Table of Contents
Introduction
Psalm 151 holds a unique place within biblical tradition. It is absent from the Hebrew Masoretic Text but preserved in the Septuagint (LXX) and in expanded form among the Dead Sea Scrolls at Qumran.
Attributed to David, the psalm presents a personal and reflective narrative. It recounts his humble beginnings, divine selection, and victory over a foreign adversary—traditionally identified as Goliath.
The composition takes the form of a poetic confession, emphasizing that divine election does not follow human expectations but favors the humble.
Structure
Psalm 151 unfolds in a concise yet meaningful sequence:
- Humble beginnings (vv. 1–2)
David describes himself as the youngest, tending sheep and playing music. - Direct relationship with God (v. 3)
A rhetorical question highlights God’s immediate awareness. - Divine election (v. 4)
God sends his messenger to anoint David. - Reversal of human expectations (v. 5)
The stronger brothers are not chosen. - Victory over the enemy (vv. 6–7)
The confrontation ends in triumph, symbolizing Israel’s deliverance.
Note on Textual Variants (LXX / QUMRAN)
Psalm 151 exists in two principal textual traditions:
1. Septuagint Version (LXX)
- Short text (7 verses)
- Compact poetic structure
- Focused on David and Goliath
- This is the most commonly transmitted version in modern translations
2. Qumran Version (11QPsᵃ)
- Longer and more developed text
- Contains additional material, likely drawn from two originally distinct psalms
- Greater emphasis on David’s wisdom and musical identity
- Language closer to an underlying Hebrew tradition
It is likely that the Greek version represents a shortened or edited form, while the Qumran manuscripts preserve a broader and possibly more ancient tradition.
Full Text
Psalm 151 — Interlinear (Greek LXX · Hebrew Qumran · English)
| Verse | Greek (LXX) | Hebrew (Qumran) | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Μικρὸς ἤμην ἐν τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς μου καὶ νεώτερος ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ τοῦ πατρός μου· ἐποίμαινον τὰ πρόβατα τοῦ πατρός μου. | קטן הייתי מאחי וצעיר בבית אבי רעה הייתי בצאן אבי | I was small among my brothers, and the youngest in my father's house; I tended my father's sheep. |
| 2 | Αἱ χεῖρές μου ἐποίησαν ὄργανον, καὶ οἱ δάκτυλοί μου ἥρμοσαν ψαλτήριον. | ידי עשו כלי ונגינותי תקנו כנור | My hands made a musical instrument; my fingers tuned the lyre. |
| 3 | Καὶ τίς ἀναγγελεῖ τῷ κυρίῳ μου; αὐτὸς κύριος, αὐτὸς εἰσακούει. | ומי יגיד לאדני אדני הוא שומע | And who will tell my Lord? The Lord himself, he hears. |
| 4 | Αὐτὸς ἐξαπέστειλεν τὸν ἄγγελον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἦρέν με ἐκ τῶν προβάτων τοῦ πατρός μου καὶ ἔχρισέν με ἐν τῷ ἐλαίῳ τῆς χρίσεως αὐτοῦ. | שלח מלאכו ויקחני מאחרי הצאן וימשחני בשמן משחתו | He sent his messenger and took me from my father's sheep and anointed me with the oil of his anointing. |
| 5 | Οἱ ἀδελφοί μου καλοὶ καὶ μεγάλοι, καὶ οὐκ εὐδόκησεν ἐν αὐτοῖς κύριος. | אחי יפים וגדולים ולא בהם בחר יהוה | My brothers were handsome and tall, but the Lord did not take pleasure in them. |
| 6 | Ἐξῆλθον εἰς συνάντησιν τῷ ἀλλοφύλῳ, καὶ κατηράσατό με ἐν τοῖς εἰδώλοις αὐτοῦ. | ואצא לקראת הפלשתי ויקללני באליליו | I went out to meet the foreigner, and he cursed me by his idols. |
| 7 | Ἐγὼ δὲ σπασάμενος τὴν παρ’ αὐτοῦ μάχαιραν ἀπεκεφάλισα αὐτόν καὶ ἦρα ὄνειδος ἐξ υἱῶν Ἰσραήλ. | ואשלוף חרבו ואכרת את ראשו ואסיר חרפה מעל בני ישראל | But I drew his own sword, beheaded him, and removed disgrace from the children of Israel. |
Bibliography
The text of Psalm 151 may be consulted in several reputable academic and digital resources. A widely accessible English version based on the Septuagint is available at Early Christian Writings. For manuscript evidence and textual context from the Dead Sea Scrolls (11QPsᵃ), see the Leon Levy Dead Sea Scrolls Digital Library. The Greek text of the Septuagint can be consulted through scholarly editions such as New English Translation of the Septuagint (NETS), while critical discussions are found in standard works on the Psalms and Second Temple literature.