Psalm headings
Most of the psalms in the Book of Psalms are provided with psalms headings , which range from brief author information to musical information that is hardly understandable today to descriptions of the situation several sentences long. Today it is widely believed that the Hebrew psalm headings were placed after the psalm texts. This was done for theological and editorial reasons.
Headings in the Hebrew text
The Hebrew psalm headings can consist of the following individual elements:
- Generic information, e.g. B. Hebrew מִזזְמוֹר mizmōr "song (with instrumental accompaniment)".
- Attribution to a person or group of people. Almost half of the psalms are attributed to King David , which is related to the “davidization” of the book in the post-exilic period. In addition to the David psalms, there are Asaf psalms and Korach psalms, psalms that are awarded to the Jerusalem singing guilds. But also Moses or Solomon are named as psalm writers.
- Cultic-liturgical purpose, e.g. B. Hebrew לְתוֹדדָה l e tōdāh “for an offering of thanks ”.
- Musical-technical information, melody information.
- Situation information in David's biography. David's biography serves as a model: these psalm headings encourage you to pray the psalm in question in your own, similar life situations.
The Psalter is divided into five books, and the system of titles changes with each new book. This is particularly striking in the transition from Psalm 89 (3rd book) to Psalm 90 (4th book). The headings in the first three books (Psalms 1 to 89) are more varied than in the last two books (Psalms 90 to 150). Here, in the last part of the Psalter, you will also find most of the psalms without a title.
The books of the Chronicle are important in understanding the psalm headings. First of all, several of the singers and groups of singers named in the psalm headings encounter here again: Asaf 1 Chr 15.17 EU , Etan 1 Chr 6.29 EU , Heman 1 Chr 6.318 EU , Jedutun 1 Chr 16.3 EU and the Korachites 1 Chr 6.7 EU . In the list of cult personnel 1 Chr 15,16–24 EU , one cultic-liturgical and two musical-technical information are mentioned, which also appear in psalm headings. The chronicle states in this passage:
- Senior singer with bronze cymbals,
- Second rank musician with harps,
- Second rank musician with lyres ("on the eight-string instrument").
David does not appear in the books of the Chronicles as a poet of psalms. However, 2 Chr 7,6 EU could refer to a collection of David's palm trees. For the chronicle books, David is above all the founder and organizer of all temple music.
Headings in the Greek text
The Septuagint has more and in part different headings than the Hebrew Psalter; Behind this is probably a Hebrew text tradition that differs from the Masoretic text. Thus, in the Septuagint and its dependent translations ( Vulgate ), all psalms have a heading, with the exception of the first two. Even then, the musical information in the Hebrew text was largely no longer understood; their correspondingly cryptic Greek transmissions later gave rise to diverse symbolic and mystical interpretations.
List of Hebrew and Greek headings
| No. MT |
Hebrew psalm heading
(Elberfeld Bible) |
No. LXX |
Greek psalm heading
(Septuagint German) |
| 1 | 1 | ||
| 2 | 2 | ||
| 3 | A psalm. From David. When he fled from his son Absalom. | 3 | A psalm related to David when he fled from the face of Abessalom his son. |
| 4th | The choirmaster. With string play. A psalm. From David. | 4th | Towards the end, under the psalms; a song related to David. |
| 5 | The choirmaster. To flutes. A psalm. From David. | 5 | Towards the end, through those who inherit; a psalm related to David. |
| 6th | The choirmaster. With string play. On the Scheminith. A psalm. From David. | 6th | Towards the end, among the hymns, about the eighth, a psalm related to David. |
| 7th | A shigajon from David, which he sang to the LORD because of the words of the Benjaminite Kush. | 7th | A psalm related to David, whom he sang to the Lord, on the words of Chusi, the son of Yemeni. |
