Psalm 8
| Psalm 8 | |
|---|---|
| "O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!" | |
 Psalm 8 in a Hebrew Psalter from the 13th century, with annotations | |
| Other name |
|
| Text | byDavid |
| Language | Hebrew (original) |
Psalm 8is the eighth psalm of theBook of Psalms,beginning and ending in English in theKing James Version(KJV): "O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!". In Latin, it is known as "Domine Dominus noster".[1]Its authorship is traditionally assigned to KingDavid.Like Psalms81and84,this psalm opens with a direction to the chief musician to perform upon thegittith,which either refers to a musical instrument, a style of performance, or alludes to persons and places in biblical history.
Commentator Cyril Rodd describes this as a "well-known and greatly loved psalm... usually classified as a hymn".[2]It forms a regular part ofJewish,Catholic,Lutheran,Anglicanand other Protestant liturgies. It has often been set to music, and has inspired hymns such as "For the Beauty of the Earth"and"How Great Thou Art".
Background and themes
[edit]Like Psalms81and84,Psalm 8 opens with a direction to the chief musician to perform upon thegittit(Hebrew:גתית). TheNew King James Versioncalls it "the instrument of Gath".[3]The Hebrew rootgat(גת) refers to awinepress,indicating that these are joyful psalms. The word may also refer to the biblical city ofGath,where a similar song was sung or a musical instrument was created; or to a song ofObed-Edomthe Gittite, in whose home theArk of the Covenantrested for three months (II Samuel 6:11); or to a song overGoliath,who was from Gath.[4]
Charles Spurgeoncalls this psalm "the song of the Astronomer", as gazing at the heavens (verse 3 in KJV) inspires the psalmist to meditate on God's creation and man's place in it. Spurgeon further interprets the "babes and sucklings" to whom the Lord gives strength (verse 2 in KJV) as referring variously to man,David,Jesus,theapostles,and all "who fight under Christ's banner".[4]
According to theMidrash Tehillim,verses 5 through 10 in the Hebrew contain questions that the angels asked God as God was creating the world, referring to the righteous men of Israel:
- "What is man that You are mindful of him" —referring toAbraham(see Genesis 19:29);
- "and the son of man that You remember him" —referring to Abraham's sonIsaac,who was born as a result of God rememberingSarah(ibid. 21:1);
- "Yet You made him less only than God" —referring toJacob,who was able to produce streaked, speckled, and spotted flocks (ibid. 30:39);
- "And have crowned him with glory and honor" —referring toMoses,whose face shone (Exodus 34:29);
- "You give him dominion over the work of Your hands" —referring toJoshua,who made the sun and moon stand still (Joshua 10:12-13);
- "You put all things beneath his feet" —referring toDavid,whose enemies fell before him (II Samuel 22:43);
- "Sheep and oxen, all of them" —referring toSolomon,who understood the language of beasts (I Kings 5:13);
- "and the beasts of the field" —referring to eitherSamsonorDaniel;
- "the birds of the sky" —referring toElijah,who navigates the world like a bird, and who also received food from the ravens (I Kings 17:6);
- "and the fish of the seas" —referring toJonah,who dwelled in the belly of a fish (Jonah 2:1).
- "he traverses the ways of the seas" —referring to theIsraeliteswho walked through the sea on dry land (Exodus 15:19).
- "O Lord, our Lord how glorious is Your name in all the earth" —thus the angels concluded, "Do what pleases You. Your glory is to sojourn with Your people and with Your children".[5]
Psalm 8 manifests a prevailing theme of man in creation, serving as a precursor to a sequential arrangement of acrostic Psalms 9 and 10. O Palmer Robertson, in his work "The Flow of the Psalms," identifies three analogous instances of creation-themed acrostics in Book 1 of Psalms, specifically:[6]
- Creation Psalm 8 preceding acrostic Psalm 9 and 10
- Creation Psalm 24 preceding acrostic Psalm 25
- Creation Psalm 33 preceding acrostic Psalm 34
Text
[edit]Hebrew
[edit]The following table shows the Hebrew text[7][8]of the Psalm with vowels alongside an English translation based upon theJPS 1917translation (now in thepublic domain).
