About Interpretation within the Interplay of Singularity and Duality in Psalm 62:12 - Acta Universitatis Sapientiae

Acta Universitatis Sapientiae, Philologica, 16, 3 (2024) 121–132

DOI: 10.47745/ausp-2024-0034

Abstract. Psalm 62:12, a poetic expression in the Hebrew Bible, serves as an eloquent locus for deepening into the interplay of major concepts dealt with in Judaism such as singularity and duality. Through a lens that integrates traditional exegesis (especially the mystical insights of Sefer Yetzirah upon these concepts), the verse unfolds as a tapestry of layers, although a vast majority of its translations might overshadow some particularities of the original text. The investigation begins with the singularity of God’s utterance, symbolized by the phrase “One – God has spoken.” This could be seen as a reference to the primordial utterance, to the idea that God’s speech is not confined to a specific moment in time but encompasses the eternal and ongoing act of creation. The duality encapsulated in “Two – have I heard”, which embodies the perspective of the psalmist, invites reflection on the dynamic of revelation and interpretation – a binary dance of divine disclosure and human receptivity, as well as its edges. What role does the idea of interpretation play within the singularity vs duality interplay? Additionally, what perspectives or lenses are implied by the translations predominantly chosen for this verse?

Keywords: singularity, duality, interpretation, translation