Differentiation of Form, Theme, and Changing Functions in Psalms and Prayers

ABSTRACT Form criticism has long been an indispensable part of psalm studies, and some of its main results are still widely accepted. Nevertheless, certain formal categories distinguished by some, such as the existence of genres of royal or wisdom psalms, have been firmly denied by others. Moreover, psalm and prayer material from the late Second Temple period has nearly from the beginning of form-critical studies been acknowledged to resist formal classification into firm categories. With only a small portion of the available material falling neatly into recognized categories, the limits of the current form-critical approach are obvious. This paper considers whether a differentiation between formal and thematic elements and their further distinction from issues related to the changing functions of psalmody could pave the way for methodologically more nuanced models that would be able to cope more flexibly and reliably with the diversity of the material and the changing social settings behind them.