| Verse | Hebrew | English translation (JPS 1917) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ עַֽל־הַגִּתִּ֗ית מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד׃ | For the Leader; upon the Gittith. A Psalm of David. |
| 2 | יְהֹוָ֤ה אֲדֹנֵ֗ינוּ מָֽה־אַדִּ֣יר שִׁ֭מְךָ בְּכׇל־הָאָ֑רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר תְּנָ֥ה ה֝וֹדְךָ֗ עַל־הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃ | O LORD, our Lord, How glorious is Thy name in all the earth! Whose majesty is rehearsed above the heavens. |
| 3 | מִפִּ֤י עוֹלְלִ֨ים ׀ וְֽיֹנְקִים֮ יִסַּ֢דְתָּ֫ עֹ֥ז לְמַ֥עַן צוֹרְרֶ֑יךָ לְהַשְׁבִּ֥ית א֝וֹיֵ֗ב וּמִתְנַקֵּֽם׃ | Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast Thou founded strength, Because of Thine adversaries; That Thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. |
| 4 | כִּֽי־אֶרְאֶ֣ה שָׁ֭מֶיךָ מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה אֶצְבְּעֹתֶ֑יךָ יָרֵ֥חַ וְ֝כוֹכָבִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר כּוֹנָֽנְתָּה׃ | When I behold Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, The moon and the stars, which Thou hast established; |
| 5 | מָה־אֱנ֥וֹשׁ כִּֽי־תִזְכְּרֶ֑נּוּ וּבֶן־אָ֝דָ֗ם כִּ֣י תִפְקְדֶֽנּוּ׃ | What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that Thou thinkest of him? |
| 6 | וַתְּחַסְּרֵ֣הוּ מְּ֭עַט מֵאֱלֹהִ֑ים וְכָב֖וֹד וְהָדָ֣ר תְּעַטְּרֵֽהוּ׃ | Yet Thou hast made him but little lower than the angels, And hast crowned him with glory and honour. |
| 7 | תַּ֭מְשִׁילֵהוּ בְּמַעֲשֵׂ֣י יָדֶ֑יךָ כֹּ֝֗ל שַׁ֣תָּה תַֽחַת־רַגְלָֽיו׃ | Thou hast made him to have dominion over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things under His feet: |
| 8 | צֹנֶ֣ה וַאֲלָפִ֣ים כֻּלָּ֑ם וְ֝גַ֗ם בַּהֲמ֥וֹת שָׂדָֽי׃ | Sheep and oxen, all of them, Yea, and the beasts of the field; |
| 9 | צִפּ֣וֹר שָׁ֭מַיִם וּדְגֵ֣י הַיָּ֑ם עֹ֝בֵ֗ר אׇרְח֥וֹת יַמִּֽים׃ | The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea; Whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. |
| 10 | יְהֹוָ֥ה אֲדֹנֵ֑ינוּ מָה־אַדִּ֥יר שִׁ֝מְךָ֗ בְּכׇל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ | O LORD, our Lord, How glorious is Thy name in all the earth! |
King James Version
[edit]- O LORD,our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
- Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
- When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
- What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
- For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
- Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
- All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
- The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
- O LORDour Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
Uses
[edit]Judaism
[edit]Psalm 8 is said duringYom Kippur Katan.In theGrasiddur, Psalm 8 is theSong of the DayforSimchat Torahin the Diaspora. In theSiddur Avodas Yisrael,this psalm is said afterAleinuduring the weekdayevening prayer.[9]
Verse 2 (in the Hebrew) is recited during theKedushahofMussafonRosh HashanahandJewish holidays.[9][10]This verse also appears in theHoshanotonSukkot.[9][11]
Verse 10 (in the Hebrew) appears as the corresponding verse for the second mention of the name "Adonai"in thePriestly Blessing.[9]
New Testament
[edit]Some verses of Psalm 8 are referenced in theNew Testament:
- Verse 2 is quoted by Jesus inMatthew21:16in reference to children praising him in the temple.[12]
- Verses 4-6 are quoted inHebrews2:6–8in reference to Jesus' incarnation.[12]
- Verse 6 is quoted in1 Corinthians15:27andEphesians1:22.[12]
Catholic Church
[edit]According to theRule of Saint Benedict,this psalm was sung or recited on Tuesday at theoffice of prime.[13]
In theLiturgy of the Hours,the psalm is recited to Lauds on Saturday of second and in the fourth week.[14]It often appears in theEucharisticliturgy: it is found in thefeast of the Trinity,theEasteroctave, the first Tuesday ofOrdinary Time,the 5th Tuesday of Ordinary Time and the 28th Saturday in Ordinary Time.
PopePaul VIcited this psalm in his message on theApollo 11 goodwill disk.[15]
Book of Common Prayer
[edit]In the Church of England'sBook of Common Prayer,Psalm 8 is appointed to be read on the evening of the first day of the month,[16]as well as at Mattins onAscension Day.[17]
Musical settings
[edit]
Psalm 8 inspired hymn lyrics such as Folliott Sandford Pierpoint's "For the Beauty of the Earth"which first appeared in 1864 and"How Great Thou Art",based on a Swedish poem written byCarl Bobergin 1885.
Heinrich Schützwrote a setting of a paraphrase in German, "Mit Dank wir sollen loben",SWV104, for theBecker Psalter,published first in 1628.Michel Richard Delalande,composer ofKing Louis XIV,wrote an extended Latinmotetsetting this psalm, which was performed at theRoyal Chapel of Versaillesfor royal offices.Marc-Antoine Charpentiercompose around 1670s one "Domine Deus noster "for 3 voices, 2 treble instruments, and continuo,H.163.
Gospel singerRichard Smallwoodset a version to music in 1990. In 2019, Seth Pinnock & A New Thing recorded a song entitled Psalms 8 which is featured as the first track on the Album: “Seth Pinnock & A New Thing Live”.
Literary references
[edit]The question "What is man?" from Psalm 8 may have inspired the reflection "What a piece of work is a man"in Shakespeare'sHamlet.Peter Moore contends that Shakespeare was inspired by a paraphrase of Psalm 8 composed byHenry Howard, Earl of Surrey,as he awaited execution in theTower of Londonin late 1546 or early 1547.[18]The question also appears as the title ofMark Twain's essayWhat Is Man?,published anonymously in 1906.[19]The title of a 1974science fictionshort storyby American writerIsaac Asimov,"...That Thou Art Mindful of Him",is also taken from Psalm 8.[20]
Historical uses
[edit]During his return to Earth from thefirst human landing on the Moon,astronautBuzz Aldrinrecited verses 4-5.[21]Pope Paul VIquote from Psalm 8 in theApollo 11 goodwill messages.
References
[edit]- ^"Parallel Latin/English Psalter / Psalmus 8".Archivedfrom the original on 2017-09-30.Retrieved2019-07-18.
- ^Rodd, C. S.,18. Psalmsin Barton, J. and Muddiman, J. (2001),The Oxford Bible CommentaryArchived2017-11-22 at theWayback Machine,p. 369
- ^Psalm 8:NKJV
- ^abSpurgeon, Charles(2019)."Psalm 8 Bible Commentary".Christianity.RetrievedAugust 4,2019.
- ^"Midrash Tehillim / Psalms 8"(PDF).matsati.April 2019.RetrievedAugust 4,2019.
- ^The Flow of the Psalms, O Palmer Robertson, P&R Publishing, pp. 80, ISBN 978-1-62995-133-1
- ^"Psalms – Chapter 8".Mechon Mamre.
- ^"Psalms 8 - JPS 1917".Sefaria.org.
- ^abcdBrauner, Reuven (2013)."Shimush Pesukim: Comprehensive Index to Liturgical and Ceremonial Uses of Biblical Verses and Passages"(PDF).halakhah(2nd ed.). p. 32.
- ^Scherman 1985,p. 488.
- ^Scherman 1986,p. 730.
- ^abcKirkpatrick, A. F.(1901).The Book of Psalms: with Introduction and Notes.The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges. Vol. Book IV and V: Psalms XC-CL. Cambridge: At the University Press. p. 838.RetrievedFebruary 28,2019.
- ^Prosper Guéranger,Règle de saint Benoît,Solesmes Abbey,reprinted 2007.
- ^The main cycle of liturgical prayers takes place over four weeks.
- ^"Apollo 11 Goodwill Messages"(PDF).NASA.July 13, 1969.Retrieved26 February2019.
- ^Church of England,Book of Common Prayer: The Psalteras printed byJohn Baskervillein 1762, p. 196ff
- ^"The Book of Common Prayer: Proper Psalms On Certain Days"(PDF).The Church of England.p. 6.Retrieved19 April2023.
- ^Moore, Peter R. (July 1998). "Hamlet and Surrey's Psalm 8".Neophilologus.82(3): 487–498.doi:10.1023/A:1004290421852.S2CID169494594.
- ^Wright 2016,p. 36.
- ^Nahin 2014,p. 86.
- ^From 4:00 to 4:32 at
Sources
[edit]- Nahin, Paul J. (2014).Holy Sci-Fi!: Where Science Fiction and Religion Intersect.Springer Science & Business Media. p. 86.ISBN978-1493906185.
- Scherman, Rabbi Nosson (1985).The Complete ArtScroll Machzor – Rosh Hashanah.Mesorah Publications, Ltd.ISBN0-89906-676-3.
- Scherman, Rabbi Nosson (1986).The Complete ArtScroll Siddur(2nd ed.). Mesorah Publications, Ltd.ISBN0-89906-650-X.
- Wright, Terry R. (2016).The Genesis of Fiction: Modern Novelists as Biblical Interpreters.Routledge.ISBN978-1317030768.
External links
[edit]
- Pieces with text from Psalm 8:Scores at theInternational Music Score Library Project
- Psalm 8:Free scores at theChoral Public Domain Library(ChoralWiki)
- Text of Psalm 8 according to the1928 Psalter
- Psalms Chapter 8text in Hebrew and English, mechon-mamre.org
- For the leader; "upon the gittith." A psalm of David. / O LORD, our Lord, / how awesome is your name through all the earth!text and footnotes, usccb.org United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
- Psalm 8:1introduction and text, biblestudytools
- Psalm 8 – The Glory of God in Creationenduringword
- Psalm 8 / O Lord our governor, / how glorious is your name in all the world!Church of England
- Psalm 8at biblegateway
- Hymns for Psalm 8hymnary.org
