The Meaning of בִּרְקִיעַ עֻזּוֹ in Ps. 150:1

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Back to Psalm 150.

Exegetical issues for Psalm 150:

Introduction

The Hebrew text of Ps. 150:1 reads as follows:[1]

הַ֥לְלוּ יָ֨הּ ׀
הַֽלְלוּ־אֵ֥ל בְּקָדְשׁ֑וֹ
הַֽ֝לְל֗וּהוּ בִּרְקִ֥יעַ עֻזּֽוֹ׃

The last phrase of this verse (רְקִיעַ עֻזּוֹ) is a construct phrase, which the KJV translates literally as the firmament of his power (cf. NJB, LUT, EÜ). The semantic relationship between the two nouns in the construct phrase, 'firmament' (רָקִיעַ) and 'power' (עֹז), is not clear. According to some translations, the second noun (עֹז) specifies a quality of the first noun (רָקִיעַ). The ESV and NIV, for example, translate the phrase as his mighty heavens (cf. NLT, NRSV, REB, EÜ, ZÜR, NFC, NVI; see also DHH94I RVR95, BTX4). According to other translations, a verbal idea is implicit in the construct phrase. The NET, for example, translate the phrase as the sky, which testifies to his strength (cf. NGÜ, NBS, NVS78P, BDS, S21). Other translations understand the second noun (עֹז) in an entirely different sense: praise Him in the sky, His stronghold (JPS85, cf. CEV, TOB). The following argument maps will explore each of these three views.[2]

Argument Maps

'His mighty heavens' (preferred)

Most of the translations we consulted interpret the phrase רְקִיעַ עֻזּוֹ to mean 'his mighty heavens.' Both the NIV and ESV, for example, say "praise him in his mighty heavens" (cf. NLT, NRSV, REB, EÜ, ZÜR, NFC, NVI; see also DHH94I RVR95, BTX4). According to this interpretation, עֹז is a quality of the רָקִיעַ. 


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['His mighty heavens']: The construct chain בִּרְקִיעַ עֻזּוֹ (lit.: 'the heaven of his might') means 'his mighty heavens' (cf. HALOT :L:; DCH :L:; Baethgen 1904:438 :C:).
 + <Construct noun + עֹז + pronominal suffix>: When the noun עֹז occurs with a pronominal suffix at the end of a construct chain, it is usually attributive: 'the x of his strength' = 'his strong x' (cf. Brodersen 2017:42 :M:).
  + [Construct noun + עֹז + pronominal suffix]: זְרוֹעַ עֻזּוֹ (Isa. 62:8; cf. Ps. 89:11); קִרְיַת עֻזּוֹ (Prov. 10:15; 18:11); מַצֵּבוֹת עֻזֵּךְ (Ezek. 26:11); אֲרוֹן עֻזֶּךָ (Ps. 132:8); צוּר־עֻזִּי (Ps. 62:8); מַטֵּה עֻזְּךָ (Ps. 110:2); cf. מִגְדַּל עֹז (Jdg. 9:51; Ps. 61:4; Prov. 18:10) (see DCH עֹז :L:).
 + <Symmachus>: The ancient Greek translator, Symmachus, understood 'might' as describing 'heaven.'
  + [Symmachus]: ἐν τῷ στερεώματι τῷ ἀκαθαιρέτω αὐτοῦ
 - <Selectional restriction>: It does not make sense to describe the רָקִיעַ as 'strong' or 'mighty'. #dispreferred
  - <רָקִיעַ as a solid dome>: "By רָקִיעַ was understood the gigantic heavenly dome..." (HALOT :L:) which was "regarded by Hebrews as solid" (BDB :L:; cf. Seely 1991 :A:).
   + [Job 37:18]: Job. 37:18 describes the sky as "hard as a mirror of cast bronze" (NIV) and even uses the verb רקע (hiphil) to describe the process of creating this solid sky. תַּרְקִ֣יעַ עִ֭מּוֹ לִשְׁחָקִ֑ים חֲ֝זָקִ֗ים כִּרְאִ֥י מוּצָֽק׃
   + <Ancient versions>: The ancient Greek translators used the word στερέωμα to translate רָקִיעַ in Ps. 150 (and elsewhere), implying that they understood it as a strong solid structure. Similarly, in Genesis 1, Jerome uses the word *firmamentum* to translate רָקִיעַ.
    + [Ancient versions]: LXX: ἐν στερεώματι; Aquila: ἐν στερεώματι; Symmachus: ἐν τῷ στερεώματι
  + <רָקִיעַ as expanse>: The word רָקִיעַ "refers to the space between heaven and earth (NIV 'expanse')" (Walton 2011:159 :M:). #dispreferred
 - <Purpose/context of Psalm>: The purpose of the Psalm is to praise YHWH, and in this context it makes more sense that the phrase should refer to YHWH's might ('the heavens which show his might') than to the might of the heavens themselves.#dispreferred
  + <God's strength implied>: "While the suffix 'his', i.e. God’s, strictly extends to 'firmament whose quality is might' and not just 'might', someone who has a mighty firmament has to be mighty himself, and thus the phrase implies the might of God when mentioning the might of his firmament" (Brodersen 2017:42-43 :M:)


