Comments on: “The Lord is my Shepherd”: Interpreting Psalm 23 http://benabuya.com/2008/07/14/the-lord-is-my-shepherd-interpreting-psalm-23/ looking for alternative explanations Tue, 20 Jul 2010 04:49:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Merciah http://benabuya.com/2008/07/14/the-lord-is-my-shepherd-interpreting-psalm-23/#comment-8137 Merciah Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:54:48 +0000 http://deba.wordpress.com/?p=385#comment-8137 I find it interesting that the entirety of this critical analysis fails to address the one Verse that is so conveniently left out, which, (again, conveniently), leads one to believe that the points being made by said analyst are actually rational, reasonable, and logical... that one really can make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. God save us from litealists, *lol*! That Verse is: 'He restoreth my Soul'. Which, after all, is the whole point of the Psalm. I find it interesting that the entirety of this critical analysis fails to address the one Verse that is so conveniently left out, which, (again, conveniently), leads one to believe that the points being made by said analyst are actually rational, reasonable, and logical… that one really can make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. God save us from litealists, *lol*! That Verse is: ‘He restoreth my Soul’. Which, after all, is the whole point of the Psalm.

]]> By: Turner http://benabuya.com/2008/07/14/the-lord-is-my-shepherd-interpreting-psalm-23/#comment-7941 Turner Fri, 12 Jun 2009 04:34:26 +0000 http://deba.wordpress.com/?p=385#comment-7941 God is real...not a joke God is real…not a joke

]]> By: rochelle http://benabuya.com/2008/07/14/the-lord-is-my-shepherd-interpreting-psalm-23/#comment-7925 rochelle Tue, 14 Apr 2009 13:01:42 +0000 http://deba.wordpress.com/?p=385#comment-7925 Simon, You seem to be interested in the bible as literature. So am I, the songs/poems in particular. To quote myself, " Psalms are among the densest poems/songs ever written; much of the meaning rests in the connotations. All too frequently, metaphors depend upon this multivocality." I have done an in-depth analysis of the 23rd. It's in Chapter 10, "To Sing a New Song," of my book, Absent Voices. The psalm itself is on pp. 167-176. Pages 172-173 give a detailed table of the connotative and denotative meanings. It also lists whether a meaning is intrinsic or selective according to domain. The 23rd needs a detailed table. Not only is this psalm written in a double envelope pattern, but has one sustained metaphor (God/Lord the shepherd) and two conceptual domains (lamb and little boy). It is written on two levels, throughout. Further, every line in that psalm refers back and forth to other lines. This is not just the "sunny little psalm. It is a poetic tour de force. Yes, indeed, the contrast is between ills and goods (internal reverse order envelope). You are right about pursue... but you do not take it far enough. The double domain means that yirdefuni should be understood on both levels. So, follow me/pursue me/chase after me (to yank me back on the right path with his shepherd's crook -- which refers back to umishantekha, which refers forward to yirdefuni). Yep, only two of the 30 metaphoric triggers in that little Psalm! If you wish, I can scan the tables for you. Simon,

You seem to be interested in the bible as literature. So am I, the songs/poems in particular. To quote myself, ” Psalms are among the densest poems/songs ever written; much of the meaning rests in the connotations. All too frequently, metaphors depend upon this multivocality.”

I have done an in-depth analysis of the 23rd. It’s in Chapter 10, “To Sing a New Song,” of my book, Absent Voices. The psalm itself is on pp. 167-176. Pages 172-173 give a detailed table of the connotative and denotative meanings. It also lists whether a meaning is intrinsic or selective according to domain. The 23rd needs a detailed table.

Not only is this psalm written in a double envelope pattern, but has one sustained metaphor (God/Lord the shepherd) and two conceptual domains (lamb and little boy). It is written on two levels, throughout. Further, every line in that psalm refers back and forth to other lines. This is not just the “sunny little psalm. It is a poetic tour de force.

Yes, indeed, the contrast is between ills and goods (internal reverse order envelope). You are right about pursue… but you do not take it far enough. The double domain means that yirdefuni should be understood on both levels. So, follow me/pursue me/chase after me (to yank me back on the right path with his shepherd’s crook — which refers back to umishantekha, which refers forward to yirdefuni). Yep, only two of the 30 metaphoric triggers in that little Psalm!

If you wish, I can scan the tables for you.

]]> By: Nira http://benabuya.com/2008/07/14/the-lord-is-my-shepherd-interpreting-psalm-23/#comment-7900 Nira Thu, 05 Mar 2009 13:36:22 +0000 http://deba.wordpress.com/?p=385#comment-7900 Something about the name "Davar Akher". When you say these words in religious circles - it may mean pork or G-d forbid phornography. people try to speak as cleanly as possible , so they use this term for something that is against the Jewish law. Something about the name “Davar Akher”. When you say these words in religious circles – it may mean pork or G-d forbid phornography. people try to speak as cleanly as possible , so they use this term for something that is against the Jewish law.

