1
ᾠδὴ τῶν ἀναβαθμῶν εἰ μὴ ὅτι κύριος ἦν ἐν ἡμῖν εἰπάτω δὴ Ισραηλ
A Song of Ascents. If the Lord had not been among us, let Israel now say so.
The psalm opens by summoning Israel to confess the decisive fact of the Lord's presence.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
ᾠδὴsongN1 NSF · ᾠδήnominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition→ participant prominenceᾠδή: meaning 'song'; it serves as nominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition.
τῶνtheRA GPM · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀναβαθμῶνἀναβαθμόςN2 GPM · ἀναβαθμόςgenitive nominal element defining relation, possession, source, or quality→ relational specificationἀναβαθμός: meaning 'ἀναβαθμός'; it serves as genitive nominal element defining relation, possession, source, or quality.
εἰεἰC · εἰconnective or conjunction linking the clause to its context→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ: meaning 'εἰ'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μὴnotD · μήadverbial or particle element shaping the clause or phrase→ discourse linkage or contrastμὴ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὅτιthatC · ὅτιconnective or conjunction linking the clause to its context→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: meaning 'that'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κύριοςLordN2 NSM · κύριοςnominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition→ participant prominenceκύριος: meaning 'Lord'; it serves as nominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition.
ἦνthere wasV9 IAI3S · εἰμίverbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause→ participant referenceἦν: meaning 'there was'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as verbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause.
ἐνinP · ἐνpreposition governing its complement phrase→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition governing its complement phrase.
ἡμῖνto usRP DP · ἐγώpronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause→ participant reference or interestἡμῖν: meaning 'to us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as pronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause.
εἰπάτωlet ... sayVA AAD3S · εἶπονverbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause→ verbal action or stateεἶπον: meaning 'let ... say'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as verbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause.
δὴnow / indeedX · δήadverbial or particle element shaping the clause or phrase→ discourse linkage or contrastδὴ: meaning 'now'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΙσραηλIsraelN NSM · Ἰσραήλadverbial or particle element shaping the clause or phrase→ discourse linkage or contrastΙσραηλ: meaning 'Israel'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
2
εἰ μὴ ὅτι κύριος ἦν ἐν ἡμῖν ἐν τῷ ἐπαναστῆναι ἀνθρώπους ἐφ' ἡμᾶς
If the Lord had not been among us when people rose up against us,
The confession is sharpened by recalling the moment when hostile people surged against the community.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
εἰεἰC · εἰconnective or conjunction linking the clause to its context→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ: meaning 'εἰ'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μὴnotD · μήadverbial or particle element shaping the clause or phrase→ discourse linkage or contrastμὴ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὅτιthatC · ὅτιconnective or conjunction linking the clause to its context→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: meaning 'that'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κύριοςLordN2 NSM · κύριοςnominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition→ participant prominenceκύριος: meaning 'Lord'; it serves as nominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition.
ἦνthere wasV9 IAI3S · εἰμίverbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause→ participant referenceἦν: meaning 'there was'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as verbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause.
ἐνinP · ἐνpreposition governing its complement phrase→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition governing its complement phrase.
ἡμῖνto usRP DP · ἐγώpronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause→ participant reference or interestἡμῖν: meaning 'to us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as pronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause.
ἐνinP · ἐνpreposition governing its complement phrase→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition governing its complement phrase.
τῷtheRA DSN · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐπαναστῆναιrise up againstVH AAN · ἵστημι + ἐπι + ἀναverbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause→ infinitival complementἵστημι + ἐπι + ἀνα: meaning 'rise up against'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as verbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause.
ἀνθρώπουςhumansN2 APM · ἄνθρωποςaccusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal→ object specificationἄνθρωπος: meaning 'humans'; it serves as accusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal.
ἐφ'uponP · ἐπίpreposition governing its complement phrase→ spatial or relational framingἐφ': meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition governing its complement phrase.
ἡμᾶςusRP AP · ἐγώpronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause→ participant referenceἡμᾶς: meaning 'us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as pronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause.
3
ἄρα ζῶντας ἂν κατέπιον ἡμᾶς ἐν τῷ ὀργισθῆναι τὸν θυμὸν αὐτῶν ἐφ' ἡμᾶς
then they would have swallowed us alive when their anger blazed against us.
The first imagined disaster is total consumption by enraged enemies.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
ἄραperhapsX · ἄραadverbial or particle element shaping the clause or phrase→ discourse linkage or contrastἄρα: meaning 'perhaps'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ζῶνταςlivingV3 · παπαπμ ζάωverbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause→ verbal action or stateπαπαπμ ζάω: meaning 'living'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as verbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause.
ἂνeverX · ἄνadverbial or particle element shaping the clause or phrase→ discourse linkage or contrastἂν: meaning 'ever'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατέπιονswallowed downVBI AAI3P · πίνω + καταverbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause→ constative aoristπίνω + κατα: meaning 'swallowed down'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as verbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause.
