World Biblical Commentary 19: Psalms 1-50

Word Biblical Commentary #19

by Peter C. Craigie

Peter Craigie demonstrates in this commentary that the biblical psalms express "the most profound of human feelings and insights-prayer, praise, liturgy, wisdom and lament." Through careful analysis of language and form, he communicates both the emotional and theological impact of the psalms as originally experienced by the people of Israel at public worship and in private devotions.

Professor Craigie's translations and interpretations of each of the first fifty psalms apply insights into the Hebrew language and Israel's literature drawn from Ugaritic texts. He provides a careful and critical analysis of various controversial proposals based on these sources for understanding the early substance and later form of the Psalter.

This revision of WBC 19 by Marvin Tate preserves all of Professor Craigie's original exposition and augments it with an extensive supplement that updates the bibliographies and documents the explosive growth in Psalm studies in the last two decades of the twentieth century. Professor Tate's comprehensive additions survey and evaluate new trends in the scholarship on:

Hebrew Poetry Psalms Exegesis The Nature of the Psalter

The psalms are central parts of the worshiping life of Jewish and Christian communities, and are the roots of the musical heritage of both traditions. Dr. Craigie's and Dr. Tate's careful analyses will give the reader a new appreciation of the reality that life and faith, history and liturgy, and struggle and prayer are inseparable in the life of the people of God.

Genres: Reference, Biblical Studies, Old Testament, Theology, Christian, Christianity

500 pages, Hardcover

First published January 15, 1983

Reviews

[Dan]

The Word Bible Commentary (WBC), is a Biblical commentary I had always desired to own. I was introduced to them in my second year of Seminary and found them extremely useful in writing academic papers, in sermon preparation, and in Sunday school preparation.
A few years ago the word bible commentary switch Publishers again, and came under the ownership of Zondervan Publications. Under their leadership this series has seen a rejuvenation of sorts. While the format remains unchanged (providing a phenomenal bibliography, translation, notes trauma study on warm structure and setting, followed by comments and explanation), the binding of the book has changed as well as the addition of revised versions of previously released commentaries.

While the WBC is world renowned for its high academic pursuit of God’s Word, I was pleasantly surprised at its accessibility to the pastor and not just the academically-minded Bible scholar. In the book that I have the privilege of viewing is the 19th volume of this series containing Psalms 1-50, Peter C. Carigie has revised Marvin E. Tate’s previously released volume in this series. While admittedly I have only glanced at the original version, I have been informed that at it has been expanded upon more than revised. The revision encompasses interaction with new critical scholarship as well as updated information with regards to conservative scholarship as well.

While reading an assortment of passages on many Psalms I was satin to see a lack of commentary about each verse with regard to application and contextualisation. Yet on the other hand comments about the Hebrew language as well as syntax of each verse are indispensable information that is sorely lacking in almost every modern commentary.

While knowledge of the Hebrew language is handy when utilizing this commentary, it is not a necessary requirement for utilization. With that said having a deep knowledge of the Hebrew will greatly enhance a readers ability to use this commentary. I highly recommend this commentary to pastors and scholars due to its thorough academic approach combined with its accessibility to academia and the pastorate.

This book was provided to me free of charge from Zondervan Academic Publishers in exchange for an unbiased, honest review.

Psalms 1-50 (WBC), Second Edition

© 2014 by Peter C. Carigie and Marvin E. Tate

Publisher: Zondervan Academic

Page Count: 504 Pages

ISBN-13: 978-0785250135

[Andy Nichols]

More readable than I originally thought-I personally think it does a good job outlining the texts

[Nick]

Pretty good balance of scholarship and practical application. Leans a little heavier on the academic, but not always in the ways I wanted.