Critical Works on the Psalms

The following is a list of critical works on the Book of Psalms. For the conservative these books are helpful for dealing with critical issues, but should be read and used with caution.

Under each post is a list of sources of recommendations. Some titles have a link, or reference to a review of the book.

Disclaimer: The inclusion of a title in this list does not indicate a full endorsement of its theological perspective and/or content by the contributors to this blog. Titles included are recommended by various authorities (as noted) and should be read and used with much prayer and Biblical discernment.

CRITICAL WORKS ON THE PSALMS

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Brueggemann, Walter. Israel's Praise: Doxology Against Idolatry and Ideology. (Philadelphia, PA: Fortress Press, 1988). Pp. 196.

Recommended by:

• Mays, James L. Psalms. Interpretation. (1994).
• Tate, Marvin E. "2004 Supplement with Update of Research and Bibliography" in Psalms 1-50. Word Biblical Commentary. (1983; 2nd ed. 2004).

Brueggemann, Walter. The Message of the Psalms: A Theological Commentary. (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Press, 1984). Pp. 206.
Liberal—Critical.

Recommended by:

• Calvin Theological Seminary. Recommended Commentaries. [2007]
  

  "Brueggemann's language translates readily to sermons, and he is not afraid to tackle difficult issues raised in the psalms."

• Goldingay, John E. Old Testament Commentary Survey. (2001).
  

  "Conservatively liberal, not a commentary but more illuminating than most commentaries."

• Longman, Tremper, III. How to Read the Psalms. (2006).
• Mays, James L. Preaching and Teaching the Psalms. Patrick D. Miller & Gene M. Tucker, eds. (2006).
• Mays, James L. Psalms. Interpretation. (1994).
• Seybold, Klaus. "Psalms, Book of" in The Encyclopedia of Christianity. Edited by Geoffrey W. Bromiley & David B. Barrett. (1999; 2003).
  
• Tate, Marvin E. "2004 Supplement with Update of Research and Bibliography" in Psalms 1-50. Word Biblical Commentary. (1983; 2nd ed. 2004).
  

Brueggemann, Walter. Praying the Psalms: Engaging the Scripture and the Life of the Spirit, Review of Biblical Literature. (Winona, MN: St. Martin's, 1982; 2nd Edition. Eugene, OR: Cascade, 2007). Pp. xviii + 97.

Reviewed by:

• Patrick D. Miller (Princeton Theological Seminary) RBL 6/7/2008
  

Brueggemann, W. The Psalms and the Life of Faith. (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress, 1995). Pp. 292.
Liberal—Critical.

Recommended by:

• Goldingay, John E. Old Testament Commentary Survey. (2001).
  

  "Conservatively liberal, not a commentary but more illuminating than most commentaries."

• Mays, James L. Preaching and Teaching the Psalms. Patrick D. Miller & Gene M. Tucker, eds. (2006).
• Tate, Marvin E. "2004 Supplement with Update of Research and Bibliography" in Psalms 1-50. Word Biblical Commentary. (1983; 2nd ed. 2004).

Creach, Jerome F. D. Yahweh as Refuge and the Editing of the Hebrew Psalter. (Sheffield, England: Sheffield Academic Press, 1996). Pp. 156.

Reviewed by:

• Magne Saeboe (The Norwegian Lutheran School of Theology) RBL 03/31/2000
  

Flint, Peter W. The Dead Sea Psalms Scrolls and the Book of Psalms. (Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1997). Pp. 250.

Recommended by:

• Seybold, Klaus. "Psalms, Book of" in The Encyclopedia of Christianity. Edited by Geoffrey W. Bromiley & David B. Barrett. (1999; 2003).
• Tate, Marvin E. "2004 Supplement with Update of Research and Bibliography" in Psalms 1-50. Word Biblical Commentary. (1983; 2nd ed. 2004).

Firth, David & Philip S. Johnston, eds. Interpreting the Psalms: Issues and Approaches. (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2007). Pp. 345.

Flint, Peter W., Patrick D. Miller, Aaron Brunell and Ryan Roberts. The Book of Psalms: Composition and Reception. Supplements to Vetus Testamentum 99; Formation and Interpretation of Old Testament Literature 4. (Leiden; Boston: Brill, 2005). Pp. xx + 680.

Reviewed by:

• Thomas Kraus (Am Schwalbennest 5) RBL 07/30/2005
  

Recommended by:

• Glynn, John. Commentary and Reference Survey: A Comprehensive Guide to Biblical and Theological Resources. (10th ed. 2007).

Futato, Mark D. Interpreting the Psalms: An Exegetical Handbook. Handbooks for Old Testament Exegesis. (Grand Rapids: Kregel Academic, 2007). Pp. 234.

Reviewed by:

• Howard N. Wallace (United Faculty of Theology) RBL 06/21/2008 (An appreciative but critical review.)
  

Keel, Othmar. The Symbolism of the Biblical World: Ancient Near Eastern Iconography and the Book of the Psalms. (New York, NY: Crossroad, 1985; Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns, 1997). Pp. 422.
Critical. The Psalms in the context of the Ancient Near East.