ἡμᾶςusRP AP · ἐγώpronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause→ participant referenceἡμᾶς: meaning 'us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as pronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause.
ἐνinP · ἐνpreposition governing its complement phrase→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition governing its complement phrase.
τῷtheRA DSN · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀργισθῆναιto become angryVS APN · ὀργίζωverbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause→ infinitival complementὀργίζω: meaning 'to become angry'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as verbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause.
τὸνtheRA ASM · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυμὸνθυμόςN2 ASM · θυμόςaccusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal→ object specificationθυμός: meaning 'θυμός'; it serves as accusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal.
αὐτῶνthemRP GPM · αὐτόςpronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as pronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause.
ἐφ'uponP · ἐπίpreposition governing its complement phrase→ spatial or relational framingἐφ': meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition governing its complement phrase.
ἡμᾶςusRP AP · ἐγώpronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause→ participant referenceἡμᾶς: meaning 'us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as pronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause.
4
ἄρα τὸ ὕδωρ κατεπόντισεν ἡμᾶς χείμαρρον διῆλθεν ἡ ψυχὴ ἡμῶν
Then the water would have drowned us; a torrent would have passed over our soul.
The metaphor shifts from jaws to floodwater, stressing how near the community came to being overwhelmed.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
ἄραperhapsX · ἄραadverbial or particle element shaping the clause or phrase→ discourse linkage or contrastἄρα: meaning 'perhaps'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸtheRA NSN · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὕδωρwaterN3 NSN · ὕδωρnominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition→ participant prominenceὕδωρ: meaning 'water'; it serves as nominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition.
κατεπόντισενswallowed upVAI AAI3S · ποντίζω + καταverbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause→ constative aoristποντίζω + κατα: meaning 'swallowed up'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as verbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause.
ἡμᾶςusRP AP · ἐγώpronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause→ participant referenceἡμᾶς: meaning 'us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as pronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause.
χείμαρρονtorrentN2 ASM · χειμάρρουςaccusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal→ object specificationχειμάρρους: meaning 'torrent'; it serves as accusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal.
διῆλθενpassedVBI AAI3S · ἔρχομαι + διαverbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause→ constative aoristἔρχομαι + δια: meaning 'passed'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as verbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause.
ἡtheRA NSF · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ψυχὴsoulN1 NSF · ψυχήnominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition→ participant prominenceψυχή: meaning 'soul'; it serves as nominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition.
ἡμῶνourRP GP · ἐγώpronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause→ relational specificationἡμῶν: meaning 'our'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as pronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause.
5
ἄρα διῆλθεν ἡ ψυχὴ ἡμῶν τὸ ὕδωρ τὸ ἀνυπόστατον
Then our soul would have passed through the overwhelming water.
The torrent picture is repeated and intensified with an adjective that suggests irresistible force.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
ἄραperhapsX · ἄραadverbial or particle element shaping the clause or phrase→ discourse linkage or contrastἄρα: meaning 'perhaps'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διῆλθενpassedVBI AAI3S · ἔρχομαι + διαverbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause→ constative aoristἔρχομαι + δια: meaning 'passed'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as verbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause.
ἡtheRA NSF · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ψυχὴsoulN1 NSF · ψυχήnominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition→ participant prominenceψυχή: meaning 'soul'; it serves as nominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition.
ἡμῶνourRP GP · ἐγώpronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause→ relational specificationἡμῶν: meaning 'our'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as pronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause.
τὸtheRA ASN · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὕδωρwaterN3 NSN · ὕδωρnominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition→ participant prominenceὕδωρ: meaning 'water'; it serves as nominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition.
τὸtheRA ASN · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνυπόστατονoverwhelmingA1B ASM · ἀνυπόστατοςaccusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal→ object specificationἀνυπόστατος: meaning 'overwhelming'; it serves as accusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal.
6
εὐλογητὸς κύριος ὃς οὐκ ἔδωκεν ἡμᾶς εἰς θήραν τοῖς ὀδοῦσιν αὐτῶν
Blessed be the Lord, who did not give us as prey to their teeth.
The psalm pivots into praise because the Lord refused to hand his people over as prey.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
εὐλογητὸςblessedA1 NSM · εὐλογητόςnominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition→ participant prominenceεὐλογητός: meaning 'blessed'; it serves as nominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition.
κύριοςLordN2 NSM · κύριοςnominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition→ participant prominenceκύριος: meaning 'Lord'; it serves as nominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition.
ὃςwhoRR NSM · ὅςpronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause→ participant referenceὃς: meaning 'who'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as pronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause.
οὐκnotD · οὐadverbial or particle element shaping the clause or phrase→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔδωκενhe gaveVAI AAI3S · δίδωμιverbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause→ constative aoristδίδωμι: meaning 'he gave'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as verbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause.
