Hebrew Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The Book of Psalms, Chapter 3תהלים 3

Each verse opens with the running Hebrew, an English translation, and a discourse note (its connective, relation, and role in the argument). Below follows the word-by-word breakdown in six tiers: gloss, case/state or parsing, syntax, semantic force, and a lexical note.

Case Nominative Genitive Dative Accusative Vocative Verb (no case) Indeclinable

Discourse notes head each verse: relation · connective · clause-flow. Indentation marks prominence — flush-left = main line of argument; indented = supporting / subordinate material.

Theme

Psalms 3 (9 verses in the MT) opens: Psalm to when he fled because of Abishalom his son. The middle of the chapter continues: My voice to YHWH I proclaim and answered from Mount holy Selah. It closes: To YHWH his salvation on your people your blessing Selah.

Translation & textual notes

The Hebrew base text here follows the Masoretic Text in the Leningrad tradition as represented by the Westminster Leningrad Codex / MorphHB diplomatic stream imported from OSHB; distinctively copyrighted apparatus from BHS or BHQ is not reproduced. Psalms 3 comprises 9 verses in MT order. Movement I (vv. 1-4) — Psalm to when he fled because of Abishalom his son. Psalm to when he fled because of Abishalom his son. YHWH what and multiply narrow many and he arose against me. Many they say your soul there is not his salvation to him by God Selah. And you YHWH the shield of for me my glory and tall the heads of. Movement II (vv. 5-8) — My voice to YHWH I proclaim and answered from Mount holy Selah. My voice to YHWH I proclaim and answered from Mount holy Selah. I I lay and grow long settled arise for YHWH and he shall lay. Not fear ten thousand a people that all around they put (on) against me. Arise! YHWH one to save the God of for you struck all my enemies and the two cheeks my teeth the wicked you broke. Movement III (vv. 9) — To YHWH his salvation on your people your blessing Selah. To YHWH his salvation on your people your blessing Selah. Where English printed Bibles divide verses differently, this annotation follows MT versification throughout.

1

מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִ֑ד בְּ֝בָרְח֗וֹ מִפְּנֵ֤י אַבְשָׁל֬וֹם בְּנֽוֹ

Psalm to when he fled because of Abishalom his son.

Infinitive construct — purpose, result, or complementasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Infinitive construct — purpose, result, or complement. Lead predicate is 'when he fled'. Opens the chapter.
Word-by-word analysis· 6 words
מִזְמ֥וֹרpsalmN c · מִזְמוֹר (H4210)Construct chain (genitival)מִזְמוֹר (H4210) 'psalm'.
לְדָוִ֑דtoprep + N proper · דָּוִד (H1732)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)דָּוִד (H1732) 'to'.
בְּ֝בָרְח֗וֹwhen he fledprep + Qal inf constr + sfx 3ms · בָּרַח (H1272)Infinitive construct→ Infinitive construct: purpose, result, or complementבָּרַח (H1272) 'when he fled'.
מִפְּנֵ֤יbecause ofprep + N com c pl constr · פָּנִים (H6440)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)פָּנִים (H6440) 'because of'.
אַבְשָׁל֬וֹםAbishalomN · אֲבִישָׁלוֹם (H53)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)אֲבִישָׁלוֹם (H53) 'Abishalom'.
בְּנֽוֹhis sonN c · בֵּן (H1121)Construct chain (genitival)בֵּן (H1121) 'his son'.
2

יְ֭הוָה מָֽה רַבּ֣וּ צָרָ֑י רַ֝בִּ֗ים קָמִ֥ים עָלָֽי

YHWH what and multiply narrow many and he arose against me.

Qatal — perfective or stative predicationasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Qatal — perfective or stative predication. Lead predicate is 'and multiply'.
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
יְ֭הוָהYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
מָֽהwhatinterrog. · מָה (H4100)Particle or relational elementמָה (H4100) 'what'.
רַבּ֣וּand multiplyQal perf 3cp · רָבַב (H7231)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actרָבַב (H7231) 'and multiply'.
צָרָ֑יnarrowN c · צַר (H6862)Construct chain (genitival)צַר (H6862) 'narrow'.
רַ֝בִּ֗יםmanyAdj · רַב (H7227)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)רַב (H7227) 'many'.
קָמִ֥יםand he aroseQal ptc mp · קוּם (H6965)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorקוּם (H6965) 'and he arose'.
עָלָֽיagainst meprep + sfx 1cs · עַל (H5921)Particle or relational elementעַל (H5921) 'against me'.
3

רַבִּים֮ אֹמְרִ֪ים לְנַ֫פְשִׁ֥י אֵ֤ין יְֽשׁוּעָ֓תָה לּ֬וֹ בֵֽאלֹהִ֬ים סֶֽלָה

Many they say your soul there is not his salvation to him by God Selah.