| 8th | The choirmaster. According to the Gittit. A psalm. From David. | 8th | Towards the end, about the wine presses, a psalm related to David. |
| 9 | The choirmaster. Almuth Labben. A psalm. From David. | 9 | Towards the end, about the hidden things of the Son; a psalm related to David. |
| 10 | |||
| 11 | The choirmaster. From David. | 10 | Towards the end; a psalm related to David. |
| 12 | The choirmaster. On the Scheminith. A psalm. From David. | 11 | Towards the end, over the eighth; a psalm related to David. |
| 13 | The choirmaster. A psalm. From David. | 12 | Towards the end; a psalm related to David. |
| 14th | The choirmaster. From David. | 13 | Towards the end; a psalm related to David. |
| 15th | A psalm. From David. | 14th | A psalm related to David. |
| 16 | A miktam. From David. | 15th | A column inscription related to David. |
| 17th | A prayer. From David. | 16 | A prayer from David. |
| 18th | The choirmaster. About the servant of the LORD, about David, who spoke the words of this song to the LORD on the day when the LORD saved him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. [And he said: ...] | 17th | Towards the end; relating to David the servant of the Lord; what he spoke to the Lord, the words of this song, on the day when the Lord delivered him out of the hand of all his nobles and out of the hand of Saul. [And he said: ...] |
| 19th | The choirmaster. A psalm. From David. | 18th | Towards the end; a psalm related to David. |
| 20th | The choirmaster. A psalm. From David. | 19th | Towards the end; a psalm related to David. |
| 21st | The choirmaster. A psalm. From David. | 20th | Towards the end; a psalm related to David. |
| 22nd | The choirmaster. After the doe of the dawn . A psalm. From David. | 21st | Towards the end, through morning support; a psalm related to David. |
| 23 | A psalm. From David. | 22nd | A psalm related to David. |
| 24 | From David. A psalm. | 23 | A psalm related to David. On the first [day] of the week. |
| 25th | From David. | 24 | A psalm related to David. |
| 26th | From David. | 25th | From David. |
| 27 | From David. | 26th | From David, before the anointing. |
| 28 | From David. | 27 | From David. |
| 29 | A psalm. From David. | 28 | A psalm related to David; at the exit [stag] of the tent [firmly] it. |
| 30th | A psalm. A song for the inauguration of the house. From David. | 29 | Towards the end; a psalm song for the consecration of the house, related to David. |
| 31 | The choirmaster. A psalm. From David. | 30th | Towards the end; a psalm related to David; out of confusion. |
| 32 | From David. A maskil. | 31 | Related to David; out of insight. |
| 33 | 32 | Related to David. | |
| 34 | From David. When he went crazy in front of Abimelech and he drove him away and he went away. | 33 | Referring to David when he changed his face before Abimelech and he cast him away and he went away. |
| 35 | From David. | 34 | Related to David. |
| 36 | The choirmaster. From the servant of the Lord. From David. | 35 | Towards the end; relating to David, the servant of the Lord. |
| 37 | From David. | 36 | From David. |
| 38 | A psalm. From David. In memory. | 37 | A psalm related to David; as a reminder about the Sabbath. |
| 39 | The choirmaster. For everyone to do. A psalm. From David. [I spoke: …] | 38 | Towards the end, related to Idithun; a song related to David. |
| 40 | The choirmaster. From David. A psalm. | 39 | Towards the end; related to David, a psalm. |
| 41 | The choirmaster. A psalm. From David. | 40 | Towards the end; a psalm related to David. |
| 42 | The choirmaster. A maskil. Of the sons of Korach. | 41 | Towards the end; for insight, based on the sons of Kore. |
| 43 | 42 | A psalm related to David. | |
| 44 | The choirmaster. Of the sons of Korach. A maskil. | 43 | Towards the end; in relation to the sons of Kore, for insight; a psalm. |
