Psalms 78:23 — Word Study
WLCוַיְצַ֣ו שְׁחָקִ֣ים מִמָּ֑עַל וְדַלְתֵ֖י שָׁמַ֣יִם פָּתָֽח׃
BSAYet He commandedtsâvâh▸ [gave orders to, appointed] the cloudsshachaq [vapors in the sky] abovemaʻal [in the highest places, from on high] and openedpâthach■ [to engrave or carve, to swing open] the doorsdeleth [entrances or accesses] of the heavensshâmayim [the visible universe and God's abode]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיְצַ֣ו | and he commanded | Verb, Piel, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| שְׁחָקִ֣ים | clouds | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| מִמָּ֑עַל | above | Preposition |
| וְדַלְתֵ֖י | and [the] doors of | Conjunction, noun common feminine dual construct |
| שָׁמַ֣יִם | heaven | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| פָּתָֽח׃ | he opened | Verb, Qal, perfect third person masculine singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Yet He commanded the clouds above and opened the doors of the heavens. |
| KJV | Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven, |
| ASV | Yet he commanded the skies above, And opened the doors of heaven; |
| YLT | And He commandeth clouds from above, Yea, doors of the heavens He hath opened. |
| WEB | Yet he commanded the skies above, and opened the doors of heaven. |
| BBE | And he gave orders to the clouds on high, and the doors of heaven were open; |
Where they part company is שְׁחָקִ֣ים — see How Translations Differ.
The main verb governs the action, with two phrases providing details about the command and the subsequent opening of the heavens.
6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbצָוָה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 78:23
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — God's Command Over Naturegenerated
Psalm 78:23 reflects on God's sovereignty, illustrating His power to command the clouds and open the heavens. This verse is part of a larger narrative that recounts Israel's history, emphasizing God's provision and faithfulness despite their lack of belief, as seen in the preceding verses.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 33:9 | For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm. |
| 2 | Isaiah 5:6 | I will make it a wasteland, neither pruned nor cultivated, and thorns and briers will grow up. I will command the clouds that rain shall not fall on it.” |
| 3 | Genesis 7:11 | In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, on the seventeenth day of the second month, all the fountains of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened. |
| 4 | 2 Kings 7:2–19 | But the officer on whose arm the king leaned answered the man of God, “Look, even if the LORD were to make windows in heaven, could this really happen?” “You will see it with your own eyes,” replied Elisha, “but you will not eat any of it.” |
| 5 | Malachi 3:10 | Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this,” says the LORD of Hosts. “See if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour out for you blessing without measure. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — צָוָה, vay.Tzavgenerated
The verb צָוָה (tsavah) means to command or give orders. It is derived from a primitive root and is primarily used in the Piel form, which indicates appointing or charging someone with a task. This word is often associated with God's authority and His ability to direct the elements of nature.
In this verse, the use of צָוָה emphasizes God's active role in creation and His authority over the natural world. The passive construction in the Septuagint, ἐνετείλατο, suggests a similar understanding of divine command, highlighting the power of God's word.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb in this verse is וַיְצַ֣ו, and He commanded, which governs the action of the sentence. The structure includes a noun phrase, שְׁחָקִ֣ים, the clouds, as the object of the command, and a second verb, פָּתָֽח, He opened, which introduces a new action related to the heavens.
The prepositional phrase מִמָּ֑עַל, above, describes the location of the clouds, while the noun phrase וְדַלְתֵ֖י שָׁמַ֣יִם, the doors of heaven, serves as the object of the second verb. This structure highlights God's authority over both the clouds and the heavens.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates צָוָה as ἐνετείλατο, which carries the sense of giving a command or order. This choice reflects the translators' understanding of God's authoritative voice in creation.
For שְׁחָקִ֣ים, the Greek νεφέλαις also means clouds, maintaining the imagery of vaporous forms in the sky, which aligns with the original Hebrew meaning.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 78:23 describes how God commands the clouds and opens the doors of heaven. This verse emphasizes God's power and authority over nature, illustrating His ability to provide for His people even when they do not believe. It is a reminder of His faithfulness throughout Israel's history.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It signifies God's authority over nature and His ability to direct the elements of the world, demonstrating His power in creation.