ἡμᾶςusRP AP · ἐγώpronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause→ participant referenceἡμᾶς: meaning 'us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as pronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause.
εἰςintoP · εἰςpreposition governing its complement phrase→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition governing its complement phrase.
θήρανpreyN1A ASF · θήραaccusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal→ object specificationθήρα: meaning 'prey'; it serves as accusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal.
τοῖςfor theRA DPM · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀδοῦσινteethN3 DPM · ὀδούςdative nominal element marking relation, instrument, sphere, or recipient→ sphere or referenceὀδούς: meaning 'teeth'; it serves as dative nominal element marking relation, instrument, sphere, or recipient.
αὐτῶνthemRP GPM · αὐτόςpronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as pronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause.
7
ἡ ψυχὴ ἡμῶν ὡς στρουθίον ἐρρύσθη ἐκ τῆς παγίδος τῶν θηρευόντων ἡ παγὶς συνετρίβη καὶ ἡμεῖς ἐρρύσθημεν
Our soul was delivered like a sparrow from the snare of the hunters; the snare was broken, and we were delivered.
The closing thanksgiving trades flood imagery for bird-trap imagery to celebrate a concrete escape.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
ἡtheRA NSF · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ψυχὴsoulN1 NSF · ψυχήnominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition→ participant prominenceψυχή: meaning 'soul'; it serves as nominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition.
ἡμῶνourRP GP · ἐγώpronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause→ relational specificationἡμῶν: meaning 'our'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as pronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause.
ὡςwhenC · ὡςconnective or conjunction linking the clause to its context→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: meaning 'when'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
στρουθίονsparrowN2N ASN · στρουθίονaccusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal→ object specificationστρουθίον: meaning 'sparrow'; it serves as accusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal.
ἐρρύσθηwas deliveredVAI API3S · ῥύομαιverbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause→ constative aoristῥύομαι: meaning 'was delivered'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as verbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause.
ἐκfromP · ἐκpreposition governing its complement phrase→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition governing its complement phrase.
τῆςtheRA GSF · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παγίδοςa snareN3D GSF · παγίςgenitive nominal element defining relation, possession, source, or quality→ relational specificationπαγίς: meaning 'a snare'; it serves as genitive nominal element defining relation, possession, source, or quality.
τῶνtheRA GPM · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θηρευόντωνof those huntingV1 · παπγπμ θηρεύωverbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause→ verbal action or stateπαπγπμ θηρεύω: meaning 'of those hunting'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as verbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause.
ἡtheRA NSF · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παγὶςsnareN3D NSF · παγίςnominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition→ participant prominenceπαγίς: meaning 'snare'; it serves as nominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition.
συνετρίβηhad been crushedVDI API3S · τρίβω + συνverbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause→ constative aoristτρίβω + συν: meaning 'had been crushed'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as verbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause.
καὶandC · καίconnective or conjunction linking the clause to its context→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἡμεῖςweRP NP · ἐγώpronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause→ participant referenceἡμεῖς: meaning 'we'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as pronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause.
ἐρρύσθημενwe were deliveredVAI API1P · ῥύομαιverbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause→ constative aoristῥύομαι: meaning 'we were delivered'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as verbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause.
8
ἡ βοήθεια ἡμῶν ἐν ὀνόματι κυρίου τοῦ ποιήσαντος τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ τὴν γῆν
Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
The final confession anchors rescue in the Lord's name and creator power.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
ἡtheRA NSF · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βοήθειαhelpN1A NSF · βοήθειαnominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition→ participant prominenceβοήθεια: meaning 'help'; it serves as nominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition.
ἡμῶνourRP GP · ἐγώpronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause→ relational specificationἡμῶν: meaning 'our'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as pronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause.
ἐνinP · ἐνpreposition governing its complement phrase→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition governing its complement phrase.
ὀνόματιnameN3M DSN · ὄνομαdative nominal element marking relation, instrument, sphere, or recipient→ sphere or referenceὄνομα: meaning 'name'; it serves as dative nominal element marking relation, instrument, sphere, or recipient.
κυρίουκύριοςN2 GSM · κύριοςgenitive nominal element defining relation, possession, source, or quality→ relational specificationκύριος: meaning 'κύριος'; it serves as genitive nominal element defining relation, possession, source, or quality.
τοῦof theRA GSM · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ποιήσαντοςthe one who madeVA · ααπγσμ ποιέωverbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause→ verbal action or stateααπγσμ ποιέω: meaning 'the one who made'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as verbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause.
τὸνtheRA ASM · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οὐρανὸνheavenN2 ASM · οὐρανόςaccusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal→ object specificationοὐρανός: meaning 'heaven'; it serves as accusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal.
καὶandC · καίconnective or conjunction linking the clause to its context→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὴνtheRA ASF · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνlandN1 ASF · γῆaccusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal→ object specificationγῆ: meaning 'land'; it serves as accusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal.