This is part of my search for the Hebrew-Greek divide and the creative use of the text to translate culture and language to a new day. (See this post for the stimulus from BBB.)
Note - missing psalm 106:20 cited in Romans 1; maybe psalm 17:4 in the prayer of Jesus in John 17
This is one small step closer to trying to see how the NT authors used the Psalter. All to be examined in more detail - but first this possibly useful list (extracted from Old Testament Quotations in the New Testament: A Complete Survey by Gleason L. Archer and G.C. Chirichingo.) There are some errors and omissions in that text. I checked and added to the list from the references in the old Jerusalem Bible (1962). Anyone know of a good book on this subject?
I have listed 130 or so allusions depending on how you count them. Just over 60 of the Psalms are referenced or have a recognizable allusion in 15 of the books of the NT. Even on a first pass, some of them are questionable and I dropped them. And I have no doubt that even from these two 'authorities', I will differ and maybe see both more and less than they cite. And there are several I would have missed at least on a first pass. There must be a more determined method which I will try and discover.
Matthew (18)
Mark (8)
Luke (11)
John (8)
Acts (10)
Romans (17)
1-2 Corinthians (4 /2)
Ephesians (4)
Hebrews (25)
1-2 Timothy (1 /1)
1-2 Peter (8 / 1)
Revelation (12)
Romans, Hebrews, and 1 Peter seem to have the highest concentration.
Verses may be off by 1, since I have not been careful to avoid the confusion between Hebrew and English verse numbering. Blue - Royal; Red - Passion, Green Hebrews which seems to specialize in Psalm references.
Psalm | NT Reference | Comment & very rough reminder of text |
1:3 | Revelation 22:2 | like a tree, leaves for healing - see also Ezekiel 47:12, leaves do not wither then he shall be like a tree transplanted by streams of water that gives its fruit in its time and its leaf does not fade and in all that it does it shall prosper |
2:1-2 | Revelation 19:19, Acts 4:25-26 | Why such noise from nations And peoples muttering in vain |
2:7 | Acts 13:33, Hebrews 1:5, 5:5 | see also 2 Samuel 7:14 The LORD said to me My son are you I this day have brought you forth |
2:9 | Revelation 2:26-27, 12:5 19:15 | Note difference with LXX shepherd = Revelation 'rule' You will break them with sceptre of iron as vessel of a potter they will be shattered |
4:5 | Ephesians 4:26 | Be angry, but do not sin LXX has be angry Tremble and do not be missing the goal speak with your heart on your bed and be still |
5:10 | Romans 3:13 | For there is not in their mouth faithfulness their belly a chasm a sepulcre open their neck their tongue deceives |
6:9 | Matthew 7:23 | depart from me workers of evil... Leave me all workers of sorrow for heard has the LORD the voice of my weeping |
8:3 | Matthew 11:25, 21:16 | praise of children our Lord how majestic is your name in all the earth that is chanted your splendour above the heavens by the mouth of children and nurselings |
8:5-7 | Hebrews 2:6-9, 1 Corinthians 15:27, Ephesians 1:22 | little lower than the angels What is humanity that you remember and a child of dust that you visit? You give it reign over the works of your hands all you put under its feet. |
10:7 | Romans 3:14 | his mouth full and treachery and oppression under his tongue mischief and emptiness |
14:1-3 | Romans 3:11-12 | Nothing doing good |
16:8-11 | Acts 2:25-28. 2:31, 13:26, 13:35 | not let your holy one see corruption for you will not abandon my life to the place of the dead You will not allow your righteous to see a pit |
17:15 | Revelation 22:4 | face to face I in righteousness will see your face I will be satisfied to awaken in your likeness |
18:50 | Romans 15:9 | see also 2 Samuel 22:50 therefore I will give you thanks among the nations O LORD and to your name I will sing praises |
19:5 | Romans 10:18 | praise among the nations but in all the earth has gone out their lineage and to the end of the world their utterance |
22:2 | Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34 | My God My God Why have you abandoned me distant from my salvation words of my groaning |
22:8 | Matthew 27:43 | Trust in the LORD let him deliver him let him snatch him for he delights in him |
22:19 | John 19:24, Matthew 27:35, Mark 15:24, Luke 23:24 | they will part my clothing among them and on my garment they will cast lots |
22:23 | Hebrews 2:12 | I will declare your name to my kin in the midst of the congregation I will praise you (see also 35:18, 40:9, 149:1) |
24:1 | 1 Corinthians 10:26 | to the LORD the earth and her fullness |
27:5 | Revelation 7:15-16 | in a day of trouble he will hide me in a secret of his tent |
31:6 | Luke 23:46, Acts 7:59 | into your hands I will entrust my spirit you have redeemed me O LORD God of truth |
32:1-2 | Romans 4:7-8 | happy lifted up transgression covered sin happy human not will consider the LORD - to him iniquity |
