Smith DTh Thesis (final).pdf - South African Theological Seminary

Chapter 4: Analysis of Psalms 3-8and deceitful man” יש־דָ‏ מִ‏ ים ‏ּומִ‏ שְ‏ מָ‏ ה)‏ ‏,אִ‏ v. 7b; cf. Ps 55:24). The word “deceitful”39:14:1, v. 7b) carries a connotation of treachery, a violation of trust ‏,מִ‏ שְ‏ מָ‏ ה)‏and loyalty (see Carpenter and Grisanti 1996:§8228). Coupled with“bloodthirsty” (literally, “of bloods”, from ‏,דָ‏ ם 360:21:1, v. 7b), it seams to painta portrait of an unscrupulous man who will violate anyone in his path.The psalmist elaborates on this portrayal of the wicked as unscrupulous liarsin strophe 4 (vv. 10-11). Each of the four lines in verse 10 makes a strongstatement about their perversity. (a) “There is no truth in their mouth” (v. 10a).The word translated “truth” (Niphal participle of ‏,כּון 218:52:5), primarilydenotes what is firm, established or secure; applied to speech, it refers towhat is reliable and trustworthy, chiefly because the speaker is loyal to hiswords. (b) “Their inmost self is destruction” (v. 10b). Most translators (e.g.,ESV; CEV; NET; NIV; NKJV; NRSV) and interpreters (e.g., VanGemerenרִ‏ שְ‏ בָ‏ ם 1991:89; Craigie 1998:83; Clifford 2002:58; Terrien 2003:107) believederives from רֶ‏ שֶ‏ ב (227:27:1), meaning “inner parts”, referring to a man’sinnermost being. If this is correct, the psalmist was saying that the very inner‏,הַ‏ ‏ּוָ‏ ה)‏ “destruction” being of the wicked, their thoughts and motives, is bent on13:8:1). Amongst the works consulted, only Wilson (2002:168) suggests itmay derive from שֵ‏ ב ‏,רָ‏ meaning “near” or “approaching”, implying that theapproach of the wicked inevitably leaves destruction in their wake. (c) “Theirthroat is an open grave” (v. 10c) is a metaphor symbolising the destructive129