| 45 | The choirmaster. According to Schoschannim. Of the sons of Korach. A maskil. A Lovesong. | 44 | Towards the end, about those who are to be changed; in relation to the sons of Kore, for insight; a song about the beloved. |
| 46 | The choirmaster. Of the sons of Korach. After Alamoth. A song. | 45 | Towards the end; about the sons of Kore, about the hidden things, a psalm. |
| 47 | The choirmaster. Of the sons of Korach. A psalm. | 46 | Towards the end; on the sons of Kore, a psalm. |
| 48 | A song. A psalm. Of the sons of Korach. | 47 | A psalm song related to the sons of Kore; on the second [day] of the week. |
| 49 | The choirmaster. Of the sons of Korach. A psalm. | 48 | Towards the end; relating to the sons of Kore, a psalm. |
| 50 | A psalm. From Asaf. | 49 | A psalm related to Asaph. |
| 51 | The choirmaster. A psalm. From David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after entering Bathsheba. | 50 | Towards the end; a psalm related to David. When Nathan the Prophet came to him after going in to Bersabee. |
| 52 | The choirmaster. A maskil. From David. When Doëg the Edomite came and reported to Saul, saying, David has come into the house of Ahimelech. | 51 | Towards the end; out of insight, based on David. When the Idumean Doek came and reported Saul and said to him, David came into the house of Abimelech. |
| 53 | The choirmaster. Al-Machalath. A maskil. From David. | 52 | Towards the end, over Maeleth; out of insight, based on David. |
| 54 | The choirmaster. With string play. A maskil. From David. When the Sifites came and said to Saul, Isn't David hiding with us? | 53 | Towards the end, among the hymns; out of insight, related to David; when the Ciphaeians came and said to Saul, Behold, has David not hid with us? |
| 55 | The choirmaster. With string play. A maskil. From David. | 54 | Towards the end, among the hymns; out of insight, based on David. |
| 56 | The choirmaster. After: The dove of the distant islands . From David. A miktam. When the Philistines took him at Gath. | 55 | Towards the end, for the people who are far from the saints; related to David, for a column inscription, when the people of different origins seized him in Gath. |
| 57 | The choirmaster. After the melody: Don't spoil! From David. A miktam. When he fled from Saul in the cave. | 56 | Towards the end; do not spoil; referring to David, for a column inscription when he fled into the cave from the face of Saul. |
| 58 | The choirmaster. After the melody: Don't spoil! From David. A miktam. | 57 | Towards the end; do not spoil; related to David, for a column inscription. |
| 59 | The choirmaster. After the melody: Don't spoil! From David. A miktam. When Saul sent and they guarded the house to kill him. | 58 | Towards the end; do not spoil; referring to David, for a column inscription, when Saul sent and had his house guarded to kill him. |
| 60 | The choirmaster. After Schuschan. A testimony. A miktam. From David. For teaching. When he quarreled with the Syrians from Mesopotamia and the Syrians from Zoba, and Joab returned and defeated the Edomites in the Salt Valley, twelve thousand men. | 59 | Towards the end; for those who are to be changed, for a column inscription; related to David, for instruction when he set fire to Mesopotamia, Syria, and Syria Soba, and turned Joab back and smote the salt valley. twelve thousand [men]. |
| 61 | The choirmaster. On the strings. From David. | 60 | Towards the end, among the hymns; based on David. |
| 62 | The choirmaster. After Jedutun. A psalm. From David. | 61 | Towards the end, over Idithun; a psalm related to David. |
| 63 | A psalm. From David. When he was in the desert of Judah. | 62 | A psalm related to David when he was in the wilderness of Judea. |
| 64 | The choirmaster. A psalm. From David. | 63 | Towards the end; a psalm related to David. |
