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PSALM 8
STROPHE DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS
| NASB | NKJV | NRSV | TEV | NJB |
|
The Lord's Glory and Man's Dignity MT Intro "For the choir director; on the Gittith. A Psalm of David" |
The Glory of the Lord in Creation |
Hymn Celebrating God's Glory and the God-given Dignity of Human Beings |
God's Glory and Human Dignity |
The Power of God's Name |
| 8:1-2 | 8:1 | 8:1a | 8:1-2 | 8:1a |
| 8:1b-2 | 8:1b-2 | |||
| 8:2 | ||||
| 8:3-8 | 8:3-5 | 8:3-4 | 8:3-4 | 8:3-4 |
| 8:5-8 | 8:5-8 | 8:5-6 | ||
| 8:6-8 | ||||
| 8:7-8 | ||||
| 8:9 | 8:9 | 8:9 | 8:9 | 8:9 |
READING CYCLE THREE(see "Guide to Good Bible Reading")
FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL
This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.
WORD AND PHRASE STUDY
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: PSALM 8:1-2
1O
Lord, our Lord,
How majestic is Your name
in all the earth,
Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!
2From the mouth of
infants and nursing babes You have established strength
Because of
Your adversaries,
To make the enemy and the revengeful cease.
8:1 "O Lord, our Lord" This is a combination of
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.
SPECIAL TOPIC: Lord (Adon and Kurios)
| ▣ | |
| NASB, NRSV, NJB, JPSOA | "majestic" |
| NKJV, Peshitta | "excellent" |
| TEV | "greatness" |
| REB | "glorious" |
| NET Bible | "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.
It can also mean
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.
▣ "Who has displayed your splendor above the heavens" There are several issues with the Hebrew text of this phrase.
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!
▣ "above the heavens" This can be understood in several ways.
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" |
| NKJV | "You have ordained strength" |
| NRSV, REB | "You have founded a bulwark" |
| NJB | "You make him a fortress" |
| Peshitta | You established your glory" |
The VERB (BDB 413, KB 417, Piel PERFECT, cf. Ps. 89:11, Qal PERFECT) means
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.
See full note on the names of the psalmist's opponents at Ps. 1:5 and 5:10.
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: PSALM 8:3-8
3When
I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You
have ordained;
4What
is man that You take thought of him,
And
the son of man that You care for him?
5Yet
You have made him a little lower than God,
And You crown him with glory and
majesty!
6You
make him to rule over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his
feet,
7All
sheep and oxen,
And also
the beasts of the field,
8The
birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea,
Whatever passes through the paths of
the seas.
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.
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.
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.
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" |
| TEV | "think of them" |
| NJB | "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
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
only in their connection with God! We are stewards!
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
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
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: PSALM 8:9
9O
Lord, our Lord,
How majestic is Your name in all the
earth!
8:9 This Psalm ends as it began (Ps. 8:1b). The theme and major character of the Bible is God!
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.
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