Argument Mapn0'His mighty heavens'The construct chain בִּרְקִיעַ עֻזּוֹ (lit.: 'the heaven of his might') means 'his mighty heavens' (cf. HALOT 🄻; DCH 🄻; Baethgen 1904:438 🄲).n1Construct noun + עֹז + pronominal suffixזְרוֹעַ עֻזּוֹ (Isa. 62:8; cf. Ps. 89:11); קִרְיַת עֻזּוֹ (Prov. 10:15; 18:11); מַצֵּבוֹת עֻזֵּךְ (Ezek. 26:11); אֲרוֹן עֻזֶּךָ (Ps. 132:8); צוּר־עֻזִּי (Ps. 62:8); מַטֵּה עֻזְּךָ (Ps. 110:2); cf. מִגְדַּל עֹז (Jdg. 9:51; Ps. 61:4; Prov. 18:10) (see DCH עֹז 🄻).n5Construct noun + עֹז + pronominal suffixWhen the noun עֹז occurs with a pronominal suffix at the end of a construct chain, it is usually attributive: 'the x of his strength' = 'his strong x' (cf. Brodersen 2017:42 🄼).n1->n5n2Symmachusἐν τῷ στερεώματι τῷ ἀκαθαιρέτω αὐτοῦn6SymmachusThe ancient Greek translator, Symmachus, understood 'might' as describing 'heaven.'n2->n6n3Job 37:18Job. 37:18 describes the sky as "hard as a mirror of cast bronze" (NIV) and even uses the verb רקע (hiphil) to describe the process of creating this solid sky. תַּרְקִ֣יעַ עִ֭מּוֹ לִשְׁחָקִ֑ים חֲ֝זָקִ֗ים כִּרְאִ֥י מוּצָֽק׃n8רָקִיעַ as a solid dome"By רָקִיעַ was understood the gigantic heavenly dome..." (HALOT 🄻) which was "regarded by Hebrews as solid" (BDB 🄻; cf. Seely 1991 🄰).n3->n8n4Ancient versionsLXX: ἐν στερεώματι; Aquila: ἐν στερεώματι; Symmachus: ἐν τῷ στερεώματιn9Ancient versionsThe ancient Greek translators used the word στερέωμα to translate רָקִיעַ in Ps. 150 (and elsewhere), implying that they understood it as a strong solid structure. Similarly, in Genesis 1, Jerome uses the word firmamentum  to translate רָקִיעַ.n4->n9n5->n0n6->n0n7Selectional restrictionIt does not make sense to describe the רָקִיעַ as 'strong' or 'mighty'. n7->n0n8->n7n9->n8n10רָקִיעַ as expanseThe word רָקִיעַ "refers to the space between heaven and earth (NIV 'expanse')" (Walton 2011:159 🄼). n10->n7n11Purpose/context of PsalmThe purpose of the Psalm is to praise YHWH, and in this context it makes more sense that the phrase should refer to YHWH's might ('the heavens which show his might') than to the might of the heavens themselves.n11->n0n12God's strength implied"While the suffix 'his', i.e. God’s, strictly extends to 'firmament whose quality is might' and not just 'might', someone who has a mighty firmament has to be mighty himself, and thus the phrase implies the might of God when mentioning the might of his firmament" (Brodersen 2017:42-43 🄼)n12->n11


'Heaven, which shows his might'

Several translations interpret the phrase רְקִיעַ עֻזּוֹ to mean 'heaven, which shows his might.' The NET, for example, says "praise him in the sky, which testifies to his strength" (cf. NGÜ, NBS, NVS78P, BDS, S21). According to this view, עֹז is not mentioned as a quality of the רָקִיעַ but as a quality of YHWH who made the רָקִיעַ. 


