Psalms 22 LXX (23); Septuagint Studies

There are some interesting things that go on in Greek rendering of the 23rd Psalm, which is the 22nd Psalm in the LXX.  Let’s take a look at an English translation:

1 A song of David.  The Lord shepherds me, and he causes me to not lack anything.  2 In a grassy place, he has set up a place for me to dwell there.  At the restful water, he has fed me.  3 He has returned my soul to where it once was.  He has led me on the path of righteousness for the sake of his name.  4 For even if I go in the midst of the shadow of death, I will not be afraid of evil things, because you are with me.  Your rod and your staff, they have comforted me.  5 You have prepared a table before me in the presence of the opposition who afflict me.  You have anointed my head with oil.  Your cup makes me drunk as the best wine.  6 Your mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for a great many days. (My Translation)

Of course, the biggest thing one will see is at the end of verse 5!  The LXX represents Jewish thought at the time it was rendered.  Therefore, “the full cup that is so full of wine that the wine is running over the brim” means that there is so much that one can become drunk.  That wine is not ordinary wine, it is the best wine.  The wine that only the Lord can give.

Brenton translates this part (καὶ τὸ ποτήριόν σου μεθύσκον ὡς κράτιστον) as “and thy cup cheers me like the best wine”.  Now we know how it cheers a person up.