer' and 'my buckler'—shares the protective/defensive vocabulary and theme of God as defender.
- 2 Samuel 22:3 (allusion): A royal thanksgiving hymn closely parallel to Psalm 18 that likewise portrays God as rock/shield—an older/parallel tradition of the same protective imagery.
- Psalm 27:6 (thematic): Speaks of God causing the psalmist's head to be lifted up above enemies—connects with the motif of God as the 'lifter of my head' (exaltation after deliverance).
Alternative generated candidates
- But you, O LORD, are a shield around me; you are my glory and the lifter of my head.
- But you, LORD, are a shield around me; my glory, and you lift up my head.
Psa.3.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- קולי: NOUN,m,sg,abs+1
- אל: NEG
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אקרא: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- ויענני: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg,obj1cs
- מהר: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,sg
- קדשו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- סלה: PTCL
Parallels
- 2 Samuel 22:7 (quotation): David's cry in distress closely mirrors Psalm 3:5—he calls to the LORD and is heard from God's sanctuary/temple (formal parallel to 'holy hill').
- Psalm 18:6 (verbal): Nearly identical wording: the psalmist cries to the LORD and God hears him from his holy/temple hill, reflecting the same verbal motif of being heard.
- Jonah 2:2 (verbal): Jonah's prayer: 'I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me'—a direct verbal and thematic echo of crying out and being heard.
- Psalm 34:4 (thematic): Shares the theme of seeking the LORD in trouble and receiving an answer/deliverance—'I sought the LORD, and he heard me.'
- Psalm 116:1-2 (verbal): Personal testimony that God 'heard my voice and my supplications,' echoing the experience of calling on the LORD and being answered in Psalm 3:5.
Alternative generated candidates
- I cried aloud to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy mountain. Selah.
- I cry aloud to the LORD, and he answers me from his holy mountain. Selah.
Psa.3.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אני: PRON,1,sg
- שכבתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,?,sg
- ואישנה: VERB,qal,impf,1,comm,sg,ind
- הקיצותי: VERB,hifil,perf,1,comm,sg,ind
- כי: CONJ
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- יסמכני: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg,obj:1,sg
Parallels
- Ps.4:8 (verbal): Uses the same language of lying down and sleeping and likewise links peaceful sleep to the LORD’s protection (‘for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety’).
- Ps.127:2 (thematic): Speaks of God’s gift of sleep to those he favors; parallels the idea that divine care/sustenance is the basis for restful sleep rather than human effort.
- Prov.3:24 (verbal): Promises untroubled, pleasant sleep for the one who trusts and walks in wisdom—echoing the link between trust/ divine favor and safe sleep found in Ps 3:6.
- Ps.121:4-5 (structural): Affirms that the LORD neither slumbers nor sleeps while also portraying God as keeper of Israel; complements Ps 3:6 by showing that God’s vigilant care is the reason the believer can sleep securely.
Alternative generated candidates
- I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the LORD sustained me.
- I lie down and sleep; I wake again, for the LORD sustains me.
Psa.3.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- לא: PART_NEG
- אירא: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- מרבבות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- עם: PREP
- אשר: PRON,rel
- סביב: ADV
- שתו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- עלי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
Parallels
- Psalm 27:3 (verbal): Uses near-identical imagery—'though an army encamp against me'—and expresses the same refusal to fear despite being surrounded by many enemies.
- Psalm 118:6 (thematic): Declares confidence and lack of fear because the LORD is on the psalmist's side, paralleling the trust that removes fear of surrounding multitudes.
- Psalm 23:4 (thematic): 'I will fear no evil' for God's presence; both verses portray personal trust in God that overcomes fear in face of danger.
- Isaiah 41:10 (allusion): God's command 'Fear not... I am with you' and promise of help echoes the underlying reason for not fearing hostile forces surrounding the believer.
Alternative generated candidates
- I will not be afraid of tens of thousands of people who have set themselves against me on every side.
- I will not fear the tens of thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.
Psa.3.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- קומה: VERB,qal,impv,2,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- הושיעני: VERB,hiph,impv,2,m,sg
- אלהי: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- כי: CONJ
- הכית: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- כל: DET
- איבי: NOUN,m,sg,abs,poss=1s
- לחי: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שני: NUM,m,pl,construct
- רשעים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- שברת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
Parallels
- Psalm 68:1 (verbal): Both texts call God to 'arise' and describe the scattering or defeat of his enemies—a shared summons to divine action and overthrow of foes.
- Psalm 18:48 (verbal): Davidic thanksgiving language about God delivering and subduing enemies echoes Psalm 3's claim that God has struck and broken the wicked.
- 2 Samuel 22:48 (quotation): Parallel victory-song to Psalm 18 (and thematically to Psalm 3): celebrates God rescuing the king and defeating his adversaries.
- Exodus 14:27-30 (thematic): The LORD's decisive overthrow of Egypt and salvation of Israel provides an earlier motif of divine deliverance by destroying enemies, similar to Psalm 3's portrayal.
- Psalm 59:1 (thematic): A pleading for rescue from enemies ('Deliver me from my enemies, O my God') that parallels Psalm 3's petition and theme of God as defender who defeats foes.
Alternative generated candidates
- Arise, O LORD! Save me, O my God! For you have struck all my enemies on the cheek; you have broken the teeth of the wicked.
- Arise, LORD! Save me, O my God! For you strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked.
A psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.
O LORD, how many are my enemies! Many rise up against me.
Many say of my soul, “There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah. But you, O LORD, are a shield about me; you are my glory, and you lift up my head.
I cried aloud to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy mountain. Selah.
I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the LORD sustains me.
I will not be afraid of tens of thousands who have set themselves against me on every side.
Arise, O LORD! Save me, my God! For you have struck all my enemies on the cheek; you have broken the teeth of the wicked.