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['Heaven, which shows his might']: The construct chain בִּרְקִיעַ עֻזּוֹ (lit.: 'the heaven of his might') means 'the heaven which shows his might' (cf. Radak :C:; Calvin :C:; Zenger :C: 2011). 
 + <Similar passages>: Other passages in the psalms speak of the heavens as containing or showing YHWH's might.
  + [Ps. 68:35b]: עַֽל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל גַּאֲוָת֑וֹ וְ֝עֻזּ֗וֹ בַּשְּׁחָקִֽים (cf. Ibn Ezra :C:).
  + [Ps. 19:2]: הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם מְֽסַפְּרִ֥ים כְּבֽוֹד־אֵ֑ל וּֽמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יָ֝דָ֗יו מַגִּ֥יד הָרָקִֽיעַ׃
 + <Purpose/context of Psalm>: The purpose of the Psalm is to praise YHWH, and in this context it makes sense that the phrase should refer to YHWH's might ('the heavens which show his might') instead of the might of the heavens themselves ('his mighty heavens').


Argument Mapn0'Heaven, which shows his might'The construct chain בִּרְקִיעַ עֻזּוֹ (lit.: 'the heaven of his might') means 'the heaven which shows his might' (cf. Radak 🄲; Calvin 🄲; Zenger 🄲 2011). n1Ps. 68:35bעַֽל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל גַּאֲוָת֑וֹ וְ֝עֻזּ֗וֹ בַּשְּׁחָקִֽים (cf. Ibn Ezra 🄲).n3Similar passagesOther passages in the psalms speak of the heavens as containing or showing YHWH's might.n1->n3n2Ps. 19:2הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם מְֽסַפְּרִ֥ים כְּבֽוֹד־אֵ֑ל וּֽמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יָ֝דָ֗יו מַגִּ֥יד הָרָקִֽיעַ׃n2->n3n3->n0n4Purpose/context of PsalmThe purpose of the Psalm is to praise YHWH, and in this context it makes sense that the phrase should refer to YHWH's might ('the heavens which show his might') instead of the might of the heavens themselves ('his mighty heavens').n4->n0


'Heaven, his fortress'

A few translations interpret the phrase רְקִיעַ עֻזּוֹ to mean 'heaven, his stronghold.' The JPS85 translation, for example, says "praise Him in the sky, His stronghold" (cf. CEV, TOB). According to this view עֹז does not refer to the abstract quality of 'strengh' or 'might' but to a 'stronghold' or 'fortress.' 


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['Heaven, his fortress']: The construct chain בִּרְקִיעַ עֻזּוֹ means 'heaven, his fortress.' The word רְקִיעַ ('heaven' or 'firmament') and the phrase עֻזּוֹ ('his fortress') are co-referential. #dispreferred
 + <עֹז as "stronghold">: The noun עֹז can sometimes refer to “a construction that is strong and able to resist attacks” (SDBH entry b :L:; cf. BDB :L:, HALOT :L:, DCH :L:). #dispreferred
  + [Examples of עֹז as "stronghold"]: E.g., Ps 8:3; Prov 21:22; Amos 3:11. #dispreferred
  <_ <Rare usage>: The use of עֹז in the sense of stronghold is rare. It usually occurs as an abstract noun meaning 'strength' (cf. BDB :L:; HALOT :L:; DCH :L:).
 - <Syntactic structure>: If רָקִיעַ and עֻזּוֹ were co-referential, we would expect grammatical apposition (הָרְקִי‌עַ עֻזּוֹ) instead of a construct chain (רְקִיעַ עֻזּוֹ).


