Metonym
You will arise and have compassion on Zion; for it is time to be gracious to her, for the appointed time has come. Psalm 102:13 NASB
Have compassion – The first description of God’s character in Exodus 34:6 is raḥûm. It comes from the Hebrew verb rāḥam, a verb that means “to love deeply, have mercy, be compassionate.” The importance of this word cannot be overestimated. The very first thing God tells us about Himself is יְהֹוָה יְהֹוָה אֵל רַחוּם, “YHVH, YHVH, God, compassionate.” We should all fall on our faces in unabating praise. In the ancient world, the gods could not be trusted. Life’s events proved that more often than not the gods intended harm toward men, sought vengeance, and brought wrath. For YHVH to declare that He is first and foremost a God of raḥûm was not only welcomed relief, it was radical hope! Here, in one word, is the central theme of the entire Bible: God cares! raḥûm. Hallelujah!
But if we read this verse out of context, we might assume that the psalmist is speaking with universal perspective. “God cares about everyone,” is the way we usually interpret it. However, if we’re careful we will notice that this particular statement about raḥûm is directed to Zion. God will stand up and shown compassion (תּֽרַחֲם) [in an imperfect tense, i.e., incomplete action, continuing] on Zion. Wait a minute! How do I show compassion on a place? Zion is the city of David, now located below the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Was God previously indifferent toward Zion? Has He suddenly decided to clean up its streets, renew its vegetation, refresh its water supply? Or maybe showing compassion on some bit of physical geography means hiring dog catchers? Perhaps we are to read “Zion” as John Hartley does in the TWOT: “The Psalmist is using poetic language to show that Zion is the religious center, not only for Israel, but for the entire world.”[1] Is that what it means, that the psalmist is now shifting his gaze to God’s care for “the entire world.” No, I don’t think so. That sounds like a nice, universal Christian interpretation, but it doesn’t fit the polytheistic cultures of the tenth century B.C.E. No, “Zion” is a metonym.
Ah, you might not be familiar with this English word. Let me give you a definition. A metonym is “a word, name, or expression used as a substitute for something else with which it is closely associated.” In other words, “Zion” is a substitute for “David.” Remember that this psalm is intensely personal. It doesn’t have a missionary, universal perspective. By using this metonym, the psalmist declares nothing more than the similar claim of the prophet Isaiah:
“Comfort, comfort My people,” says your God.
“Speak kindly to Jerusalem;
And call out to her, that her warfare has ended,
That her guilt has been removed,
That she has received of the Lord’s hand
Double for all her sins.” Isaiah 40:1-2
“I’m done fighting, Lord. And now I see that You are done withdrawing. We have both suffered enough. Rise up. The time of Your compassion is upon us both. Be gracious to me, your Zion.”
The complaining is over. Now we call on the character of God.
Topical Index: raḥûm, compassion, Zion, metonym, Psalm 102:13
[1] Hartley, J. E. (1999). 1910 צִייוֹן. R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer Jr., & B. K. Waltke (Eds.), Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (electronic ed., p. 764). Chicago: Moody Press.
