In addition, tenses of some verbs were changed, but these do not have a serious impact on the context. A guide to their beauty, power, and meaning glazer, miriyam on. Psalm 23, with its vivid portrait of yearning for and trust in god, is one of the most well known chapters in the book of psalms. There are several jewish perspectives on this psalm, all of which agree that king david composed it and is the voice throughout, and that it is historical, not messianic. The book of psalms and its musical interpretations milken. Like a lion they are gnawing at my hands and my feet. A closer look at the crucifixion psalm outreach judaism.
First, christian exegesis of psalm 22 as prophetic of jesus appears to have prompted a countering jewish commentary applying the psalm to esther. Protestant and jewish approaches to the scripture or what i learned. This psalm transcended the time that david lived and wrote it. Six psalms are superscribed another puzzlethree times with the addition, once lx. While the torah presents itself as the divine word imparted to the people israel, the 150 poems in the book of psalms represent a range of human voices. The correct interpretation of the verse must be based on the elliptical style of this particular psalm. The book of psalms commonly referred to simply as psalms, the. Some christian translations are more transparent in their rendering of psalm 110 than the new american standard bible. Thirty psalms are designated as song, probably indicating that the psalm was actually sung in the temple. Classic commentaries and studies on psalms 35 vols.
Let your ears pay attention to the sound of my pleading. Psalms 1118, for the three major pilgrimage festivals. The book of psalms is the third section of the hebrew bible, and a book of the. To many, this is a psalm of desperation, resignation, and gloom.
Annals of sennacherib, for example, offer some insights into musical matters pertaining to the first temple, in which choral psalmody can be demonstrated to have played a prominent part. At the same time i ordered the book of psalms a new translation to the traditional hebrew text published by the jewish publication society isbn 0827606303. In the printed hebrew bible the book of psalms is the first of the ketubim. Sometimes this psalm is referred to as the death psalm. Then, later and quite apart from esther, a messianic jewish interpretation of psalm 22 arose, consonant with christian commentary, quite possibly influ.
Below, the author offers his own translation of the psalm, followed by his interpretation, which focuses on the ambivalence inherent in. The jewish publication society jps has been the preeminent publisher of books at the heart of jewish culture in the english reading world for over 125 years. Jewish difficulty with yahushuas understanding of psalm, 110. Karin hedner zetterholm introduces the legal, theological, and historical presuppositions that shaped the dominant stream of rabbinic interpretation, including mishnah, talmud, and midrashim, discussing examples of different interpretive methods, and explores the contours of jewish biblical interpretation evident in the new testament and the. According to radak, the term eretz translated here as the earth means all the world, while its parallel in the second verse, tevel world, means the inhabited world or dry land. Jps books include the jps tanakh, the most widely read english translation of the hebrew bible, esteemed bible commentary, and hundreds of scholarly and popular works of history. Thirteen psalms are labeled, the meaning of which word is doubtful see hebrew dictionaries and the commentaries.
Ellipsis the omission of words is an apt rhetorical device for. The recitation of psalms sacred songs or hymns in times of distress, uncertainty and thanksgiving provides comfort, as they reflect a personal relationship with god. Although this interpretation does not prophetically tie into the death of the messiah, is does show that psalm 22 was a psalm known to reflect on israels past, present and future see notes below. Mar 06, 2018 10 thoughts on the jewish interpretation of psalm 22. Commentary on the illuminations p salm 23 may be the most beloved of psalms. To understand the brazen manner in which christendom tampered with the jewish scriptures, lets examine the verse that you insist proves that jesus is the messiah. Classic commentaries and studies on psalms brings together historical background, literary analysis, outlines, study guides. Apr 10, 2011 third, the psalm can be read in the light of later interpretation, either the targumim or christian interpretation. Alters the book of psalms captures the simplicity, the physicality, and the coiled rhythmic power of the hebrew, restoring the remarkable eloquence of these. Some christian translations are more transparent in their rendering of. Other new testament books that refer to this psalm are matthew 27. The word selah is found in 39 psalms, all but two of which ps 140.
