Psalm 23: 5? Help!

[Jim_Baur]

Psalm 23: 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

I think that the translations based on the Vulgate translate “revayah” as inebriate. I think that is a faithful translation of the Vulgate.

I do not know if I am correct.

However, what is the LXX?

Also, I know little or nothing about Hebrew, Greek or Latin. Is inebriate a poor or solid translation?

Thanks!

 

[tobinatorstark]

From the Haydock Bible Commentary Psalms 22:5. (note Doauy-Rheims and Vulgate are different numbering than modern Bibles)

Ver. 5. Thou. Here the allegory of a shepherd seems less discernible, though it may allude to the provisions for winter; (Berthier) or rather it ceases, as feasts are made for men; (Menochius) and the second allegory of a guest here commences. (Haydock) — The enemy had reduced me to the greatest misery. (Calmet) — But God has admitted me to his table. (Menochius) — This may be explained of the sacred mysteries received in the Church, (St. Ambrose) or of the Scriptures, which nourish our souls. (St. Jerome) — No mention is made of the ancient sacrifices; and as this psalm must be understood in the spiritual sense, the prophet speaks of the blessed Eucharist, which imparts the unction of grace, &c. The enemy strives to make us keep at a distance from it. (Berthier) — Christ has himself prepared this table (St. Cyprian, ep. 63.; Euthymius) against all spiritual adversaries. — Oil. Christians are also strengthened by the sacraments of confirmation, penance, holy orders, matrimony, and extreme unction. (Worthington) — Three of these are administered with oil. (Haydock) — It was customary to anoint the head of guests with perfumes, (Matthew xxvi. 6., and Luke vii. 46.) both among the Jews and Gentiles. But the Fathers explain this text of chrism, used in confirmation. (St. Athanasius; Theodoret) (Calmet) — Chalice. The blessed sacrament and sacrifice of Christ’s body and blood. (Worthington) — Inebriateth. Hebrew, “overflowing;” being constantly replenished (Canticle of Canticles vii. 2.; Homer, Iliad iv.) with wine; as people are not inebriated with water. This term, however, only means to take as much as is requisite, Genesis xliii. 34. “Thy chalice inebriating me,” occurs in most copies of the Septuagint, in Sixtus V., &c. But the more correct editions of the Septuagint and all the Greek interpreters, (St. Jerome, ep. ad Sun.) agree with the Hebrew and Vulgate. — How, &c., is added by way of explanation; or rather, the Septuagint have taken two words from the following verse, ac tob, verumtamen bonum. (Calmet) — Protestants, “surely goodness and mercy,” &c. (Haydock) — Theodotion and Symmachus were not acquainted with this division, which seems less accurate, though the sense be much the same. (Berthier)

 

[John7]

From Psalm 23:5

et calix meus          inebrians 
     my cup        runneth over

καὶ τὸ ποτήριόν σου μεθύσκον
כוסי רויה

‘runneth over’ translates from μεθύσκον/methuskon in the LXX which according to Friberg
[Fri] μεθύσκω 1aor. pass.
cause to become intoxicated; only passive in the NT be drunk, get drunk,
become intoxicated (LU 12.45); drink freely (JN 2.10);
figuratively, of unrestrained and orgiastic cult activity give oneself over to something (RV 17.2)
but in the Hebrew ‘runs over’ translates from רויה / revawyah
translates ‘saturated/overflow/superabundance’.
The only other place I can find revawyah is in Psalm 66.12 NASB
You made men ride over our heads;
We went through fire and through water,
Yet You brought us out into a place of abundance.

but a close form to revawyah is רוה rawvah, strong’s 7301-2 which means ‘to make drunk, fill, satiate, soak, watered, drunkenness’ as in Deut 29.19
Deuteronomy 29:19 KJV And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst:

Deuteronomy 29:19 NASB It shall be when he hears the words of this curse, that he will boast, saying, `I have peace though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart in order to destroy the watered land with the dry.

Deuteronomy 29:19 cumque audierit verba iuramenti huius benedicat sibi in corde suo dicens pax erit mihi et ambulabo in pravitate cordis mei et adsumat ebria sitientem

shalom

 

[John7]

cont. from prev post

also, drunk/en/enness is usually translated from שכר / shawkar
like Noah in Gen 9:21

 

[Nita]

I was just reading Pope Benedict’s sermon for Holy Thursday and found his words on this verse very beautiful and insightful. Hope you will too.

'…The Roman Canon describes the chalice which the Lord gives to his disciples as “praeclarus calix” (the glorious cup), thereby alluding to Psalm 23, … There we read these words: “You have prepared a banquet for me in the sight of my foes… My cup is overflowing” —calix praeclarus.

The Roman Canon interprets this passage from the Psalm as a prophecy that is fulfilled in the Eucharist: yes, the Lord does indeed prepare a banquet for us in the midst of the threats of this world, and He gives us the glorious chalice… The chalice signifies the wedding-feast; now the “hour” has come to which the wedding=feast of Cana had mysteriously alluded. Yes indeed, the Eucharist is more than a meal, it is a wedding-feast. …’

 

[Jim_Baur]

Nita, Tobin and John7, I want to thank you. All of you have been most helpful.

Again, thanks!

Jim Baur