Argument Mapn0'Heaven, his fortress'The construct chain בִּרְקִיעַ עֻזּוֹ means 'heaven, his fortress.' The word רְקִיעַ ('heaven' or 'firmament') and the phrase עֻזּוֹ ('his fortress') are co-referential. n1Examples of עֹז as "stronghold"E.g., Ps 8:3; Prov 21:22; Amos 3:11. n2עֹז as "stronghold"The noun עֹז can sometimes refer to “a construction that is strong and able to resist attacks” (SDBH entry b 🄻; cf. BDB 🄻, HALOT 🄻, DCH 🄻). n1->n2n2->n0n3Rare usageThe use of עֹז in the sense of stronghold is rare. It usually occurs as an abstract noun meaning 'strength' (cf. BDB 🄻; HALOT 🄻; DCH 🄻).n3->n2n4Syntactic structureIf רָקִיעַ and עֻזּוֹ were co-referential, we would expect grammatical apposition (הָרְקִי‌עַ עֻזּוֹ) instead of a construct chain (רְקִיעַ עֻזּוֹ).n4->n0


Conclusion (C)

The phrase רְקִיעַ עֻזּוֹ probably means his strong firmament. That is, the second noun of the construct phrase (עֹז) specifies some quality of the first noun (רָקִיעַ), and the 3ms pronominal suffix at the end of the construct phrase semantically modifies the entire phrase. This interpretation is the most consistent with the usage of the noun עֹז as the second noun within a construct phrase. When the noun עֹז occurs with a pronominal suffix at the end of a construct chain, it is usually attributive: 'the x of his strength' = 'his strong x.'

Research

Translations

Ancient

  • LXX: Αἰνεῖτε τὸν θεὸν ἐν τοῖς ἁγίοις αὐτοῦ, αἰνεῖτε αὐτὸν ἐν στερεώματι δυνάμεως αὐτοῦ[3]
    • "Praise God among his saints; praise him in the firmament of his power!"[4]
    • "Lobt Gott in seinem Heiligtum,[5] lobt ihn in der Feste seiner Macht."[6]
  • Aquila: ἐν ἡγιασμένῳ αὐτοῦ... ἐν στερεώματι κράτους αὐτοῦ[7]
  • Symmachus: ἐν τῷ ἁγίῳ αὐτοῦ... ὑμνεῖτε αὐτὸν ἐν τῷ στερεώματι τῷ ἀκαθαιρέτω αὐτοῦ[8]
  • Jerome iuxta Hebraeos: Laudate Deum in sancto eius, laudate eum in fortitudine potentiae eius[9]
  • Peshitta: ܫܒܚܘ ܠܡܪܝܐ ܒܩܘܕܫܗ܂ ܫܒܚܘܗܝ ܒܐܪܩܝܥܐ ܕܥܘܫܢܗ܂[10]
    • "Praise the Lord in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty firmament."[11]
  • Targum: שבחו אלהא בבית מקדשיה שבחו יתיה ברקיעא דעושניה׃[12]
    • "Praise God in the house of his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty firmament."[13]

Modern

Ambiguous

  • Praise God in his holy place, praise him in the heavenly vault of his power (NJB)
  • O praise God in his holy place, praise him in the vault of heaven, the vault of his power (NEB)
  • Lobet Gott in seinem Heiligtum, lobet ihn in der Feste seiner Macht! (LUT)
  • Lobt Gott in seinem Heiligtum! Lobt ihn in der Feste seiner Macht! (EÜ)
  • Chantez la louange de Dieu dans son temple saint, chantez sa louange dans le ciel, au royaume de sa puissance ! (PDV2017)

'Mighty heavens'

  • Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. (NIV)
  • Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! (ESV)
  • Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heaven! (NLT)
  • Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty firmament! (NRSV)
  • Praise God in his holy place, praise him in the mighty vault of heaven (REB)
  • Lobt Gott in seinem Heiligtum, lobt ihn in seiner mächtigen Feste! (EÜ)
  • Lobt Gott in seinem Heiligtum, lobt ihn in seiner starken Feste. (ZÜR)
  • Acclamez Dieu dans son lieu saint, acclamez-le sous la puissante voûte des cieux ! (NFC)
  • Alaben a Dios en su santuario, alábenlo en su poderosa expansión del cielo. (NVI)
  • ¡Alaben a Dios en su santuario! ¡Alábenlo en su majestuosa bóveda celeste! (DHH94I)
  • Alabad a Dios en su santuario; alabadlo en la magnificencia de su firmamento. (RVR95)
  • ¡Alabad a Elohim en su santuario! ¡Alabadlo en la magnificencia de su firmamento! (BTX4)

