Translation commentary on Psalm 60:4 - 60:5

The form and meaning of verse 4 are disputed. The banner that God had set up could be either a sign for the Israelite forces to rally and fight back at the enemy, or else a sign for them to flee from the enemy (as in Jer 4.6). The verb which Revised Standard Version translates rally occurs only here in this sense; some derive the Masoretic text form from a verb that means “to flee” (see Briggs); others “so that they may flee” (so New English Bible, New American Bible).

Instead of the indicative mood, some read the first line of verse 4 as an imperative, a command to God “to raise the banner” (see Dahood, New Jerusalem Bible, Bible de Jérusalem). In many languages the idea of raising a flag during a battle will be unknown. Therefore the translator normally has three choices: He can keep the flag raising and clarify its meaning with an additional statement; for example, “You have raised a flag to warn those who follow you.” Or he can simply state the meaning without reference to a flag, as in Good News Translation. Verse 4a may also be rendered, for example, “You have sent a clear signal to those who worship you….” Finally, the translator may use a substitute for flag and translate, for example, “Your drumbeats have warned those who follow you.” Those who fear thee is expressed in many languages as “those who worship you” or “those who follow you.”

The next two words in verse 4b in Hebrew seem to mean “from before the bow.” So the translations that understand the preceding verbal form to mean “to flee” translate “to let them escape out of the range of the bow” (New Jerusalem Bible); Traduction œcuménique de la Bible “to flee from the bowman.” Revised Standard Version to rally to it from the bow makes no sense in English. But the meaning of the Hebrew word translated bow (spelled this way only here in the Hebrew Bible) is also disputed, and some take it to mean “the truth” (see Revised Standard Version footnote); so New Jerusalem Bible translates the verse “Give those who fear You because of Your truth a banner for rallying.” Biblia Dios Habla Hoy has “Now give a signal to those who honor you so that they may escape from the arrows”; Good News Translation, similarly, “they might escape destruction.” Good News Translation would have done better by translating “… from defeat.”

In face of such variety of interpretations, the translator can only choose one that seems best suited to the context. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project says the meaning “bow” is to be preferred.

For Selah see 3.2.

The two lines in verse 5 have been reversed by Good News Translation for a more orderly progression of thought. Thy beloved translates “your beloved ones”; this means the people as a whole (Bible en français courant “we, your friends”). Delivered in line a translates the verb rendered “save” in 6.4a.

The verb in line b may mean give victory; it is the verb which is often translated “save” (see comments on “Help” in 12.1). And thy right hand means “your power” (see 18.35; 20.6; 21.8). The final request answer us means “answer our prayer.” One form of the Masoretic text (ketiv) has the plural “us”; the other form (qere) has the singular “me,” which is preferred by Kirkpatrick and New Jerusalem Bible. The expression answer us must not be translated normally by the term which is used for answering a question. Many languages make a distinction between answering a question and responding to a request. In some languages it will be necessary to say, for example, “hear us and help us.”

In some languages it will be necessary to introduce the first person plural pronoun into line b, if one follows the reordering suggested by Good News Translation; for example, “so that you may rescue us who are your people.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Reyburn, William D. A Handbook on the Book of Psalms. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1991. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

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