Psalm Superscriptions

Occurrence and Content in Scripture

Psalm superscriptions are short headings at the beginning of many of the 150 Psalms. About 110 psalms are commonly counted as having one. In the New Korean Revised Version, they are printed in small type before the text, as in Psalm 4 ("To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David," KJV). Some psalms, such as Psalms 1 and 2, have no superscription.

The information in the superscriptions falls roughly into the following categories:

• Author or affiliation: The name of David appears most often. Others include Asaph (Psalms 50 and 73–83), the sons of Korah, Solomon (Psalms 72 and 127), and Moses (Psalm 90).
• Genre: Terms such as "psalm," "song," "prayer," "Maschil," and "Michtam" are used.
• Musical directions: Performance-related expressions include "To the chief Musician," "on Neginoth" (on stringed instruments), and "upon Aijeleth Shahar" (Psalm 22).
• Circumstances of composition: Some superscriptions connect a psalm with a specific event in David's life. For example, Psalm 3 is set at the time David fled from Absalom, and Psalm 51 at the time the prophet Nathan came to him after the incident involving Bathsheba.
• Liturgical use: An example is "A Psalm or Song for the sabbath day" (Psalm 92). Psalms 120–134 bear the superscription "A Song of degrees" (often called the Songs of Ascents).

Background and Original Text

In the Hebrew Masoretic Text, the superscription is usually numbered as verse 1. As a result, in psalms with long superscriptions, the verse numbering differs by one or two verses from that of Korean and English Bibles (see chapters and verses of the Bible). The Greek translation known as the Septuagint has superscriptions on more psalms than the Masoretic Text does.

The precise meaning of many musical terms, such as "To the chief Musician," "Gittith," and "Sheminith," is uncertain. Scholars variously suggest that they refer to tune names, instruments, or vocal ranges. The same is true of Selah, which appears within the text of the psalms.

Significance in Scripture as a Whole

The New Testament quotes portions of the Psalms as the words of David. Jesus cited Psalm 110 as words David spoke under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit: "For David himself said by the Holy Ghost" (Mark 12:36). The book of Acts introduces Psalm 16 as the words of David (Acts 2:25). Hebrews 4:7 quotes Psalm 95, which has no superscription in the Masoretic Text, as spoken "in David"; in this connection it is often noted that the Septuagint superscription attributes this psalm to David.

Interpretation and Points of Debate

The chief points of debate concern the authority and date of the superscriptions.

• Traditional view: Conservative evangelical and Reformed interpreters tend to regard the superscriptions as part of the canonical text and to accept their information about authorship and circumstances as reliable. Among those who hold to biblical inerrancy, many consider the superscriptions to fall within its scope.
• Later-redaction view: In historical-critical scholarship, many hold that the superscriptions were added later, during the process of collecting and editing the Psalms.
• The expression "of David": The Hebrew preposition le can be read as "by," "dedicated to," "concerning," or "belonging to the collection of." Consequently, opinions differ over whether the expression necessarily indicates authorship.
• Differences from historical narratives: The superscription of Psalm 34 states that David feigned madness before "Abimelech," whereas 1 Samuel 21 names Achish, king of Gath. One explanation offered is that Abimelech was a title of Philistine kings.

The superscriptions of the original text should be distinguished from the section headings that some translations and study Bibles add to passages to assist readers. The superscriptions are part of the original text, whereas the section headings are editorial additions.

In the Korean Church

Both the New Korean Revised Version and the Revised New Korean Standard Version print the superscriptions before the text. Preachers frequently use the circumstances described in a superscription as a key to understanding the passage, as when preaching on Psalm 51 on the theme of repentance. The Songs of Degrees (Psalms 120–134) are sometimes treated as a group for sermon series or devotional reading.