Psalm 17
| Psalm 17 | |
|---|---|
← Psalm 16 Psalm 18 → | |
| Book | Book of Psalms |
| Hebrew Bible part | Ketuvim |
| Order in the Hebrew part | 1 |
| Category | Sifrei Emet |
| Christian Bible part | Old Testament |
| Order in the Christian part | 19 |
Psalm 17 is the 17th psalm from the Book of Psalms in the Hebrew Bible (or the Old Testament of Christian Bible); one of the 41 psalms in Book One of the five parts or "books" within the Book of Psalms.[1] It is attributed to David. In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm is Psalm 16.
Text[]
Commentator C. S. Rodd notes that the text is uncertain in a number of places, making the exact meaning doubtful,[2] for example in verses 3, 4 and 14.[3]
Analysis[]
Charles and Emilie Briggs summarize this psalm as follows: "Psalm 17 is a prayer for divine interposition on behalf of the righteous (v. 1-7). The psalmist has been tested by God in mind and conduct and approved (v. 3-4a); he has kept the divine ways and avoided wicked deeds (v. 4b-5), therefore he invokes God with confidence (v. 6a). He prays again that his Saviour may show kindness and keep him as the pupil of the eye (v. 6b-8a); that he may be sheltered from his greedy and arrogant enemies (v. 8b-10), who surround him to prey upon him (v. 11-12). Again he prays for divine interposition and deliverance by the slaying of the wicked (v. 13-14a); that penalty may be visited on them to the third generation, but that he himself may enjoy the divine presence (v. 14b-15)."[4]
The Briggs believe Psalm 17 to have been written in the Persian period, after Zerubbabel but before Ezra's reforms, possibly by the same author as Psalm 16.[5] Rodd suggests that the context could possibly be a declaration on innocence made before the supreme temple tribunal in accordance with the directive on difficult cases in Deuteronomy 17:8–13.[2]
Uses[]
Judaism[]
- Verse 2 is found in the repetition of the Amidah during Rosh Hashanah.[6]
- Verse 8 is part of the prayers of the Bedtime Shema.[7]
Christianity[]
- Verse 8, Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings, is used in the office of Compline.[8]
- In the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer, Psalm 17 is appointed to be read on the morning of the third day of the month.[9]
References[]
- ^ Coogan 2007, p. 776 Hebrew Bible.
- ^ a b Rodd, C. S., 18. Psalms in Barton, J. and Muddiman, J. (2001), The Oxford Bible Commentary, p. 372
- ^ Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc. (1970), Footnote a to Psalm 17 in the New American Bible Revised Edition
- ^ Charles Augustus Briggs; Emilie Grace Briggs (1960) [1906]. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Book of Psalms. International Critical Commentary. Vol. 1. Edinburgh: T & T Clark. p. 127.
- ^ Charles Augustus Briggs; Emilie Grace Briggs (1960) [1906]. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Book of Psalms. International Critical Commentary. Vol. 1. Edinburgh: T & T Clark. p. 112.
- ^ The Complete Artscroll Machzor for Rosh Hashanah, page 349
- ^ The Complete Artscroll Siddur, page 293
- ^ "Night Prayer (Compline)". The Church of England. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
- ^ Church of England, Book of Common Prayer: The Psalter as printed by John Baskerville in 1762, pp. 196ff
Sources[]
- Coogan, Michael David (2007). Coogan, Michael David; Brettler, Marc Zvi; Newsom, Carol Ann; Perkins, Pheme (eds.). The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books: New Revised Standard Version, Issue 48 (Augmented 3rd ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195288810.
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Psalm 17. |
- Psalms
- Works attributed to David