The doors of heaven symbolize access to divine provision and blessings, indicating God's readiness to provide for His people.
This verse shows that despite Israel's disbelief, God remains faithful and continues to provide for them, as seen in the subsequent verses.
We learn about God's sovereignty and His ability to intervene in the natural world for the benefit of His people.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How can I recognize God's authority in the world around me?
- In what ways have I experienced God's provision in my life?
- What does it mean for me to trust in God's faithfulness, even when I face challenges?
- How can I share the story of God's faithfulness in my life with others?
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 78:23 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThough he had commanded the clouds from above,.... Which were round about him, his chariots, and the dust of his feet; and which were at his command to go here and there, and carry and let down
Read John Gill on Psalms 78 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryMarvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 78 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleWhich he compares to a granary or store-house, where God keeps the key, and either shuts or opens the doors it, either gives or withholds provisions, as he sees fit.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 78 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 78:23 Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,Ver. 23. Though he had commanded the clouds] Though he had served them as never prince was served in his greatest state, yet all served not turn. And opened the doors of heaven] Rupturas nubium, raining down upon them plenty of manna; so that it was not hunger, but humour, that set them a lusting.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 78 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges23. Yet he commanded the skies above, And opened the doors of heaven;
Read Cambridge on Psalms 78 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThough he had commanded the clouds from above - Though he had showed that he had absolute control over the clouds, and had only to command them and they would furnish rain in abundance. Compare the notes at Isaiah 5:6.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 78 →The verse in English, compared — 16 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Yet He commanded the clouds above and opened the doors of the heavens.
Yet he commanded the skies above, and opened the doors of heaven.
Yet He commanded the clouds above and opened the doors of the heavens.
He gave a command to the clouds above, and opened the doors in the sky.
Tyndale line
Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,
Yet he commanded the skies above, And opened the doors of heaven;
Yet he commanded the skies above, and opened the doors of heaven;
Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,
Yet he had comanded the clouds aboue, and had opened the doores of heauen,
Strictly literal
Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and had opened the doors of the heavens,
And He commandeth clouds from above, Yea, doors of the heavens He hath opened.
And He commands clouds from above, || Indeed, He has opened doors of the heavens.
Then he ordained the skies from above, and the doors of heaven he opened;
Yet he commanded the skies above and opened the doors of the sky.
Simplified
Even so he commanded the skies above and the doors of heaven to open,
And he gave orders to the clouds on high, and the doors of heaven were open;
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text states, "וַיְצַ֣ו שְׁחָקִ֣ים מִמָּ֑עַל וְדַלְתֵ֖י שָׁמַ֣יִם פָּתָֽח׃" which translates to, "Yet He commanded the clouds above and opened the doors of the heavens." The Septuagint agrees with the Masoretic Text in meaning, as all six words match in the word-by-word correspondence, although the order and articles may differ due to the nature of the Greek translation. There are no significant differences noted in the Samaritan Pentateuch or the Dead Sea Scrolls for this verse, indicating a strong consistency across these ancient witnesses.
וַיְצַ֣ו שְׁחָקִ֣ים מִמָּ֑עַל וְדַלְתֵ֖י שָׁמַ֣יִם פָּתָֽח׃
6 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 78:23
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
צָוָה (tsavah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to command or give orders. It is built from a primitive root and primarily used in the Piel form, indicating actions like appointing or charging someone with a task. The entries highlight its various applications, including laying charges and sending messengers. There are no noted disagreements among the lexicons.
[צָוָה] 485 vb. Pi. lay charge (upon), give charge (to), charge, command, order
base
H6680 צָוָה Pi. lay charge (upon), give charge (to), charge, command, order
6680 tsavah tsaw-vaw'
a primitive root; (intensively) to constitute,
enjoin:--appoint, (for-)bid, (give a) charge, (give a, give
in, send with) command(-er, -ment), send a messenger, put,
(set) in order.
צָוָה (tsa.vah) — to command.