34:9 | 1 Peter 2:3 | taste and see for good is the LORD |
34:13-17 | 1 Peter 3:10-12 | Man - who is it desiring life loving days to see good nip your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit stay from evil and do good seek peace and hunt for it eyes those of the LORD on the righteous and his ears on their cry for help face that of the LORD against those doing evil |
34:20 | John 19:36 | sheltering all his bones one from them not will be broken |
35:19 | John 15:25 | those hating me for nothing |
36:1 | Romans 3:18 | there is no fear of God before his eyes |
37:5 | 1 Peter 5:7, 1 Thessalonians 5:24 | the effectiveness of trust |
37:11 | Matthew 5:5 | the poor will inherit the earth |
37:18 | Matthew 6:8 | on the LORD knowing needs |
39:12 | 1 Peter 2:11 | for a stranger I am to you a dweller as all my ancestors look at me and I will smile before I go and there is no me |
40:6-8 | Hebrews 10:5-7 | sacrifice and offering you did not desire ears you have dug to me burnt offering and sin offering not did you desire then I said Here I come in the roll of the writing is inscribed of me to do your will my God |
41:10 | John 13:18 | even a man of my peace that I trusted in him eating my bread has magnified against me a heel |
42:6, 12, 43:5 | Matthew 26:38, Mark 14:34 | My soul is distressed - I think this is a bit of a stretch - more like a resonance than an allusion. |
44:23 | Romans 8:36 | all the day we are considered as sheep for slaughter |
45:7-8 | Hebrews 1:8-9 | your throne O God to the age and for ever a sceptre of equity the sceptre of your kingdom You have loved righteousness and hate wickedness therefore has anointed you God your God with oil of rejoicing with your companions |
49:8 | Matthew 16:26, Romans 3:24 | What can be offered in exchange for a life |
49:17 | 1 Timothy 6:7 | for not in his death will he take the all it will not descend after him his glory |
50:14 | Hebrews 13:15 | Offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving offer to God thanksgiving and pay to the Most High your vows |
50:17 | Romans 2:17-24 | Allusive only - not a citation what is it to you to recount my statutes and that you would take of my covenant in your mouth and you hate correction and cast my words behind you |
51:4 | Romans 3:4 | so you are right to speak you are clear to judge |
53:1-3 | Romans 3:11-12 | Nothing doing good - not a single one. |
55:7 | Revelation 12:6 | behold I will be far off to retreat and stay in the wilderness |
55:22 | 1 Peter 5:7 | Throw to the LORD your gift and he will contain you (these off the wall literalisms make you think - don't they!) |
56:11 | Hebrews 13:6 | I will trust I will not fear what does a human to me |
62:13 | Matthew 16:27, Romans 2:6, 2 Timothy 4:14 | and to you O Lord there is mercy for you complete a man according to his works see also Proverbs 24:12 |
68:19 | Ephesians 4:8-10 | you are gone up on high captives you have captured you have received gifts of humanity even the rebellious in the tent of Yah God |
69:5 | John 15:25 | Note the use of law for the psalms in John. more than the hairs of my head are those hating me for nothing |
69.10 | Romans 15:3, John 2:17 | for jealousy your house has eaten me up and the reproaches of those reproaching you have fallen on me |
69:21 | Matthew 27:34, 48 | they gave for my food venom and in my thirst they gave drink vinegar |
69:23-24 | Romans 11:9-10 | let their table become in their faces a trap and in their peace a snare let be darkened their eyes from seeing and their loins continually shake |
69:25 | Acts 1:20 | let their home become desolate in their tents let no one be living |
78:2 | Matthew 13:35 | I will open with insight my mouth ferment riddles from of old |
78:24 | John 6:31 | and had rained on them manna and the corn of heaven he gave to them |
82:6 | John 10:34 | I said gods are you and children of the Most High all of you surely as humans you will die |
86:9-10 | Revelation 15:4 | all nations whom you made will come and worship before your face O Lord and glorify your name for great are you and do wonders you O God you alone |
89:21 89:27 | Acts 13:22 Revelation 1:5 | Surely I firstborn will make him on high with the kings of the earth |
90:4 | 2 Peter 3:8 | for a thousand years in your eyes like a day recent for it is past and a watch in the night |
91:11-12 | Matthew 4:6, Luke 4:10-11; Hebrews 1:14 | for his messengers he will instruct over you to keep you in all your ways in their hands they will lift you up in case you will strike with a stone your foot |
91:13 | Luke 10:19 | on a lion and adder you will walk you will trample a young lion and dragon |
94:11 | 1 Corinthians 3:20 | The LORD knows the thoughts of a human that they are emptiness |
94:14 | Romans 11:12 | for not will cast off the LORD his people and his inheritance he will not forsake |
95:7-11 | Hebrews 3:7-11, 15, 4:7, 4:3-5 | today if his voice you hear do not harden your hearts as in strife as the day of testing in the wilderness and so on... |
