שִׁ֘יתָ֤ה יְהוָ֨ה מֹורָ֗ה לָ֫הֶ֥ם יֵדְע֥וּ גֹויִ֑ם אֱנֹ֖ושׁ הֵ֣מָּה סֶּֽלָה׃
In the closing lines of Tehillim 9:20, we find a verse that appears simple at first glance, yet holds a grammatical anomaly so striking that it has puzzled scholars for centuries. At its heart is the word שִׁיתָה — a form found almost nowhere else in Biblical Hebrew.
This rare verb form raises an essential question: what does it mean for God to “set” or “place” a teacher over the nations? And why is this act framed in such an unusual way?
We will explore how the morphology and syntax of this verse shape its meaning — not only in linguistic terms, but in theological and poetic ones. Through the lens of this single line, we glimpse a vision of divine instruction not as punishment alone, but as a means of moral formation for all humanity.
The Rare Verb That Shapes Divine Instruction
Let us begin with the opening phrase:
שִׁ֘יתָ֤ה יְהוָ֨ה מֹורָ֗ה לָ֫הֶ֥ם
This translates roughly as: “You set a lawgiver over them, O Lord.” But the key word here is שִׁיתָה, which stands out due to its form — it is a rare and archaic imperative form, possibly from the root שׁ-ו-ת (“to place,” “to appoint”), used here in a jussive or cohortative sense.
| Word | Root | Form | Literal Translation | Grammatical Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| שִׁיתָה | שׁ-ו-ת | Hiphil jussive / cohortative, 3ms | “He shall set” / “Let Him set” | Rare in BH; more common in Aramaic and post-biblical usage. |
The form שִׁיתָה is not standard Classical Biblical Hebrew. It resembles later forms found in Aramaic or Mishnaic Hebrew, and its appearance here may indicate poetic license, dialectal influence, or even a deliberate archaism meant to evoke ancient legal authority.
“Mora” — Lawgiver, Instructor, or Fear?
The noun מֹורָה follows immediately after the verb. Though often translated as “instruction” or “law,” in context, it seems to refer to a figure — a ruler or instructor appointed by God:
מֹורָה לָהֶם
“A lawgiver over them”
This use of מֹורָה is unusual. More commonly, the word appears in the plural (מוֹרִים) or in the construct state (תּוֹרַת חֶסֶד מוֹרֵי צֶדֶק). Here, it functions as a singular noun, indicating a specific role — perhaps a judge, prophet, or even a symbolic force like divine discipline.
The phrase מֹורָה לָהֶם suggests that this figure is placed over the nations — not just among them, but above them, as a moral authority.
“Let the Nations Know They Are Mortal”: Syntax and Moral Clarity
The second half of the verse reads:
יֵדְע֥וּ גֹויִ֑ם אֱנֹ֖ושׁ הֵ֣מָּה סֶּֽלָה
“Let the nations know — man they are — Selah.”
Note the abrupt shift in structure. The clause אֱנוֹשׁ הֵמָּה — literally, “they are human” — breaks the flow of the sentence. It is a kind of parenthetical statement, interrupting the imperative call for the nations to learn, reminding them of their mortality.
This syntactic break reinforces the message: divine instruction is not given to gods or abstract powers — it is addressed to mortal beings who must reckon with their limits before God.
Selah: A Pause for Reflection on Divine Pedagogy
The final word of the verse — סֶֽלָה — is famously ambiguous. Found frequently in Psalms, it likely indicates a musical or liturgical pause. In this context, however, it may also serve a rhetorical function: a moment of silence after the declaration that the nations are merely human.
In this reading, סֶלָה becomes more than a performance cue — it is a dramatic beat, inviting reflection on the preceding words. The nations may be powerful, proud, and defiant — but they are still flesh. And God appoints instruction over them, not as honor, but as reminder.
The Word That Teaches Mortality
In Tehillim 9:20, language becomes the vehicle of divine pedagogy. The rare form שִׁיתָה draws attention not only to the act of appointing a teacher, but to the nature of instruction itself — something imposed, authoritative, and necessary.
Combined with the abrupt reminder that the nations are merely human, the verse underscores a central theme in biblical theology: power without humility is blindness, and strength without knowledge leads to downfall.
Through its unique grammar, Psalm 9:20 transforms divine action into a lesson — not just for Israel, but for all peoples. It reminds us that in the world of Hebrew poetry, every morpheme matters, and every pause speaks volumes.