| Home | Old Testament Studies | Psalms Table of Contents | Previous Section | Next Section |
PSALM 27
STROPHE DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS
NASB | NKJV | NRSV | TEV | NJB |
A Psalm of Fearless Trust in God | An Exuberant Declaration of Faith |
An Act of Devotion and a Prayer for Deliverance (Song of Trust) |
A Prayer Of Praise | In God's Company There Is No Fear |
MT Intro A Psalm of David. |
||||
27:1-3 | 27:1-3 | 27:1 | 27:1 | 27:1 |
27:2 | 27:2-3 | 27:2 | ||
27:3 | 27:3 | |||
27:4-6 | 27:4-5 | 27:4 | 27:4-6 | 27:4 |
|
27:5 | 27:5 | ||
27:6 | 27:6 | 27:6 | ||
27:6c | ||||
27:7-10 | 27:7-10 | 27:7-9a | 27:7-9a | 27:7-9a |
27:9b-10 | 27:9b-10 | 27:9b-10 | ||
27:11-14 | 27:11-13 | 27:11-12 | 27:11-12 | 27:11-12 |
27:13-14 | 27:13-14 | 27:13-14 | ||
27:14 |
READING CYCLE THREE (see "Bible Interpretation Seminar")
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.
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS
WORD AND PHRASE STUDY
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: PSALM 27:1-3
1The
Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the defense of my life;
Whom shall I dread?
2When evildoers came upon
me to devour my flesh,
My
adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.
3Though a host encamp
against me,
My heart will
not fear;
Though war arise
against me,
In spite of
this I shall be confident.
27:1-3 This psalm characterizes what YHWH is to the psalmist.
There is no "to be" VERB in Ps. 27:1, lines 1 and 3. The other VERBS are IMPERFECTS (like Ps. 27:3) which speak of ongoing action. Note the contrast with the state of the evildoers/adversaries/enemies in Ps. 27:2. Their status (PERFECTS) is set. They have stumbled and are fallen. The IMPERFECT VERBS continue in Ps. 27:3. Life has its trials, problems, incidents, but God is always with us and for us!
What are faithful followers to do in light of the experiences of life in a fallen world?
True faith is a personal relationship with God, a new worldview, a new lifestyle (cf. Rom. 8:31-39)! All of this is possible because of the character and revelation of God. He is with and for us and wants to have a daily personal relationship with us, even in a fallen world with sinful people (cf. Psalm 23)!!
27:2 Notice the different words used to describe the opponents.
They are said to have "stumbled" and "fell" (cf. Jer. 50:32). Both are Qal PERFECTS. Their fate and judgment are viewed as already having occurred! Their doom is sure!
▣ "to devour my flesh" The TEV has "kill me" and this is the thrust of the idiom (cf. Ps. 14:4). It may imply the evildoers act like wild carnivores!
The RSV thinks it means "to slander" (i.e., "backbiting," based on Dan. 3:8), but the NRSV uses a more literal translation.
27:3 This verse strongly implies that the psalmist is a king. The context of Psalm 1-41 suggests it is David.
Note the word play between "host" (הנחמ, BDB 334) and "encamp" (הנחת, BDB 333). These kinds of sound plays occur often in Hebrew poetry. This is imagery for the many problems the psalmist faced (cf. Ps. 3:6).
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: PSALM 27:4-6
4One
thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall
seek:
That I may dwell in
the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the Lord
And
to meditate in His temple.
5For
in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle;
In the secret place of His tent He
will hide me;
He will lift
me up on a rock.
6And
now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me,
And I will offer in His tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I
will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.
27:4-6 The psalmist lists a series of prayer requests. Notice the parallel of PERFECT and IMPERFECT VERBS.
In interpreting the psalms we must remember that these requests serve two functions.
Those who oppose God's leaders oppose God! It is not vengeance that is sought, but justice and the revelation of YHWH's character (i.e., cf. Ps. 139:19-22)!
27:4 Note the fervent requests.
▣ | |
NASB, NKJV, NRSV, JPSOA, REB | "beauty" |
NASB Margin | "delightfulness" |
LXX | "pleasantness" |
TEV | "goodness" |
NJB | "sweetness" |
Peshitta | "delight" |
The Hebrew word (BDB 653, KB 706) basically means "pleasant," "delightful." The NOUN is used mostly in Proverbs and describes several different things. In the context of the temple it may denote a vision of God or the afterlife. It may be parallel to "goodness" (BDB 375) in verse 13, which also denotes a perfect setting with God.
