The Grammar and Meaning of Ps. 29:7

Back to Psalm 29

Introduction

Psalm 29:7 reads, according to the traditional Hebrew text: קוֹל־יְהוָ֥ה חֹצֵ֗ב לַהֲב֥וֹת אֵֽשׁ׃.

The KJV and NASB, following all the ancient versions, translate this as "The voice of the LORD divideth the flames of fire." Most modern translations render this as: "The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire" (NRSV, ESV; cf. NEB/REB, ELB, LUT, EÜ, GNB, ZÜR), and "flames of fire" is taken to mean "lightning" (GNT, cf. CEV, HFA, NGÜ). Other translations, however, reflect a different interpretation. The NIV, for example, reads, "The voice of the LORD strikes with flashes of lightning" (NIV, cf. NLT, NET, NVI). Still others say "The voice of the LORD heweth out flames of fire" (JPS-1917; cf. NASB-1977).

There are two main issues involved in the interpretation of this verse are:

1. Lexical Semantics. What is the meaning of the verb חֹצֵב?
   1. "divide"
   2. "flash"
   3. "strike"
   4. "hew (out)"
2. Grammar. What is the syntactic function of the phrase לַהֲבוֹת אֵשׁ?
   1. Direct object
   2. Adverbial accusative

Argument Maps

The Meaning of חֹצֵב

The first issue to be addressed is the meaning of the verb חֹצֵב. Does it mean "divide" (LXX, Symmachus, Jerome, Syriac, Targum, KJV), "strike" (NIV, NLT, NET), or "hew" (JPS-1917, NASB-1977)?

"Hew" (preferred)

The arguments for חֹצֵב meaning "hewing" or "mining" are as follows:

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["Hew"]: חֹצֵב means "hews" or "mines" (SDBH :L:; JPS-1917).
 + <Standard meaning>:"The verb חצב means always to hew, never to cleave, or to scatter" (Hengstenberg 1863:478 :C:).
  + [חֹצֵב as "hew"]: E.g., hewing out dressed stones (1 Chron. 22:2; cf. 2 Kings 12:13), hewing out bronze (Deut. 8:9), hewing out a well (Jer. 2:13; Deut. 6:11; 2 Chron. 26:10), hewing out a grave (Isa. 22:16), hewing out a wine press (Isa. 5:2), hewing out the pillars of a house (Prov. 9:1).
 + <Mountains>: The occurrence of the verb in Ps. 29:7 comes right after the mention of mountains in the previous verse (Lebanon and Sirion). This is significant, since חצב is associated with mountains as the location where the action often takes place.
  + [Mountains]: E.g., Deut. 8:9: וּמֵהֲרָרֶ֖יהָ תַּחְצֹ֥ב נְחֹֽשֶׁת; cf. the phrase חצב בהר in 1 Kings 5:29; 2 Chron. 2:1, 17.

"Divide">"Flash"

Some argue that the clause means "to divide flames of fire." The translation "flashes forth flames of fire," found in many modern translations, appears to be an idiomatic rendering which reflects the same interpretation.

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["Divide"]: חֹצֵב means "divides" or "splits" (LXX, Sam, Jer, Syr, Tg; BDB :L:, DCH :L:; Hupfeld :C:; Baethgen :C:)#dispreferred
 + <Ancient support>: All of the ancient versions understood the verb to mean "divide" (LXX, Sam, Jer, Syr, Tg).#dispreferred
 - <Usage>: "It is difficult to get divide, cleave from hew out, and there is no justification in usage" (Briggs 1906:256 :C:).
  - [Isa. 10:15 (split)]: In Isa. 10:15, the verb means "splits (wood)" (BDB :L:; Hupfeld :C:).#dispreferred
   - [Isa. 10:15 (hew)]: The verb has its usual meaning (to hew out) in Isa. 10:15 (SDBH :L:).
 + <Related roots>: Related roots in Hebrew mean "divide" or "split" (e.g., חצה, חטב)#dispreferred

"Strike"

Some have argued that the verb חֹצֵב here means "strikes."The arguments for this view are as follows:

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["Strike"]: חֹצֵב means "strike" (NET, NIV, NLT)#dispreferred
 + <Hos. 6:6>: 'In Hos 6:5 it seems to mean “cut in pieces,” “knock down,” or perhaps “hack” (see F. I. Andersen and D. N. Freedman, Hosea AB, 428)' (NET).#dispreferred
 + <Ugaritic>:'The Ugaritic cognate can mean “assault”' (NET).#dispreferred

The Syntactic Function of לַהֲבוֹת אֵשׁ

The second issue to be addressed concerns the phrase לַהֲבוֹת אֵשׁ. Most agree that the phrase refers to "lightning bolts." Scholars and translators disagree, however, on the syntactic function of the phrase לַהֲבוֹת אֵשׁ within the clause. Is it the direct object ("hews flames of fire"), or is it an adverbial accusative ("hews with flames of fire")?

