A messianic reading of Psalm 8

Résumé 0

The well-known and beloved introduction to Ps 8, "O LORD, our Lord, how magnificent is your name ..." could also read "O LORD, our Lord, what is the magnificent one of your name ..."It is argued that although no known tradition for this proposed reading exists, it is well supported by text critical, grammatical, and literary arguments, and indeed seems to solve the multitude of problems connected to the prevalent reading tradition that derived from the LXX. A translation, based on this premise, is proposed. Furthermore, the NT uses of Ps 8 (LXX) also ser\˜e as argument that at least the central part of this psalm was interpreted as a messianic reference directly related to the anthropology of Gen 1. The inference is that a pre-Christian messianic reading of the whole Ps 8 could have existed, unfortunately overridden by the "Name Theology" of the LXX and its successors.