Here is a sample of the use of this term in Proverbs.
27:5 The results of his prayers are:
▣ I wonder if the Jews of old quoted this verse just before
We must remember that biblical promises have effect only
27:6 Because YHWH has responded in such wonderful ways to the psalmist's prayers (i.e., "my head will be lifted up above my enemies")
There are three COHORTATIVE VERBS in this verse. The psalmist believes he will be in YHWH's presence (i.e., the temple).
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: PSALM 27:7-10
7Hear,
O Lord, when I cry with my voice,
And be gracious to me and answer me.
8When You said,
" Seek My face," my heart said to You,
"Your face, O Lord, I shall seek."
9Do not hide Your face
from me,
Do not turn Your
servant away in anger;
You
have been my help;
Do not
abandon me nor forsake me,
O
God of my salvation!
10For
my father and my mother have forsaken me,
But the Lord
will take me up.
27:7-10 Often in the Psalms separate strophes repeat the emphasis or theme of previous strophes. This could be explained as
which are similar in sound, meaning, or theology are grouped together by later editors/compilers.
27:7 "Hear. . .cry" The first is a Qal IMPERATIVE (BDB 1033, KB 1570), so common in the Psalms as a way of beseeching God. The second VERB," cry" (BDB 894, KB 1128, Qal IMPERFECT), also denotes prayer. This verse repeats the focus of Ps. 27:4.
The context of the prayer request is
27:8 Notice that NASB and NKJV have an introductory phrase in italics (i.e., "When You said"), which denotes that it is not part of the Hebrew text. The NRSV and NJB translations assume the speaker is the psalmist.
The VERB "seek" (BDB 134, KB 152) is repeated
These seem to represent a dialogue between YHWH and the psalmist. One calls and the other appropriately responds. The VERB "seek" denotes a call to a personal relationship (cf. Ps. 24:6; Deut. 4:29), which denotes worship and obedience. In this Psalm, because of the emphasis on prayer, it may parallel Ps. 27:4 and 7.
▣ "face" This is a Hebrew idiom for close personal contact. See Ps. 24:6, where both "seek" and "face" occur together.
27:9 There is a series of JUSSIVE VERBS which denote the things the psalmist asks YHWH not to do.
Notice the personal element involved in all these parallel requests! The psalmist seeks fellowship with YHWH, not just answered prayer.
27:10 | |
NASB | "for" |
NKJV | "when" |
NRSV | "if" |
TEV | "may" |
NJB, JPSOA, REB | "though" |
NET Bible | "even if" |
Peshitta Bible | "although" |
The introductory CONJUNCTION (BDB 471-475) has a wide semantical field. Only context can determine meaning. Obviously this context does not allow a clear and certain translation.
▣ "my father and my mother have forsaken me" This is the same VERB which was used in Ps. 27:9. Even though the translation of this phrase is uncertain, the meaning is obvious. One's closest human companions or family may leave but the covenant God will never leave (cf. Deut. 31:6; Josh. 1:5; Isa. 49:15; Heb. 13:5)!
The UBS Handbook (p. 266) mentions that TEV, NEB, JB take the verse as expressing a theoretical possibility to make a strong literary point, not a real abandonment.
One wonders if this may reflect YHWH's promise to David and his descendants in 2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17. Possibly Ps. 27:13 relates to 2 Sam. 7:28.
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: PSALM 27:11-14
11Teach
me Your way, O Lord,
And lead me in a level path
Because of my foes.
12Do not deliver me over
to the desire of my adversaries,
For
false witnesses have risen against me,
And
such as breathe out violence.
13I
would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the
goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living.
14Wait for the Lord;
Be
strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes,
wait for the Lord.
27:11-14 This strophe starts out with more prayer requests (Ps. 27:11-12), moves to a testimony of faith (Ps. 27:13), and concludes with good advice (Ps. 27:14).
27:11-12 The prayer requests are
The psalmist gives two reasons for his prayers in this strophe.
27:13 This verse expresses the psalmist's faith ("believed" – BDB 52, KB 63, Hiphil PERFECT) and worldview. He believed there was
27:14 In light of the psalmist's faith and worldview he admonishes others to
Some scholars (cf. NIDOTTE, vol. 1, p. 439) see Ps. 27:14 as
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.
| Home | Old Testament Studies | Psalms Table of Contents | Previous Section | Next Section |
Copyright © 2014 Bible Lessons International