These great people are described as growing, learning, and coming to grips with a world under the rule of a perfect and allknowing. The book of psalms sefer tehillim my jewish learning. Then, later and quite apart from esther, a messianic jewish interpretation of psalm 22 arose, consonant with. In many ways, jewish experience seems to support this assessment. Needless to say there is no such thing as standard jewish interpretation of certain passages especially messianic interpretations.
Rabbi harold kushner explains the meaning of the 23rd. A rigorous analysis of the linguistic and grammatical structure of this phrase, understanding the difference between a translation and a homiletic interpretation, and placing the psalm in its proper context, will demonstrate that kiss the son is an. This poem was written by king david, one of the most famous kings that ever reigned in israel. The hebrew title for the book is tehilim, meaning praises. Karin hedner zetterholm introduces the legal, theological, and historical presuppositions that shaped the dominant stream of rabbinic interpretation, including mishnah, talmud, and midrashim, discussing examples of. Psalms depicts in majestic and flawless hebrew real, yet great, people living their real lives. The 23rd psalm is perhaps the most quoted psalm in the bible. Below, the author offers his own translation of the psalm, followed by his interpretation, which focuses on the ambivalence inherent in the narrators wish to serve adonai god fully. Psalms, book of the old testament composed of sacred songs, or of sacred. Fully revised from the original norwegian edition and now featuring a substantial new foreword by james crenshaw, this classic work two volumes in one argues that the psalms originated in.
Rabbi glazer provides a joyous, personal, and insightful foundational explanation to each group of psalms as they occur throughout the liutugies of the jewish year. If you went to the soncino books of the bible, you would be referred to the talmud ned. The jewishness of the new testament jews for jesus. David kimchis response to christianity in his psalm. The book of psalms is among the most popular and widely read of all the books of the hebrew bible. In jewish tradition they were preserved, even after kingship had disappeared, because they were read in the light of the davidic covenant reported in 2 sm 7. These great people are described as growing, learning, and coming to grips with a. Karin hedner zetterholm introduces the legal, theological, and historical presuppositions that shaped the dominant stream of rabbinic interpretation, including.
She then explores the contours of jewish biblical interpretation evident in the new testament and the legacy of ancient traditions in the way different jewish movements read the bible today. The colophon to book ii, which follows the doxology at the end. The hebrew title of the book translates to praises. Although jewish tradition gives tremendous importance to the hebrew bible, from the beginning jewish interpretation of those scriptures has been practiced with remarkable freedom. The book of psalms and its musical interpretations milken archive. Th is interpretation of psalm 22 is not found in extant jewish texts before the era of christianity. Jewish interpretation of the bible by karin hedner zetterholm. Because the new testament refers to this psalm around 15 different times, the early church gave it the nickname of the fifth gospel. He guided his people through hard times, was victorious in time of war, and was known as being a man after gods own heart. From laments, to joyful songs, to words of praise, this old testament literature is as relatable today as it was when the words were originally penned. Psalms are the 150 poems which praise, beseech, thank, or express intense fear and love for gd.
The exact derivation and meaning of the former are uncertain. The artscroll tanach commentary also recognizes the position of rabbi malbim, radak, and rabbi moshe that david is the object of psalm 110. Syntactic divisions, spellings, and vocalization reflect the jewish masoretic tradition. There are 150 psalms whose authorship is attributed to king david 10th century b. Ellipsis the omission of words is an apt rhetorical device for a composition in which suffering and agony is described. The jewish translators of the septuagint in alexandria selected the word psalmos to render the hebrew mizmor. The book of psalms and its musical interpretations. Since i am a christian, i may read this psalm in the light of the new testament fulfillment in jesus. Jesus was a jew, speaking hebrew to his jewish followers during the difficult days of the roman occupation of israel in the second temple period. Jewish interpretations of the psalm identify the individual in the psalm with a royal figure, alternatively interpreted as king david, king hezekiah, or queen esther. However, the majority of the jewish people do not feel inclined to verify the assessment by an investigation of the new testament itself. Many of the royal psalms were given a messianic interpretation by christians.
