Tell me more ×
Mi Yodeya is a question and answer site for those who base their lives on Jewish law and tradition and anyone interested in learning more. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 3 down vote favorite

In Parshas Beshalach (and Emet Ve-Yatziv/Ve-Emunah) it says ה' ימלך לעלם ועד, but in Sefer Tehilim (and Kedushah) it says ימלוך ה' לעולם. Why the change in language?

share|improve this question

2 Answers

up vote 2 down vote

The Kedushas Levi answers that we should really say like Dovid as we have a rule from Nedarim that we do not say "for Hashem a Korbon" as you might die Mid-sentence and you have said Gods name for no purpose but here we know that after Kriyas Yam Suf Death was taken away until they sinned at the Egel there was no such concern and Hence the Change of language.

share|improve this answer
Now I understand the Chesed l'Alafim who says that though some Sephardim have a minhag to say ה׳ עמכם before Barechu for an aliyah (he says you shouldn't say the shem hashem first, therefore you should say "hashem" and not "adonai"). Yet in Megillat Rut, Boaz greeted his workers, ה׳ עמכם and actually said "adonai". What's up with that? – Chanoch Jan 11 '11 at 4:59
I am almost sure one of the Meforshim on the Spot address that very question look into it – SimchasTorah Jan 11 '11 at 5:30
1  
Could you please provide a citation for where Kedushas Levi says this? Thanks. – Adam Mosheh May 23 '12 at 0:19
1  
@Chanoch, it's suggested that Boaz somehow knew he would live to bear an heir in the Judean dynasty. As he hadn't yet had children, he knew he wouldn't die yet. An alternative answer is the Gemara says a reward for greeting people is long life, so it's implausible that G-d would let someone drop dead of a heart attack while in the middle of greeting people. – Shalom May 23 '12 at 12:54
up vote 2 down vote

Again, context here gives the simplest answer.

At the Red Sea, it's just about G-d's mastery of the world. "G-d shall reign for ever and ever." Done.

Psalms adds the element of Jerusalem. (In fact, that's why this verse makes it into Kedusha -- the editors of the siddur felt kedusha would be remiss without some mention of Jerusalem.) So right after "G-d" is the explanatory phrase "your L-rd, Zion." Thus:

"May G-d -- [who is] your L-rd, Jerusalem -- reign forever and ever."

Reversing the order there would make for a more convoluted sentence structure. "Hashem shall reign -- your L-rd, Jerusalem ..."

share|improve this answer
I suspect the reverse, convoluted order is not uncommon in Tanach, though. OTOH I can't think of any specific examples at the moment. – msh210♦ May 23 '12 at 15:21

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.