]]> By: Simon Holloway http://benabuya.com/2008/07/14/the-lord-is-my-shepherd-interpreting-psalm-23/#comment-7830 Simon Holloway Sat, 27 Sep 2008 01:25:32 +0000 http://deba.wordpress.com/?p=385#comment-7830 I agree, df. In fact, I also think that the verb ירדפוני is specifically being used in a contrastive manner with the earlier noun צררי. The shepherd protects me in the presence of my <i>enemies</i>, but the only things to <i>pursue</i> me are goodness and mercy. I agree, df. In fact, I also think that the verb ירדפוני is specifically being used in a contrastive manner with the earlier noun צררי. The shepherd protects me in the presence of my enemies, but the only things to pursue me are goodness and mercy.

]]> By: df http://benabuya.com/2008/07/14/the-lord-is-my-shepherd-interpreting-psalm-23/#comment-7829 df Fri, 26 Sep 2008 17:17:17 +0000 http://deba.wordpress.com/?p=385#comment-7829 Question regarding the action of that "goodness" and "mercy": Why should such things "follow" the sheep? I believe "radaf" may better be understood as a kind of "pursuing" or "hunting down". Isn't that final moment, both in accordance with BDB and with the sheep/shepherd relationship, more wholly captured in a chase of sorts? to "Follow" doesn't do a whole lot for me; it seems more passive and less active. I prefer, "surely such goodness and constancy will hunt me down as long as I live." Question regarding the action of that “goodness” and “mercy”: Why should such things “follow” the sheep? I believe “radaf” may better be understood as a kind of “pursuing” or “hunting down”. Isn’t that final moment, both in accordance with BDB and with the sheep/shepherd relationship, more wholly captured in a chase of sorts? to “Follow” doesn’t do a whole lot for me; it seems more passive and less active. I prefer, “surely such goodness and constancy will hunt me down as long as I live.”

]]> By: Bookmarks about Skin http://benabuya.com/2008/07/14/the-lord-is-my-shepherd-interpreting-psalm-23/#comment-7823 Bookmarks about Skin Sat, 09 Aug 2008 07:30:05 +0000 http://deba.wordpress.com/?p=385#comment-7823 [...] - bookmarked by 3 members originally found by mrpregnant on 2008-07-18 “The Lord is my Shepherd”: Interpreting Psalm 23 http://deba.wordpress.com/2008/07/14/the-lord-is-my-shepherd-interpreting-psalm-23/ - bookmarked [...] [...] – bookmarked by 3 members originally found by mrpregnant on 2008-07-18 “The Lord is my Shepherd”: Interpreting Psalm 23 http://deba.wordpress.com/2008/07/14/the-lord-is-my-shepherd-interpreting-psalm-23/ – bookmarked [...]

]]> By: Simon Holloway http://benabuya.com/2008/07/14/the-lord-is-my-shepherd-interpreting-psalm-23/#comment-7792 Simon Holloway Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:12:55 +0000 http://deba.wordpress.com/?p=385#comment-7792 They are the third and the fourth words of the Hebrew text: יהוה רעי. Pronounced "Adonai Ro'i", with "adonai" being the traditional way of reading the tetragrammaton. They are the third and the fourth words of the Hebrew text: יהוה רעי. Pronounced “Adonai Ro’i”, with “adonai” being the traditional way of reading the tetragrammaton.

]]> By: kathy http://benabuya.com/2008/07/14/the-lord-is-my-shepherd-interpreting-psalm-23/#comment-7791 kathy Sat, 19 Jul 2008 22:49:09 +0000 http://deba.wordpress.com/?p=385#comment-7791 I have a favor to ask. Can anyone send me the Hebrew words "The Lord is my Shepherd" I have a favor to ask. Can anyone send me the Hebrew words “The Lord is my Shepherd”

]]> By: Simon Holloway http://benabuya.com/2008/07/14/the-lord-is-my-shepherd-interpreting-psalm-23/#comment-7785 Simon Holloway Tue, 15 Jul 2008 07:53:40 +0000 http://deba.wordpress.com/?p=385#comment-7785 Well, in some ways, I suppose that is what Clines did with his "for many days to come". For my part, I prefer the NRSV's "my whole life long", but only because it actually translates the word לארך. JPS has "for many long years", which is also not bad, and the KJV has "forever", which is just odd. Were I translating it, I would say, "for a length of days", but only because I am a boring and literal person. Well, in some ways, I suppose that is what Clines did with his “for many days to come”. For my part, I prefer the NRSV’s “my whole life long”, but only because it actually translates the word לארך. JPS has “for many long years”, which is also not bad, and the KJV has “forever”, which is just odd. Were I translating it, I would say, “for a length of days”, but only because I am a boring and literal person.

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