Read during the week of passover, this biblical text is an unabashedly sensuous paean to love. The title is derived from the greek translation, psalmoi. In books four and five, composition of psalms has definitely passed from the control of the guilds under the names of david, korah, and asaph, to a wider group of worship leaders. Third, the psalm can be read in the light of later interpretation, either the targumim or christian interpretation. Psalm 23, found in the christian old testament and in the jewish sacred book, has been a source of comfort to millions through the generations. The basis of the kingdom in psalm 72 is compassion toward the poor and afflicted. The 23rd psalm thus stands as a model of the complex composition we encounter in all the psalms. Originally, these 150 poems were meant to be sung and were used in ancient jewish worship services, accompanied by lyres, flutes, horns, and cymbals. The jps bible commentary psalms % jewish publication society continuing the great tradition of the. The word psalm comes from the greek psalmoi, meaning songs. Jul 24, 2006 the correct interpretation of the verse must be based on the elliptical style of this particular psalm. In truth, it is perhaps the preeminent psalm of prosperity.
Tehillim psalms chapter 22 tanakh online torah bible. A detailed versebyverse analysis and commentary is beyond the scope of this essay. If an interpretation seemed problematical, a commentator could be asked, is yours a valid way of handling the text. Yah, if you kept a record of sins, who, adonai, could stand. One of the most important contributions to our understanding of the psalms, the psalms in israels worship by sigmund mowinckel has largely provided the framework and suppositions of modern psalms study. God is also called adonai, a title of reverence meaning lord. Jewish interpretations of psalm 22 identify the individual in the psalm with a. There are ample support for the christian interpretation that the psalm in the jewish or rabbinic sources.
Introduction to the book of psalms learn religions. Thus, the common jewish assessment of the new testament is formed by a preconditioned impression. Concerning the nation of israel, which is a beloved hind. The following remarks are a revised form of a presentation given at the may 19, 2004 meeting of the jewishchristian dialogue. In the hebrew bible, psalms begins the third and last section of the. What enabled biblical interpretation to determine jewish teaching was the hermeneutical rules with a version inserted in the prayer book, which laid down the rules of exegesis. But with you there is forgiveness, so that you will be feared. This edition presents the new jps translation, based on the original hebrew text, as well as the entire range of. Before we go to the truth of gods word on this subject, lets expose the fallacy. Millennia of jews and christians have taken comfort from its phrases in moments of personal distress, and jewish tradition has integrated it into private prayers. Praise for the psalms in israels worship bwe must be very grateful to mowinckel and all who have helped him to make available this standard work in psalms research to a larger audience. Ancient and contemporary what characterizes jewish tradition, perhaps more than anything else, and establishes continuity from the hebrew bible through rabbinic judaism to modern jewish denominations, is the emphasis on the need for constant cautious interpretation of the bible in order for it to remain relevant.
David kimchis response to christianity in his psalm commentary. Psalm 23, which begins with the words mizmor ledavid a song of david, is arguably the most famous of all the psalms. Students of the history of biblical interpretation and of judaism will find this an important and engaging resource. The words of the psalmists have provided encouragement, comfort, and inspiration to christians for thousands of years. Moreover, david is sometimes used elsewhere as a collective for the kings of his dynasty, and this could also be true in the psalm titles. In the new american bible the numbering of the verses follows the hebrew. Late biblical books, together with some psalm superscriptions as well as other ancient sources from the region the 17thcentury b. Among the royal psalms that deal directly with the currently reigning king, are ps 20, 21, and 72. The psalms have long brought comfort to those who mourn and have helped us find the spiritual in everyday life. The lord said to my lord to whom was the lord speaking. If one word could be chosen to describe the book, certainly praises would qualify, for there is no psalm that does not contain an element of praise. Too often, the importance of the jewish background of the prayer and of the language that jesus used has been overlooked or minimized.
What the psalmist meant in a new book, bestselling author harold kushner offers a linebyline interpretation of the 23rd psalm. In ancient judaism there were basically three approaches to the interpretation of the bible, associated with different groups of teachers. The cords of death were all around me, shols constrictions held me fast. Nonetheless, a popular interpretation of the designation ldavid as reflective of actual davidic authorship of books i and ii later extended to the remaining seventyseven psalms in books iiv became rooted early in the history of the psalters compilation and canonization. Jewish interpretation of the bible by karin hedner. Its continual subjects may be gods workings and gods relationships with humankind, but its passions are our own. The lord said to my lord to whom was the lord speaking in.
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