Participle — attendant circumstance or substantival actorasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Participle — attendant circumstance or substantival actor. Lead predicate is 'they say'.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
רַבִּים֮manyAdj · רַב (H7227)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)רַב (H7227) 'many'.
אֹמְרִ֪יםthey sayQal ptc mp · אָמַר (H559)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorאָמַר (H559) 'they say'.
לְנַ֫פְשִׁ֥יyour soulprep + N com c sg constr + sfx 1cs · נֶפֶשׁ (H5315)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)נֶפֶשׁ (H5315) 'your soul'.
אֵ֤יןthere is notneg. · אַיִן (H369)Particle or relational elementאַיִן (H369) 'there is not'.
יְֽשׁוּעָ֓תָהhis salvationN c · יְשׁוּעָה (H3444)Construct chain (genitival)יְשׁוּעָה (H3444) 'his salvation'.
לּ֬וֹto himprep + sfx 3msParticle or relational elementFunction word: 'to him'.
בֵֽאלֹהִ֬יםby Godprep + N com m pl abs · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)אֱלֹהִים (H430) 'by God'.
סֶֽלָהSelahparticle · סֶלָה (H5542)Particle or relational elementסֶלָה (H5542) 'Selah'.
4

וְאַתָּ֣ה יְ֭הוָה מָגֵ֣ן בַּעֲדִ֑י כְּ֝בוֹדִ֗י וּמֵרִ֥ים רֹאשִֽׁי

And you YHWH the shield of for me my glory and tall the heads of.

Participle — attendant circumstance or substantival actorwə
wə-chaining from the preceding clause. Participle — attendant circumstance or substantival actor. Lead predicate is 'and tall'.
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
וְאַתָּ֣הand youconj וְ + pron 2ms · אַתָּה (H859)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)אַתָּה (H859) 'and you'.
יְ֭הוָהYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
מָגֵ֣ןthe shield ofN c · מָגֵן (H4043)Construct chain (genitival)מָגֵן (H4043) 'the shield of'.
בַּעֲדִ֑יfor meprep + sfx 1cs · בְּעַד (H1157)Particle or relational elementבְּעַד (H1157) 'for me'.
כְּ֝בוֹדִ֗יmy gloryN c · כָּבוֹד (H3519)Construct chain (genitival)כָּבוֹד (H3519) 'my glory'.
וּמֵרִ֥יםand tallconj וְ + Hiphil ptc ms · רוּם (H7311)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorרוּם (H7311) 'and tall'.
רֹאשִֽׁיthe heads ofN c · רֹאשׁ (H7218)Construct chain (genitival)רֹאשׁ (H7218) 'the heads of'.
5

ק֭וֹלִי אֶל יְהוָ֣ה אֶקְרָ֑א וַיַּֽעֲנֵ֨נִי מֵהַ֖ר קָדְשׁ֣וֹ סֶֽלָה

My voice to YHWH I proclaim and answered from Mount holy Selah.

Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-orientedasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-oriented. Lead predicate is 'I proclaim'. Speech formula or quoted address.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
ק֭וֹלִיmy voiceN c · קוֹל (H6963)Construct chain (genitival)קוֹל (H6963) 'my voice'.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Particle or relational elementאֶל (H413) 'to'.
יְהוָ֣הYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
אֶקְרָ֑אI proclaimQal impf 1cs · קָרָא (H7121)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalקָרָא (H7121) 'I proclaim'.
וַיַּֽעֲנֵ֨נִיand answeredconj וְ + Qal wayyiqtol 3ms + sfx 1cs · עָנָה (H6030)Predicate verb (wayyiqtol of narrative sequence)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceעָנָה (H6030) 'and answered'.
מֵהַ֖רfrom Mountprep + N com m sg constr · הַר (H2022)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)הַר (H2022) 'from Mount'.
קָדְשׁ֣וֹholyN c · קֹדֶשׁ (H6944)Construct chain (genitival)קֹדֶשׁ (H6944) 'holy'.
סֶֽלָהSelahparticle · סֶלָה (H5542)Particle or relational elementסֶלָה (H5542) 'Selah'.
6

אֲנִ֥י שָׁכַ֗בְתִּי וָֽאִ֫ישָׁ֥נָה הֱקִיצ֑וֹתִי כִּ֖י יְהוָ֣ה יִסְמְכֵֽנִי

I I lay and grow long settled arise for YHWH and he shall lay.

Qatal — perfective or stative predicationasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Qatal — perfective or stative predication. Lead predicate is 'I lay'.
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
אֲנִ֥יIpron 1cs · אֲנִי (H589)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)אֲנִי (H589) 'I'.
שָׁכַ֗בְתִּיI layQal perf 1cs · שָׁכַב (H7901)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actשָׁכַב (H7901) 'I lay'.
וָֽאִ֫ישָׁ֥נָהand grow long settledconj וְ + Qal wayyiqtol 1cs + Sh · יָשַׁן (H3462)Predicate verb (wayyiqtol of narrative sequence)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceיָשַׁן (H3462) 'and grow long settled'.
הֱקִיצ֑וֹתִיariseHiphil perf 1cs · קוּץ (H6974)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actקוּץ (H6974) 'arise'.
כִּ֖יforconj וְ · כִּי (H3588)Particle or relational elementכִּי (H3588) 'for'.
יְהוָ֣הYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
יִסְמְכֵֽנִיand he shall layQal impf 3ms + sfx 1cs · סָמַךְ (H5564)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalסָמַךְ (H5564) 'and he shall lay'.
7

לֹֽא אִ֭ירָא מֵרִבְב֥וֹת עָ֑ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר סָ֝בִ֗יב שָׁ֣תוּ עָלָֽי

Not fear ten thousand a people that all around they put (on) against me.

Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-orientedasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-oriented. Lead predicate is 'fear'.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
לֹֽאnotneg. · לֹא (H3808)Particle or relational elementלֹא (H3808) 'not'.
אִ֭ירָאfearQal impf 1cs · יָרֵא (H3372)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalיָרֵא (H3372) 'fear'.
מֵרִבְב֥וֹתten thousandprep + N com f pl constr · רְבָבָה (H7233)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)רְבָבָה (H7233) 'ten thousand'.
עָ֑םa peopleN c · עַם (H5971)Construct chain (genitival)עַם (H5971) 'a people'.
אֲשֶׁ֥רthatrel. שֶׁ · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Particle or relational elementאֲשֶׁר (H834) 'that'.
סָ֝בִ֗יבall aroundN c · סָבִיב (H5439)Construct chain (genitival)סָבִיב (H5439) 'all around'.
שָׁ֣תוּthey put (on)Qal perf 3cp · שִׁית (H7896)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actשִׁית (H7896) 'they put (on)'.
עָלָֽיagainst meprep + sfx 1cs · עַל (H5921)Particle or relational elementעַל (H5921) 'against me'.
8

ק֘וּמָ֤ה יְהוָ֨ה הוֹשִׁ֘יעֵ֤נִי אֱלֹהַ֗י כִּֽי הִכִּ֣יתָ אֶת כָּל אֹיְבַ֣י לֶ֑חִי שִׁנֵּ֖י רְשָׁעִ֣ים שִׁבַּֽרְתָּ

Arise! YHWH one to save the God of for you struck all my enemies and the two cheeks my teeth the wicked you broke.

Imperative — volitional addressasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Imperative — volitional address. Lead predicate is 'Arise!'.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
ק֘וּמָ֤הArise!Qal impv 2ms + Sh · קוּם (H6965)Predicate verb (imperative)→ Volitional: imperativeקוּם (H6965) 'Arise!'.
יְהוָ֨הYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
הוֹשִׁ֘יעֵ֤נִיone to saveHiphil impv 2ms + sfx 1cs · יָשַׁע (H3467)Predicate verb (imperative)→ Volitional: imperativeיָשַׁע (H3467) 'one to save'.
אֱלֹהַ֗יthe God ofN c · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Construct chain (genitival)אֱלֹהִים (H430) 'the God of'.
כִּֽיforconj וְ · כִּי (H3588)Particle or relational elementכִּי (H3588) 'for'.
הִכִּ֣יתָyou struckHiphil perf 2ms · הִכָּה (H5221)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actהִכָּה (H5221) 'you struck'.
אֶת(obj)obj marker · אֵת (H853)Particle or relational elementאֵת (H853) '(obj)'.
כָּלallN c · כֹּל (H3605)Construct chain (genitival)כֹּל (H3605) 'all'.
אֹיְבַ֣יmy enemiesQal ptc mp + sfx 1cs · אֹיֵב (H341)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorאֹיֵב (H341) 'my enemies'.
לֶ֑חִיand the two cheeksN c · לְחִי (H3895)Construct chain (genitival)לְחִי (H3895) 'and the two cheeks'.
שִׁנֵּ֖יmy teethN c · שֵׁן (H8127)Construct chain (genitival)שֵׁן (H8127) 'my teeth'.
רְשָׁעִ֣יםthe wickedAdj · רָשָׁע (H7563)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)רָשָׁע (H7563) 'the wicked'.
שִׁבַּֽרְתָּyou brokePiel perf 2ms · שָׁבַר (H7665)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actשָׁבַר (H7665) 'you broke'.
9

לַיהוָ֥ה הַיְשׁוּעָ֑ה עַֽל עַמְּךָ֖ בִרְכָתֶ֣ךָ סֶּֽלָה

To YHWH his salvation on your people your blessing Selah.

Nominal or particle frameasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Nominal or particle frame. Closes the chapter.
Word-by-word analysis· 6 words
לַיהוָ֥הto YHWHprep + N proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'to YHWH'.
הַיְשׁוּעָ֑הhis salvationart + N com f sg abs · יְשׁוּעָה (H3444)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְשׁוּעָה (H3444) 'his salvation'.
עַֽלonprep · עַל (H5921)Particle or relational elementעַל (H5921) 'on'.
עַמְּךָ֖your peopleN c · עַם (H5971)Construct chain (genitival)עַם (H5971) 'your people'.
בִרְכָתֶ֣ךָyour blessingN c · בְּרָכָה (H1293)Construct chain (genitival)בְּרָכָה (H1293) 'your blessing'.
סֶּֽלָהSelahparticle · סֶלָה (H5542)Particle or relational elementסֶלָה (H5542) 'Selah'.