The meaning of רקיע עזו in Psalm 150:1

Introduction

The bound phrase רְקִ֥יעַ עֻזּֽוֹ has three members - 1. רְקִיעַ (firmament); 2. עז (strength or fortress); 3. 3ms pronoun suffix. The semantic relationship of these members to one another has been interpreted in different ways (see below on Translations). The two most common interpretations are:

1. Attributive - "his strong firmament." The second noun ("strength") indicates an attribute of the first noun ("firmament"), and the pronoun suffix ("his") indicates the possessor of the noun phrase.
2. Apposition - "the firmament (which is) his fortress." The second noun means "fortress," and it specifies the role of the first noun. The pronoun suffix indicates the possessor of the the second noun ("his fortress").

Research

Translations

Ambiguous

• στερεώματι δυνάμεως αὐτοῦ (LXX)
• firmament of his power (KJV)

Attributive

• his mighty heaven(s)/expanse/firmament (RSV, NIV, ESV, NLT, NASB, CSB, AMP)

Apposition

• his fortress, the sky (CEB)
• heaven, his mighty fortress (CEV)

Other

• the sky, which testifies to his strength! (NET)

Secondary Lit.

Lexicons

HALOT

רְקִיעַ עֻזּוֹ his mighty firmament Ps 150:1

DCH

רְקִיעַ עֻזּוֹ firmament of his strength, i.e. his strong firmament Ps 150:1

SDBH

עז (Ps. 150:1) = a construction that is strong and able to resist attacks -- stronghold