| 65 | The choirmaster. A psalm. From David. A song. | 64 | Towards the end; a psalm, related to David, a song by Jeremiah and Ezekiel, from the account of the stay in a foreign country when they wanted to emigrate. |
| 66 | The choirmaster. A song. A psalm. | 65 | Towards the end; a psalm song; [ later, probably Christian addition : of the resurrection]. |
| 67 | The choirmaster. With string play. A psalm. A song. | 66 | Towards the end, among the hymns; a psalm song. |
| 68 | The choirmaster. From David. A psalm. A song. | 67 | Towards the end; a psalm song related to David. |
| 69 | The choirmaster. According to Schoschannim. From David. | 68 | Towards the end; about those to be changed, related to David. |
| 70 | The choirmaster. From David. In memory. | 69 | Towards the end; related to David, as a reminder that the Lord might save me. |
| 71 | 70 | Related to David; of the sons of Jonadab and the first to be taken prisoner. | |
| 72 | From Solomon. | 71 | For Salomon. |
| 73 | A psalm. From Asaf. | 72 | A psalm related to Asaph. |
| 74 | A maskil. From Asaf. | 73 | Out of insight, related to Asaph. |
| 75 | The choirmaster. After the melody: Don't spoil! A psalm. From Asaf. A song. | 74 | Towards the end; do not spoil; a psalm song related to Asaph. |
| 76 | The choirmaster. With string play. A psalm. From Asaf. A song. | 75 | Towards the end, among the hymns; a psalm related to Asaph, a song against the Assyrians. |
| 77 | The choirmaster. After Jedutun. From Asaf. A psalm. | 76 | Towards the end, over Idithun; related to Asaph, a psalm. |
| 78 | A maskil. From Asaf. | 77 | Out of insight, related to Asaph. |
| 79 | A psalm. From Asaf. | 78 | A psalm related to Asaph. |
| 80 | The choirmaster. According to Schoschannim. A testimony. From Asaf. A psalm. | 79 | Towards the end, about those who are to be changed; a testimony related to Asaph, a psalm, about the Assyrian. |
| 81 | The choirmaster. According to the Gittit. From Asaf. | 80 | Towards the end, over the wine presses; related to Asaph, a psalm. |
| 82 | A psalm. From Asaf. | 81 | A psalm related to Asaph |
| 83 | A song. A psalm. From Asaf. | 82 | A psalm song related to Asaph. |
| 84 | The choirmaster. According to the Gittit. Of the sons of Korach. A psalm. | 83 | Towards the end, over the wine presses; relating to the sons of Kore, a psalm. |
| 85 | The choirmaster. Of the sons of Korach. A psalm. | 84 | Towards the end; relating to the sons of Kore, a psalm. |
| 86 | A prayer. From David. | 85 | A prayer related to David. |
| 87 | Of the sons of Korach. A psalm. A song. | 86 | A psalm song related to the sons of Kore. |
| 88 | A song. A psalm. Of the sons of Korach. The choirmaster. To sing to Machalath. A maskil. From Heman the Esrachite. | 87 | A psalm song related to the sons of Kore; towards the end, via Maeleth, to answer; out of insight, based on Aiman the Israelite. |
| 89 | A maskil. From Etan, the Esrachite. | 88 | Out of insight, based on Aithan the Israelite. |
| 90 | A prayer from Moses, the man of God. | 89 | A prayer from Moses, the man of God. |
| 91 | 90 | A song of praise related to David. | |
| 92 | A psalm. A song. For the day of the Sabbath. | 91 | A psalm song for the Sabbath day. |
| 93 | 92 | For the day before the Sabbath when the earth was colonized; a song of praise related to David. | |
| 94 | 93 | A psalm related to David; on the fourth [day] of the week. | |
| 95 | 94 | A song of praise related to David. | |
| 96 | 95 | When the house was rebuilt after the captivity; a song related to David. | |
| 97 | 96 | Related to David when his land is established. | |
| 98 | A psalm. | 97 | A psalm related to David. |
| 99 | 98 | A psalm related to David. | |
| 100 | A psalm. For the offering of thanks. | 99 | A psalm in praise. |
| 101 | From David. A psalm. | 100 | Related to David, a psalm. |
| 102 | Prayer of a poor man when he is upset and pours out his complaint before the Lord. | 101 | A prayer for the poor when they are weary and plead with the Lord. |
| 103 | From David. | 102 | Related to David. |
