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  • From: "Daniel Wagner" <dan.wagner AT netzero.net>
  • To: "Biblical Hebrew" <b-hebrew AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Psalm 77:20[19]
  • Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2001 14:01:40 -0500


How's this for an idiomatic translation?

"Your way was in the sea, Your path in the great waters; so Your footprints
could not be traced."

The key word is "footprints" [_(AQEB_; KJV, "footsteps"]. It references the
base or hind part of the foot in several contexts, either the human "heel"
(Gen. 3:15; 25:26) or a horse's "hoof" (Gen. 49:17; Jdg. 5:22). It can
reference generally the hind part (euphemistically in Jer. 13:22) or a
"rearguard" (Jos. 8:13). But it also refers to the tracks left behind which
mark an animal trail (Cant. 1:8, "Follow in the *tracks* of the flock, and
feed your little goats beside the shepherds' tent"). The Philistines captured
David after tracking his "footprints" and hiding to catch him on the trail
(Psm. 56:6[7], cf. vs. 1).

So, is Psalm 77:20 teaching the mysterious nature of divine providence
whereby He works in such a way that one cannot -- by human investigation --
observe or track what God is doing? He leaves no footprints, as an animal
being pursued may go through water or a creek to avoid being trailed. (Some
take this idea as the common idea in Prov. 30:18-19 since the ship leaves no
mark on the sea.)

Any thoughts?

Dan Wagner


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  • Psalm 77:20[19], Daniel Wagner, 03/23/2001

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