1) to command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, order
1a)(Piel)
1a1) to lay charge upon
1a2) to give charge to, give command to
1a3) to give charge unto
1a4) to give charge over, appoint
1a5) to give charge, command
1a6) to charge, command
1a7) to charge, commission
1a8) to command, appoint, ordain (of divine act)
1b) (Pual) to be commanded
Conj | V-Piel-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Piel · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vpw3ms
שַׁ֫חַק (shachaq) refers to fine dust or a thin cloud. It is derived from a root meaning to beat small, and its range includes both physical dust and vaporous clouds, extending to concepts of the firmament or sky. The entries consistently emphasize its qualities of fineness and thinness.
שַׁ֫חַק n.m. dust, cloud (as fine, thin)
base
H7834 שַׁ֫חַק dust, cloud (as fine, thin)
7834 shachaq shakh'-ak
from 7833; a powder (as beaten small): by analogy, a thin
vapor; by extension, the firmament:--cloud, small dust,
heaven, sky.
see HEBREW for 07833
שַׁ֫חַק (sha.chaq) — cloud.
1) dust, cloud
1a) fine dust
1b) (thin) cloud
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
In the summer season of Palestine, were an unlooked-for phenomenon, 1Sa 12:17,18, and rising from off the Mediterranean, betokened rain, 1Ki 18:44 Lu 12:54. Clouds are the symbol of armies and multitudes, probably by their grand and majestic movements, Isa 60:8 Jer 4:13 Heb 12:1. They betokened the presence of Jehovah, as on mount Sinai,
Ex 19:9 24:12-18; in the temple, Ex 40:34 1Ki 8:10; in the cloudy…
מַ֫עַל (ma'al) refers to the concept of being above or upward. It is primarily used as a noun meaning 'higher part' but appears adverbially and prepositionally in phrases indicating positions such as 'above' or 'on higher ground.' The word is built from a root meaning 'to go up' and is found in various contexts in the Old Testament.
מַ֫עַל 140 subst., higher part, only in adv. and prep. phrases, above, upward
base
H4605 מַ֫עַל subst., higher part, only in adv. and prep. phrases, above, upward
4605 ma`al mah'al
from 5927; properly, the upper part, used only adverbially
with prefix upward, above, overhead, from the top, etc.:--
above, exceeding(-ly), forward, on (X very) high, over,
up(-on, -ward), very.
see HEBREW for 05927
מַ֫עַל (ma.al) — above.
subst
1) higher part, upper part
adv
1a) above
prep
1b) on the top of, above, on higher ground than
with locative
1c) upwards, higher, above
Prep | Adv — PrepositionHR/Acbsa
דָּל (dal), דָּלָה (da.lah), and דֶּ֫לֶת (de.let) all refer to a 'door' or 'gate' in Hebrew. The entries indicate various uses, including literal doors and figurative meanings, such as a door of a chamber or even metaphorical doors in poetry. Notably, dal is mentioned in Psalm 141:3.
[דָּל] n.[m.] door only fig.: ψ 141:3.
ref
[דָּלָה] n.f. door, Is 26:20 fig., door of chamber in which people (personified) hides
ref
דֶּ֫לֶת n.f. door
door of house
door of room
gates of city
in other senses
base
H1817a דָּל door H1817b דָּלָה door H1817c דֶּ֫לֶת door
1817 deleth deh'-leth
from 1802; something swinging, i.e. the valve of a
door:--door (two-leaved), gate, leaf, lid. (In Psa. 141:3,
dal, irreg.).
see HEBREW for 01802
דָּל (dal) — door.
door (fig.)
דָּלָה (da.lah) — door.
door (fig., door of chamber in which people (personified) hide)
דֶּ֫לֶת (de.let) — door.
1) door, gate
1a) a door
1b) a gate
1c) (fig.)
1c1) of chest lid
1c2) of crocodile jaws
1c3) of doors of the heavens
1c4) of an easily-accessible woman
Conj | N-fd — Conjunction · noun common feminine dual constructHC/Ncfdc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
The Hebrew word שָׁמַיִם (*shamayim*) is a dual noun meaning 'heavens' or 'sky.' It refers to the visible heavens where celestial bodies are found, as well as the abode of God. The dual form may suggest both the arch of the sky and the higher ether. It is noted in contexts such as Elijah's ascent in a whirlwind.
