Psalms 87:6

87:6 The Lord writes in the census book of the nations, ¹ 

“This one was born there.” ²  (Selah)

Psalms 89:10

89:10 You crushed the Proud One ³  and killed it; ⁴ 

with your strong arm you scattered your enemies.

Psalms 132:2

132:2 and how he made a vow to the Lord,

and swore an oath to the powerful ruler of Jacob. ⁵ 

Psalms 132:5

132:5 until I find a place for the Lord,

a fine dwelling place ⁶  for the powerful ruler of Jacob.” ⁷ 

Psalms 141:7

141:7 As when one plows and breaks up the soil, ⁸ 

so our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol.

[87:6]  ¹ tn Heb “the Lord records in the writing of the nations.”

[87:6]  ² tn As noted in v. 4, the translation assumes a contrast between “there” (the various foreign lands) and “in her” (Zion). In contrast to foreigners, the citizens of Zion have special status because of their birthplace (v. 5). In this case vv. 4 and 6 form a structural frame around v. 5.

[89:10]  ³ tn Heb “Rahab.” The name “Rahab” means “proud one.” Since it is sometimes used of Egypt (see Ps 87:4; Isa 30:7), the passage may allude to the exodus. However, the name is also used of the sea (or the mythological sea creature) which symbolizes the disruptive forces of the world that seek to replace order with chaos (see Job 9:13; 26:12). Isa 51:9 appears to combine the mythological and historical referents. The association of Rahab with the sea in Ps 89 (see v. 9) suggests that the name carries symbolic force in this context. In this case the passage may allude to creation (see vv. 11-12), when God overcame the great deep and brought order out of chaos.

[89:10]  ⁴ tn Heb “like one fatally wounded.”

[132:2]  ⁵ tn Heb “the powerful [one] of Jacob.”

[132:5]  ⁷ tn The plural form of the noun may indicate degree or quality; David envisions a special dwelling place (see Pss 43:3; 46:4; 84:1).

[132:5]  ⁸ tn Heb “the powerful [one] of Jacob.”

[141:7]  ⁹ tn Heb “like splitting and breaking open in the earth.” The meaning of the statement and the point of the comparison are not entirely clear. Perhaps the psalmist is suggesting that he and other godly individuals are as good as dead; their bones are scattered about like dirt that is dug up and tossed aside.