The Psalms Project, IV

Rhetorical analysis of the entire Psalter

Pieter van der Lugt

Jump immediately to the Psalms Project Master Table for files containing analysis of each of the psalms, or download the following introductory material first.

Scope and Method

Please see Cantos and Strophes in Biblical Hebrew Poetry: A contribution to the development of a theory regarding the canto structures of the psalms. (pdf; 25 pages).

Definitions

For definitions of terms such as acrostic, anacrusis, epiphora, pivot pattern, and transition marker.... please see this paper. (pdf; 4 pages).

Bibliography

A selective bibliography of works cited only by author and page in the rhetorical analysis files is available also. (pdf; 6 pages).

Rhetorical analysis of the Entire Psalter

The documents are available on the Master Table may be somewhat dynamic until the entire project is complete. Be sure to use the latest version!

On the Hebrew Verseline: There is significant difference of opinion among scholars as to the correct delimitation of the Hebrew poetic verseline. Despite Watson (1984), I agree with the view of those critics who take the bicolon as the standard manifestation of a Hebrew poetic verseline.... (pdf; 4 pages).

On Selah: I take the term slh as a transition marker.... (pdf; 2 pages).

On Transition Markers: ‘Transition markers’ are the special words and special grammatical forms which typically demarcate the beginnings or the ends of strophes— and thus help to identify poetic and other units. This is a systematic overview of all the transition markers which occur in Psalms 1-150.