| 104 | 103 | Related to David | |
| 105 | 104 | Alleluia. | |
| 106 | Alleluia. | 105 | Alleluia. |
| 107 | 106 | Alleluia. | |
| 108 | A song. A psalm. From David. | 107 | A psalm song related to David. |
| 109 | The choirmaster. From David. A psalm. | 108 | Towards the end; related to David, a psalm. |
| 110 | From David. A psalm. | 109 | Related to David. A psalm. |
| 111 | Alleluia. | 110 | Alleluia. |
| 112 | Alleluia. | 111 | Alleluia. |
| 113 | Alleluia. | 112 | Alleluia. |
| 114 | 113 | Alleluia. | |
| 115 | |||
| 116 | 114 | Alleluia. | |
| 115 | Alleluia. | ||
| 117 | 116 | Alleluia. | |
| 118 | 117 | Alleluia. | |
| 119 | 118 | Alleluia. | |
| 120 | A pilgrimage song. | 119 | A song of steps. |
| 121 | A pilgrimage song. | 120 | A song of steps. |
| 122 | A pilgrimage song. From David. | 121 | A song of steps. |
| 123 | A pilgrimage song. | 122 | A song of steps. |
| 124 | A pilgrimage song. From David. | 123 | A song of steps. |
| 125 | A pilgrimage song. | 124 | A song of steps. |
| 126 | A pilgrimage song. | 125 | A song of steps. |
| 127 | A pilgrimage song. From Solomon. | 126 | A song of degrees related to Solomon. |
| 128 | A pilgrimage song. | 127 | A song of steps. |
| 129 | A pilgrimage song. | 128 | A song of steps. |
| 130 | A pilgrimage song. | 129 | A song of steps. |
| 131 | A pilgrimage song. From David. | 130 | A song of degrees related to David. |
| 132 | A pilgrimage song. | 131 | A song of steps. |
| 133 | A pilgrimage song. From David. | 132 | A song of degrees related to David. |
| 134 | A pilgrimage song. | 133 | A song of degrees related to David. |
| 135 | Alleluia. | 134 | Alleluia. |
| 136 | 135 | Alleluia. | |
| 137 | 136 | Related to David. | |
| 138 | From David. | 137 | Related to David. |
| 139 | The choirmaster. From David. A psalm. | 138 | Towards the end; a psalm related to David. |
| 140 | The choirmaster. A psalm. From David. | 139 | Towards the end; a psalm related to David. |
| 141 | A psalm. From David. | 140 | A psalm related to David. |
| 142 | A maskil. From David. When he was in the cave. A prayer. | 141 | Out of insight, based on David when he was in the cave; a prayer. |
| 143 | A psalm. From David. | 142 | A psalm related to David when his son persecuted him. |
| 144 | From David. | 143 | In relation to David, in relation to Goliad. |
| 145 | A hymn of praise. From David. | 144 | A song of praise related to David. |
| 146 | Alleluia. | 145 | Alleluia; from Haggai and Zechariah. |
| 147 | Alleluia. | 146 | Alleluia; from Haggai and Zechariah. |
| 147 | Alleluia; from Haggai and Zechariah. | ||
| 148 | Alleluia. | 148 | Alleluia; from Haggai and Zechariah. |
| 149 | Alleluia. | 149 | Alleluia. |
| 150 | Alleluia. | 150 | Alleluia. |
| 151 | This psalm is specially written with regard to David, and [it stands] outside the enumeration; when he fought alone against Goliad. |
literature
- Brevard Springs Childs : Psalm Titles and Midrashic Exegesis . In: Journal of Semitic Studies 16 (1971), pp. 137-150.
- Bernd Janowski : "The Hindin of Dawn (Ps 22: 1)." A contribution to understanding the psalm headings . In: The hearing heart (= contributions to the theology of the Old Testament. Volume 6). Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 2018, pp. 293–344. ( PDF )
- Hendrik Jacob Koorevaar : “David sang and spoke.” The value of the names as historical persons in the headings of the Psalms in the context of the structure of the Psalter . In: Seubert, Harald; Thiessen, Jacob (ed.): The royal rule of Yahweh. Festschrift on the retirement of Herbert H. Klement . Studies on Theology and the Bible Vol. 13, Basel 2015, pp. 21–59.
- Klaus Seybold : Dimensions and intentions of the davidization of the Psalms. The role of David according to the psalm headings and according to the Septuagint apse 151 . In: Zenger, Erich (ed.): The Composition of the Book of Psalms . Bibliotheca ephemeridum theologicarum Lovaniensium Vol. 238, Leuven 2010, pp. 125-140.