en_tn/tNotes/Psalms/Psalms_108.md

Psalms 108

Psalms 108:1

General Information:

Parallelism is common in Hebrew poetry. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/writing-poetry and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism)

My heart is fixed, God

Here David is referring to himself by his heart. Also, the word "fixed" means to trust completely. Alternate translation: "My heart is fixed on you, God" or "I am trusting completely in you, God" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)

I will sing, yes, I will sing praises with all my glory

Here David is represented by his "glory." David refers to himself as having the honor of praising God. Alternate translation: "You honor me by allowing me to sing praises to you" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)

Psalms 108:2

Wake up, lute and harp

Here David describes playing his instruments as waking them up from sleep. Alternate translation: "I will praise you by playing the lute and the harp" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-personification)

I will wake up the dawn

Here David is describing the dawn waking up like a person waking up in the morning. Alternate translation: "I will be praising you when the dawn comes" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-personification)

dawn

when the sun rises

Psalms 108:3

General Information:

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Psalms 108:4

your covenant faithfulness is great above the heavens; and your trustworthiness reaches to the skies

These two phrases have similar meanings. They speak of the greatness of Yahweh's covenant faithfulness and trustworthiness as if they were objects that were tall enough to reach up to the sky. The abstract nouns "faithfulness" and "trustworthiness" can be translated as adjectives. Alternate translation: "For your covenant faithfulness and trustworthiness are greater than the distance between heaven and earth" or "For you are more faithful to your covenant and more worthy of people trusting you than the sky is higher than the earth" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-abstractnouns)

Psalms 108:5

Be exalted, God, above the heavens

The psalmist is asking God to show that he is exalted. Being exalted above the heavens represents being great. Alternate translation: "God, show that you are exalted above the heavens" or "God, show that you are great in the heavens" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)

may your glory be exalted

Here Yahweh is referred to by his "glory." Alternate translation: "may you be exalted" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)

Psalms 108:6

So that those you love may be rescued

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: Because those you love need rescuing" or "Rescue those you love" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)

with your right hand

Here Yahweh's "right hand" refers to his power. Alternate translation: "by your power" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)

answer me

Answering here represents responding to his request. Alternate translation: "respond to my request" or "answer my prayer" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)

Psalms 108:7

General Information:

This verse is the same as Psalms 60:6.

God has spoken in his holiness

Here David describes God speaking something because he is holy as speaking "in his holiness," as if his holiness were something that he was physically inside of. Alternate translation: "God, because he is holy, has said" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)

I will divide Shechem and apportion out the Valley of Succoth

Here God is speaking about dividing the land of Shechem and the Valley of Succoth.

apportion

to divide into portions

Psalms 108:8

General Information:

This verse is the same as Psalms 60:7.

Ephraim also is my helmet

God speaks of the tribe of Ephraim as if it were his army. The helmet symbolizes equipment for war. Alternate translation: "Ephraim is like a helmet I have chosen" or "The tribe of Ephraim is my army" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)

helmet

a hard hat that soldiers wear to protect their heads from injury

Judah is my scepter

God chose men from the tribe of Judah to be the kings of his people, and he speaks of that tribe as if it were his scepter. Alternate translation: "The tribe of Judah is like my scepter" or "Judah is the tribe through whom I rule my people" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)

Psalms 108:9

General Information:

This verse is the same as Psalms 60:8.

Moab is my washbasin

God speaks of Moab being unimportant as if Moab were a washbasin or a lowly servant. Alternate translation: "Moab is like a bowl that I use for washing" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)

over Edom I will throw my shoe

God was probably speaking of taking ownership of Edom as if he were symbolically throwing his shoe onto that land to show that he owns it. However some versions have other interpretations. Alternate translation: "I take ownership of the land of Edom" or "I throw my shoe onto the land of Edom to show that it is mine" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-symaction)

Psalms 108:10

General Information:

This verse is the same as Psalms 60:9.

Psalms 108:11

General Information:

This verse is almost the same as Psalms 60:10.

God, have you not rejected us?

The psalmist uses this question to express his sadness that it seems that God has rejected them. Alternate translation: "It seems like you have rejected us!" or "God, you seem to have abandoned us!" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)

You do not go into battle with our army

The psalmist speaks of God helping their army as if God were to go and fight with them. Alternate translation: "you do not help our army when we go into battle" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)

Psalms 108:12

General Information:

This verse is the same as Psalms 60:11.

is futile

"is worthless"

Psalms 108:13

General Information:

This verse is the same as Psalms 60:12.

will triumph

"will defeat our enemies"

he will trample down our enemies

The psalmist speaks of God helping their army defeat their enemies as if God were to trample down the enemies. Alternate translation: "he will enable us to trample down our enemies" or "he will make us able to defeat our enemies. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)