Psalm 89/Notes/Lexical.vv. 7, 38.318143

• The word שַׁחַק occurs in v. 7 and v. 38, forming a frame around the central section of the psalm (vv. 6-38). The precise referent of the word is not clear. Some Hebrew lexica say that it means "clouds" (e.g., HALOT, BDB, Gesenius 2013; so LXX in v. 7: ἐν νεφέλαις; Jerome in v. 7: in nubibus), but this meaning is difficult to maintain in some of the word's uses (cf. Job 37:21; 2 Sam 22:12; Ps 18:12; Prov 8:28; cf. Walton 2011, 156-9), including here in Ps 89 where the word is singular. In Ps 89, the meaning "sky" or "heaven" makes better sense (so DCH, BDB; LXX in v. 38: ἐν οὐρανῷ; Jerome in v. 38: in caelo). Perhaps שַׁחַק, which occurs only in poetry, is a poetic synonym of שָׁמַיִם (cf. the numerous instances of שׁחק // שׁמים; e.g., Pss 36:6; 57:11; 78:23; 108:5; Job 35:5; 38:37), or maybe it is a hyponym of שָׁמַיִם, referring to a particular part of the sky (cf. Walton 2011, 156-9, who argues that שׁחקים refers to the multi-layered solid dome of the sky, whereas רקיע refers to the expanse between the earth and this solid structure; together the שׁחקים and the רקיע constitute שׁמים). Although the denotation of the word is unclear, it has clear connotations with the divine realm and YHWH's incomparable majesty (unlike שׁמים, it is never used in a purely 'secular' or cosmological sense; the context is always theological). See esp. Deut 33:26—"There is none like God, O Jeshurun, who rides through the heavens to your help, through the skies (שְׁחָקִים) in his majesty" (ESV). Given the word's theological associations, "heaven" is an appropriate English gloss.