'His strength in heaven'

  • Praise God in his Temple! Praise his strength in heaven! (GNT)

'Stronghold'

  • Praise God in his temple. Praise him in heaven, his mighty fortress. (CEV)
  • Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in the sky, His stronghold. (JPS85)
  • Louez Deiu dans son sanctuaire; louez-le dans la fortresse de son firmament (TOB)

'The mighty one'

  • Lobt Gott in seinem Heiligtum, lobt ihn, den Mächtigen im Himmel! (HFA)
  • Rühmt Gott in seinem Heiligtum! Lobt Gott, den Mächtigen im Himmel! (GNB)

'Shows his strength'

  • Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in the sky, which testifies to his strength![14] (NET)
  • Lobt Gott in seinem Heiligtum, lobt ihn im Himmelsgewölbe, das seine große Macht zeigt[15] (NGÜ)
  • Louez Dieu dans son sanctuaire ! Louez-le dans la voûte céleste où se déploie sa puissance ![16] (NBS)
  • Louez Dieu dans son saint lieu ! Louez-le dans l'étendue céleste où (se déploie) sa puissance ! (NVS78P)
  • Louez Dieu ╵dans son sanctuaire ! Louez-le dans l’étendue céleste ╵où éclate sa puissance ! (BDS)
  • Louez l’Eternel! Louez Dieu dans son sanctuaire! Louez-le dans l’étendue céleste où éclate sa puissance! (S21)

Secondary Literature

Baethgen, Friedrich. 1904. Die Psalmen. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck und Ruprecht.
Brodersen, Alma. 2017. The End of the Psalter: Psalms 146-150 in the Masoretic Text, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the Septuagint. Beihefte Zur Zeitschrift Für Die Alttestametliche Wissenschaft, Band 505. Berlin ; Boston: De Gruyter.
Hossfeld, Frank-Lothar, and Erich Zenger. 2011. Psalms 3: A Commentary on Psalms 101-150. Edited by Klaus Baltzer. Translated by Linda M. Maloney. Hermeneia. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress.
Ibn Ezra. Ibn Ezra on Psalms.
Radak. Radak on Psalms.
Seely, Paul H. 1991. “The Firmament and the Water above, Part 1: The Meaning of Raqiaʻ in Gen 1:6-8.” The Westminster Theological Journal 53 (2): 227–40.
Walton, John H. 2011. Genesis 1 as Ancient Cosmology. Winona Lake, Ind: Eisenbrauns.

References

150:1

  1. ↑ OSHB.
  2. ↑ There are other views in addition to these three views. For example, the HFA and GNB translate the phrase as "den Mächtigen im Himmel." This view will not be discussed in the argument maps below.
  3. ↑ Rahlfs 1931.
  4. ↑ NETS.
  5. ↑ Translation footnote: "in seinem Heiligtum: im Griech. Pl.; möglich wäre auch – wie in der ORTH.L. – unter seinen Heiligen; vgl. Ps 67,36 mit Fn."
  6. ↑ LXX.D.
  7. ↑ Field.
  8. ↑ Field.
  9. ↑ Weber-Gryson 5th edition.
  10. ↑ Variant: ܕܫܡܗ. CAL.
  11. ↑ Taylor 2020:617.
  12. ↑ CAL.
  13. ↑ Stec 2004:244.
  14. ↑ Translation footnote: 'Heb “the sky of his strength.”'
  15. ↑ Translations footnote: 'Oder: "in seinem gewaltigen Himmelsgewölbe". Wörtlich: "im Himmelsgewölbe seiner Macht".'
  16. ↑ Translation footnote: "litt. de sa puissance ; certains comprennent dans la forteresse (cf. 27.1+) de la voûte céleste (cf. 19.2 ; 29.9ss ; 148.1s ; Gn 1.6nss)."