Bellarmine on Psalm VIII: Title and theme

 

Psalm VIII

Title and subject matter

Titulum et argumentum

Unto the end, for the presses: a psalm of David.

In finem, pro torcularibus. Psalmus David.

The word torcularibus[1] is in Hebrew haggihttith, which seems to signify nothing and so modern translators who read it thus say that it is a type of musical instrument unknown to us. But the Septuagint translators and St. Jerome read torcularibus as hagattoth which means wine (or olive) presses and we cannot doubt that this is the true reading. But what the words for the presses may mean is difficult to guess. Those who understand it to be a reference to the Church or to martyrdom or to the Cross of Christ, explain it in a figurative way. It is to be noted that these words for the presses are found in three psalms which chiefly pertain to the love of God, namely:

    • this Psalm viii, which opens with such a great impulse of love: “O Lord our Lord, how admirable is thy name in the whole earth! For thy magnificence is elevated above the heavens;”

    • and in Psalm lxxx: which likewise urges spiritual exultation: “ Rejoice to God our helper: sing aloud to the God of Jacob; take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel:[2] the pleasant psaltery[3] with the harp.”

    • and finally in Psalm lxxxiii, which is filled with feeling of the most ardent divine love: “ How lovely are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! My heart and my flesh have rejoiced in the living God.”

And so, based on the material of these Psalms, I believe it may be said they are for the presses because they are most suited to expressing[4] the wine of divine love from the hearts of men; or because they sing with gladness and joy in the heart, just like those who are wont to sing and rejoice at the time of the grape harvest when they express a huge quantity of wine from the presses. I confess however that I do not follow the understanding of this title like so many others; the theme of this Psalm is therefore praise of the power, the wisdom and the goodness of God, and chiefly in His dealings with the human race.

[1] torcŭlar, āris, n. torqueo. IA press used in making wine or oil, Vitr. 6, 9; Plin. 18, 26, 62, § 230.—  IIA cellar for storing up oil, an oil-cellar.

[2] A musical instrument of percussion; a tambourine or the like that could be held up in the hand. Chiefly used (to render Hebrew tōph).

[3] After post-classical Latin psaltērium in the Vulgate, usually rendering Hebrew nēḇel , neḇel. An ancient or medieval stringed instrument with a sounding board or box, similar to the dulcimer but played by plucking the strings with the fingers or a plectrum.

[4] express:  includes the sense of transitive verb: To press, squeeze, or wring out; to press (juice, air, etc.) from, out of (anything). spec. to press or squeeze out (milk or other secretion) from the breast. 

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.