Thursday, December 30, 2021

Revelation 15:4 Departing from the Vocalization of Psalm 98:2 as found in the Masoretic Tradition

 

The concluding words of John’s version of the song of Moses allude to Psa 98:2, of which the context is:

 

O sing to the LORD (שׁירו ליהוה) a new song,
for he has done wondrous things (ופלאות עשׂה).
His right hand and his holy arm
have gotten him victory.
The LORD has made known his victory;
he has revealed his righteous acts (צדקתו) in the sight of the nations (Ps 98:1-2)

 

The Masoretic pointing (צִדְקָתוֹ) gives צדקתו the meaning of ‘his righteousness’ (or ‘his vindication’) but John has read it as צִדְקֹתָוֹ (‘his righteous acts’) and translated: τα δικαιωματα σου (15:4). (Richard Bauckham, “The Conversion of the Nations,” in The Climax of Prophecy: Studies in the Book of Revelation [London: T&T Clark, 1993], 304)