Direct Object

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[Direct Object]: לַהֲבוֹת אֵשׁ is the direct object of the verb חצב. #dispreferred
 + <Direct Object>: The verb חצב is transitive, and the phrase לַהֲבוֹת אֵשׁ is not marked as an adjunct. Therefore, לַהֲבוֹת אֵשׁ is naturally taken as the direct object.#dispreferred
  - <Nonsensical>: This would be difficult to make sense of. What would it mean to "hew out flames of fire (=lightning bolts)"?
   - [Possible Interpretation]: YHWH strikes the clouds with his hammer so that they "burst forth into lightnings and thunderbolts" (Calvin :C:, cf. Hupfeld :C:).#dispreferred

Adverbial Accusative (preferred)

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[Adverbial Accusative]: The phrase לַהֲבוֹת אֵשׁ is adverbial ("with flames of fire") (NIV, NLT, NET; Hengstenberg :C:)
 + <Instrument>: The action of "hewing" (חצב) involves a (weapon-like) instrument (usually indicated with ב), and "flames of fire" (=lightning bolts) are naturally understood as the instrument in this context.
  + [חצב + beth of instrument]: E.g., Isa. 10:15; Hos. 6:5.
  + [Ps. 18 arrows]: Psalm 18:14-15 depicts YHWH's lightning bolts as arrows.
  + [Baal]: The god Baal is depicted in Ugaritic texts and images as wielding lightning as a weapon.
  + [להבה as "spear-head"]: The noun להבה ("flame") can refer to the head of a spear (1 Sam. 17:7).
 - <No preposition>:The absence of a ב preposition means that the phrase cannot indicate the instrument.#dispreferred
  - [Adverbial accusative]:Sometimes, adjuncts that are normally marked by ב may occur without it (adverbial accusative) (GKC §118 :G:; IBHS §10.2.2 :G:).
   <_ [Accusative never as instrument]:"The accusative never denotes the instrument except with the passive participle" (Hupfeld :C:).#dispreferred

Conclusion

The sound of YHWH hewing with lightning bolts!

The following observations argue in favor of interpreting חצב as "hew." (1) This is the usual meaning of the verb חצב (qal) in biblical Hebrew. (2) The occurrence of the verb in Ps. 29:7 comes right after the mention of mountains in the previous verse (Lebanon and Sirion). This is significant, since חצב is associated with mountains as the location where the action often takes place (e.g., Deut. 8:9: וּמֵהֲרָרֶ֖יהָ תַּחְצֹ֥ב נְחֹֽשֶׁת; cf. the phrase חצב בהר in 1 Kings 5:29; 2 Chron. 2:1, 17). If חצב is interpreted in this way, then לַהֲבוֹת אֵשׁ (which most interpret as a reference to "lightning bolts") is probably the instrument rather than the patient, since it is easier to conceive (especially in the context of this psalm) of "lightning bolts" as sharp and potentially deadly instruments for hewing (cf. Isa. 10:15 [a pick-axe]; Hos. 6:5 [as a deadly weapon]) than as the products of hewing. Psalm 18:14-15 depicts YHWH's lightning bolts as arrows, and the god Baal is depicted in Ugaritic texts and images as wielding lightning as a weapon. The noun להבה ("flame") can even refer to the head of a spear (1 Sam. 17:7). To be sure, the beth preposition might have been expected in this case (cf. Isa. 10:15; Hos. 6:5). Dahood suggests that the absence of a beth "may have been prompted by the fact that ḥōṣēb ends in b." The image in Ps. 29:7, therefore, is that of YHWH's thunderous voice blasting craters in the mountain rock with lightning bolts. Whereas human miners use man-made tools for hewing in the mountains, YHWH hews with "flames of fire."

Research

Translations

Ancient

• LXX: φωνὴ κυρίου διακόπτοντος φλόγα πυρός
• Sym: καταδιαιρουντος
• Jer: vox Domini dividens flammas ignis
• Syr: ܩܠܗ ܕܡܪܝܐ ܕܦܣܩ ܫܠܗܒܝܬܐ ܕܢܘܪܐ܂
• Tg.: קלא דיהוה מנסר שלהובין דינור

Modern

• Object
  • The voice of the LORD heweth out flames of fire. (JPS-1917; cf. NASB-1977)
  • The voice of the LORD divideth the flames of fire (KJV, cf. NASB)
  • The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire (NRSV, ESV; cf. NEB/REB, ELB, LUT, EÜ, GNB, ZÜR, NBS, NVS78P)
  • The voice of the LORD makes the lightning flash (GNT, cf. CEV, HFA, NGÜ, BDS, PDV2017, NFC)
  • The voice of the LORD kindles flames of fire (JPS85)
  • YHWH's voice carves out lightning shafts (NJB; cf. TOB)