Recommended by:

• Mays, James L. Preaching and Teaching the Psalms. Patrick D. Miller & Gene M. Tucker, eds. (2006).
• Seybold, Klaus. "Psalms, Book of" in The Encyclopedia of Christianity. Edited by Geoffrey W. Bromiley & David B. Barrett. (1999; 2003).

McCann, J. Clinton, Jr., ed. The Shape and Shaping of the Psalter. Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, Supplement. 159. (Sheffield, England: JSOT Press, 1993). Pp. 130.
Critical. Deals with transmission and scripturization.

Recommended by:

• Mays, James L. Preaching and Teaching the Psalms. Patrick D. Miller & Gene M. Tucker, eds. (2006).
• Tate, Marvin E. "2004 Supplement with Update of Research and Bibliography" in Psalms 1-50. Word Biblical Commentary. (1983; 2nd ed. 2004).
  

Miller, Jr., Patrick D. Interpreting the Psalms. (Philadelphia, PA: Fortress Press, 1986). Pp. 176.

Recommended by:

• Longman, Tremper, III. How to Read the Psalms. (2006).
• Mays, James L. Preaching and Teaching the Psalms. Patrick D. Miller & Gene M. Tucker, eds. (2006).
• Mays, James L. Psalms. Interpretation. (1994).
• Tate, Marvin E. "2004 Supplement with Update of Research and Bibliography" in Psalms 1-50. Word Biblical Commentary. (1983; 2nd ed. 2004).

Miller, Patrick D. They Cried to the Lord: The Form and Theology of Biblical Prayer. (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress, 1994; Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress, 2000). Pp. 484.

Recommended by:

• Mays, James L. Preaching and Teaching the Psalms. Patrick D. Miller & Gene M. Tucker, eds. (2006).
• Tate, Marvin E. "2004 Supplement with Update of Research and Bibliography" in Psalms 1-50. Word Biblical Commentary. (1983; 2nd ed. 2004).

Mowinckel, Sigmund. The Psalms in Israel's Worship. The Biblical Resource Series. (2 vols. Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1962; Reprint in 1 Volume. Grand Rapids: Wm B. Eerdmans, 2004). Pp. 303.
Liberal—Critical. Cult Functional approach.

Reviewed by:

• Erhard Gerstenberger (Philipps-Universität Marburg) RBL 7/16/2005
• William Brown (Columbia Theological Seminary) RBL 7/16/2005
  

Recommended by:

• Mays, James L. Preaching and Teaching the Psalms. Patrick D. Miller & Gene M. Tucker, eds. (2006).
• Mays, James L. Psalms. Interpretation. (1994).

Parrish, V. Steven. A Story of the Psalms: Conversation, Canon, and Congregation. (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2003). Pp. viii + 151.

Reviewed by:

• Thomas Hieke (Katholisch-Theologische Fakultät der Universität Regensburg) RBL 08/21/2004
• Dorothy Jonaitis, OP (University of Dallas) RBL 08/21/2004
  

Westermann, Claus. The Living Psalms. (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co, 1989). Pp. 306.
[German Lutheran]

Recommended by:

• Glynn, John. Commentary and Reference Survey: A Comprehensive Guide to Biblical and Theological Resources. (10th ed. 2007).
• Tate, Marvin E. "2004 Supplement with Update of Research and Bibliography" in Psalms 1-50. Word Biblical Commentary. (1983; 2nd ed. 2004).

Westermann, Claus. The Praise and Lament in the Psalms. Translated by Keith R. Crim & Richard N. Soulen. (Atlanta, GA: John Knox Press, 1981). Pp. 312.
Liberal—Critical. [German Lutheran] Form-Critical Approach.

Recommended by:

• Longman, Tremper, III. How to Read the Psalms. (2006).
• Mays, James L. Preaching and Teaching the Psalms. Patrick D. Miller & Gene M. Tucker, eds. (2006).
• Mays, James L. Psalms. Interpretation. (1994).
• Seybold, Klaus. "Psalms, Book of" in The Encyclopedia of Christianity. Edited by Geoffrey W. Bromiley & David B. Barrett. (1999; 2003).

Westermann, Claus. The Praise Of God in the Psalms. (Richmond: John Knox Press, 1965). Pp. 172.
Liberal—Critical.

Reviewed by:

• W. Malcolm Clark (Princeton Theological Seminary) Theology Today 07/1966

Wilson, Gerald H. The Editing of the Hebrew Psalter. SBL Dissertation Series. (Chico, CA: Scholars Press, 1985). Pp. 296.
Critical. Deals with transmission and scripturization.

Recommended by:

• Glynn, John. Commentary and Reference Survey: A Comprehensive Guide to Biblical and Theological Resources. (10th ed. 2007).
  
• Mays, James L. Preaching and Teaching the Psalms. Patrick D. Miller & Gene M. Tucker, eds. (2006).
• Seybold, Klaus. "Psalms, Book of" in The Encyclopedia of Christianity. Edited by Geoffrey W. Bromiley & David B. Barrett. (1999; 2003).

Zenger, Erich. A God of Vengeance? Understanding the Psalms of Divine Wrath. (Louisville, KY.: Westminster John Knox Press, 1996). Pp. xii + 104.

Reviewed by:

• W. H. Bellinger, Jr. (Baylor University) RBL 02/15/1999
  

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Return to the Outline of Sources for Studying the Psalms.

Critical Works on the Psalms