97:7 | Hebrews 1:6 | worship him, all gods |
102:25-26 | Hebrews 1:10-12 | in the presence of the earth you established and the work of your hands the heavens these will perish but you you will stand and they all like clothing will decay as a garment you will change them and they will be changed but you he and your years will not end |
104:4 | Hebrews 1:7 | making his messengers winds his ministers a flaming fire |
104:12 | Matthew 13:32, Mark 4:32, Luke 13:19 | on them a bird of the heavens settles between flights |
107:9 | Luke 1:53 | For he has satisfied a life longing and a life hungry he has filled with good |
109:8 | Acts 1:20 | let his days be short and his office let take another |
110:1 | Matthew 22:44, Acts 2:34-35, Hebrews 1:13, 10:12-13, 1 Peter 3:22 | a proclamation of the LORD to my Lord sit at my right hand till I will make your enemies a stool for your feet |
110:4 | Hebrews 5:6, 7:17, 21 | Has sworn the LORD and not will he repent you a priest for ever of the order of my king of righteousness |
111:2 | Revelation 15:3 | see also Deuteronomy 32:4, Jeremiah 10:6, Amos 3:13, Psalm 145:17 Great are the works of the LORD |
112:9 | 2 Corinthians 9:9 | prodigal of love he gave to the poor his righteousness standing in perpetuity |
116:10 | 1 Corinthians 4:13, 2 Corinthians 4:13 | I believed so I spoke I was afflicted greatly |
117:1 | Romans 15:11 | Praise the LORD all nations be free in him all the peoples |
118:6 | Hebrews 13:6 | LORD to me - not will I fear what will do to me a human |
118:22-23 | Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:10-11, Luke 20:17, Acts 4:11, 1 Peter 2:7 | A stone they rejected the builders becomes to a head of a corner from the LORD becomes this It is marvelous in our eyes |
118:25-26 | Matthew 21:9, Mark 11:9-10, John 12:13, Matthew 23:39, Luke 13:35, 19:38 | Now LORD Save Please Now LORD Send prosperity Please Blessed coming in the name of the LORD |
131:2 | Matthew 18:3, Mark 10:15, Luke 9:48 | becoming as a child |
132:11 | Acts 2:30 | Sworn has the LORD of David truth - he will not turn from her of the fruit of your belly will I set on your throne |
132:18 | Luke 1:69 | I will cause to sprout a horn Of David her enemies I will clothe with shame |
135:14 | Hebrews 10:30 | the Lord will judge his people |
140:4 | Romans 3:13 | they have sharpened their tongues as a serpent poison of an adder under their lips |
143:2 | Romans 3:20 | for he will not be righteous in your presence anyone living |
145:17 | Revelation 15:3-4 | Righteous is the Lord in all his ways |
148:1 | Mark 11:10 | Praise him in the highest heights; Job 16:19 |
3 comments:
Dear Bob,
Your "raw data" list of psalm allusions in the New Testament was helpful for an article I'm writing for WorshipConnection.com. Here's my question: are there any allusions to psalms in the Old Testament? I'm certain there must be, but a quick search didn't find any.
Thanks for your help!
Ian Doescher
iandoescher@gmail.com
Ian - I am glad it has been useful. As you can guess I am far from complete in this matter. I am searching to feel as the early writers felt so that I can understand their allusions even when there are only hints.
As to the TNK - yes there are uses of the Psalms in the OT. Some Psalms come from outside the psalter - e.g. 2 Samuel 22 and Psalm 18. It has been suggested by Jerome Creach that the Book of Consolation (Isaiah 40-56) has many allusions to the 4th book of Psalms - but I have not seen anyone prove it yet. Proof for me would be the same words/concepts in the same sequence in the two literary bodies.
I can't recommend a book for your specific task. It might be difficult to say when a particular text was written or redacted - so the question is who is quoting whom? Would second Isaiah be using an early version of the Psalter, or would the final redactor of the Psalms be collecting psalms around the promise of the consolation of Israel.
A good word study would be the relation between the Hebrew naham (נחם ) and the Greek paraclete - note particularly the story of Simeon in Luke - looking for the consolation of Israel and of course the promise of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. The reason I mention this is that If Isaiah was copying the Psalter, then the idea of comforter is early, if the other way, then it is post exilic. Simeon's character then stands as one taking hope from a more recent past or a more distant past - though perhaps both of course. There is movement in the use of this word from God's repentance or sighing (OT) to God's advocacy (NT). Of course with the fullness of Jesus, God has nothing to repent of - for in him he is well pleased!
Ian - much later. There are allusions to the psalms in Job. One recent student has this as his thesis. See this link from my review of the Oxford Psalms conference
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