• Adverbial
  • The voice of the LORD strikes with flashes of lightning. (NIV, cf. NLT, NVI)
  • The LORD's shout strikes with flaming fire (NET)

Secondary Literature

Lexicons

• BDB – 3. metaph. hew in pieces Ho 6:5 fig. of י׳ attacking people by agency of prophets (|| הֲרַגְתִּים); divide, cleave subj. י׳’s voice ψ 29:7 obj. להבות אשׁ, i.e. the thunder of his voice sends forked lightnings (but on text cf. Che and crit. n.)
• HALOT – II חצב: Arb. ḥḍb to rake (fire) (Barth Wurzel. 22). qal: pt. חֹצֵב: to rake (fire) Ps 29:7. †
• DCH – divide (Ps 29:7, unless חצב rake)

Commentaries

• Ibn Ezra – שהטעם על הברקים, כדרך: ועליון יתן קולו ואחריו ישלח חציו
• Radak – כמו שאמר (שם יח): את הקולת ואת הלפידם
• Hengstenberg 1849:161, translation 1863:478 – '...the lightning, which comes in here as the wounding instrument in the hands of the voice of the Lord, the weapon with which it adds destruction to terror. The verb חצב means always to hew, never to cleave, or to scatter; so that the expositions, " He scatters," " He casts abroad," i.e. " fiery thunderbolts," are to be rejected: compare Hos. 6:5 ; Isa. 51:9, where חצב is used in speaking of an avenging God. להבות אש is in the accusative (comp. Ew. § 512), "with flames of fire." It stands related to the voice of God, as what is particular does to what is.'
• Hupfeld 1868:164, 174-175 – "Die Stimme Jhvhs spaltet Feuerflammen *) Oder: haut Feuerflammen aus... חצב ל wahrscheinlich. spaltet Feuerflammen (חצב von Holzspalten Jes. 10, 15 = חטב), d. i. wirft , schleudert gespaltene Flammen aus; geht auf den gebrochenen gezackten Strahl des Blitzes... Ergänzung von ב, als Accus. adv nimmt = nach Feuerflammen, was aber ebenso wenig statthaft (der Accus. bezeichnet nie das Werkzeug ausgenommen beim Part. pass.)... Wenn hier einmal die herrschende Bedeutung von חצב massgebend sein soll, so ist diese vielmehr ‘’aushauen’’ (besonders Steine und aus Stein…), und es würde demnach hier zu übersetzen sein: die Stimme Jhvhs haut Feuerflammen aus (nämlich aus den Gewitterwolken), d. i. schlägt sie heraus, lässt sie hervorbrechen, wie den Funken aus dem Kiesel.'
• Baethgen 1904:82 – Jahve spaltet Feuerflammen d. h. er schleudert Blitze, welche in ihrer langen Zickzacklinie gespaltenen Flammen gleichen. חצב beziehn LXX Aq. Sym. Quinta richtig auf Jahve, nicht auf קול.
• Briggs 1906:256 – חצב vb. Qal hew out stone esp., metaph. hew in pieces Ho. 6:5; here להבות אש dub. because it is difficult to get divide, cleave from hew out, and there is no justification in usage. Che., Du., think we must emend the text by inserting the word rocks and making two lines here, the flames of fire, the lightning, being the instrument of the cleaving of the rocks. But the effect of lightning upon rocks is not that of hewing out. G, V, J, S prob. rd. חצץ dividing, but this is not a good idea. Better originally חציו להבות אש.
• Dahood 2008:178 – With the bolts of lightning that accompany the thunder Yahweh splinters the mighty cedars. lahabōt ʾēš is parsed as an accusative of means; this construction may have been prompted by the fact that ḥōṣēb ends in b. The usage is well attested in Ugaritic; e.g., UT, ʿnt:II:15–16, mṭm tgrš šbm, “With two maces she drives out the šbm,” and ʿnt:IV:86–87, wtrḥṣ ṭl šmm, “And she washes with the dew of heaven.”
• Hossfeld 1993:184 – Im Zentrum 7 wird die gefährlichste Wirkung der Donnerstimme beschieben. Sie vereinigt sich mit den Gewitterblitzen, die (wie ein Steinmetz) aus hartem Gestein Feuerfunken und Flammen schlagen.
• NET – The verb normally means “to hew [stone or wood],” or “to hew out.” In Hos 6:5 it seems to mean “cut in pieces,” “knock down,” or perhaps “hack” (see F. I. Andersen and D. N. Freedman, Hosea [AB], 428). The Ugaritic cognate can mean “assault.” In v. 7 the verb seems to have a similar meaning, perhaps “attack, strike.” The phrase “flames of fire” is an adverbial accusative; the Lord’s shout is accompanied by “flames of fire,” that is, lightning bolts.

References

29:7 Approved