en_tn/tNotes/Psalms/Psalms_121.md

Psalms 121

Psalms 121:1

General Information:

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

lift up my eyes

This expression means "look at" or "focus my attention on." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)

From where will my help come?

The writer uses this question to focus attention on the source of his help. This rhetorical question can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "I will tell you from where my help comes." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)

Psalms 121:2

My help comes from Yahweh

This is the answer to the previous question.

Psalms 121:3

General Information:

There is a shift here to the second person. This may mean 1) the writer begins speaking to the people of Israel or 2) the writer is quoting another person speaking to the writer. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-123person)

your foot to slip

The slipping of a foot is associated with falling. Alternate translation: "you to fall" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)

he who protects you will not slumber

Here "slumber" is a metaphor for "stop protecting." The negative form strengthens the statement. Alternate translation: "he will always protect you" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-doublenegatives)

he who protects you

God

Psalms 121:4

the guardian

God

See

This word alerts us to pay attention to the important information that follows.

never slumbers or sleeps

These two words mean the same thing. Here to "slumber" is a metaphor for "stop protecting." The negative form strengthens the statement. Alternate translation: "will not stop protecting you" or "will always protect you" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-doublet and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)

Psalms 121:5

Yahweh is the shade at your right hand

Here "shade" refers to protection. Alternate translation: "God is beside you to protect you from things that would hurt you" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)

at your right hand

Here this expression means to be beside or near to the writer.

Psalms 121:6

The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night

The contrasting terms "day" and "night" refer to those extremes and everything in between. Alternate translation: "God protects you from the elements at all times" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-merism)

nor the moon by night

It is implies that "will not harm you" is implied here. The full meaning of this statement may be made clear. Alternate translation: "nor will the moon harm you by night" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-ellipsis)

Psalms 121:7

your life

This refers to the writer. Alternate translation: "you" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)

Psalms 121:8

General Information:

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