[שָׁמַי] n.m. only pl. שָׁמַיִם 421 heavens, sky
visible heavens, sky, where stars, etc., are
phrases
as abode of God
Elijah taken up הַשּׁ׳ in whirlwind
הַשּׁ׳ personified in various relations
base
H8064 שָׁמַי only pl. שָׁמַיִם heavens, sky . . visible heavens, sky, where stars, etc., are
. phrases
. . as abode of God
. Elijah taken up הַשּׁ׳ in whirlwind
. הַשּׁ׳ personified in various relations
8064 shamayim shaw-mah'-yim
dual of an unused singular shameh {shaw-meh'}; from an unused
root meaning to be lofty; the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps
alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well
as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies
revolve):--air, X astrologer, heaven(-s).
שָׁמַיִם (sha.ma.yim) — heaven.
1) heaven, heavens, sky
1a) visible heavens, sky
1a1) as abode of the stars
1a2) as the visible universe, the sky, atmosphere, etc
1b) Heaven (as the abode of God)
Aramaic equivalent: sha.ma.yin (שָׁמַ֫יִן "heaven" H8065)
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
hev'-'n.
See ASTRONOMY.
Heaven
(1.) Definitions. The phrase “heaven and earth” is used to indicate the whole universe (Gen. 1:1; Jer. 23:24; Acts 17:24). According to the Jewish notion there were three heavens,
(a) The firmament, as “fowls of the heaven” (Gen. 2:19; 7:3, 23; Ps. 8:8, etc.), “the eagles of heaven” (Lam. 4:19), etc.
(b) The starry heavens (Deut. 17:3; Jer. 8:2; Matt. 24:29).
There are four Hebrew words thus rendered in the Old Testament which we may briefly notice. Raki’a , Authorized Version, firmament. [FIRMAMENT] Shamayim . This is the word used in the expression "the heaven and the earth," or "the upper and lower regions." (Genesis 1:1) Marom , used for heaven in (Psalms 18:16; Isaiah 24:18; Jeremiah 25:30). Properly speaking it means a mountain as in (Psalms 102:19; Ezekiel 17:23) Shechakim , "expanses," with reference to the extent of heaven. (33:26; Job 35:5) St. Paul’s expression "third heaven," (
In the Bible, means primarily the region of the air and clouds, and of the planets and stars, but chiefly the world of holy bliss above the visible heavens. It is called "the third heaven," "the highest heaven," and "the heaven of heavens," expressions nearly synonymous. There holy beings are to dwell, seeing all of God that it is possible for creatures to see. Thither Christ ascended, to intercede for his people and prepare for them a place where all shall at length be gathered, to go no more out forever, Eph 4:10 Heb 8:1 9:24-28.
In this life we can know but little of the location and appearance of heaven, or of the employments and blessedness of its inhabitants. The Scriptures inform us that all sin, and every other evil, are forever excluded; no fruits of sin will be found…
פָּתַח (pathach) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to open' and can refer to various actions such as opening doors, loosening restraints, or engraving. It has different forms, including Qal (to open), Niphal (to be opened), and Piel (to engrave). The entries highlight its literal and figurative uses, but there is some overlap in meaning regarding its applications in opening and engraving.
פָּתַח vb. open
Qal open sack
Niph. be opened
Pi. be opened
free, i.e. ungird, camels
loosen (and remove) sack-cloth
open gates, doors
Hithp. loosen thee the fetters of thy neck
base
[פָּתַח] vb. Pi. engrave
Pu. stones engraved with the engravings of a signet.
base
H6605a פָּתַח open .open sack
. be opened
. be opened . free, i.e. ungird, camels
. loosen (and remove) sack-cloth
. open gates, doors
. loosen thee the fetters of thy neck
H6605b פָּתַח Pi. engrave
6605 pathach paw-thakh'
a primitive root; to open wide (literally or figuratively);
specifically, to loosen, begin, plough, carve:--appear, break
forth, draw (out), let go free, (en-)grave(-n), loose (self),
(be, be set) open(-ing), put off, ungird, unstop, have vent.
פָּתַח (pa.tach) — to open.
1) to open
1a) (Qal) to open
1b) (Niphal) to be opened, be let loose, be thrown open
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to free
1c2) to loosen
1c3) to open, open oneself
1d) (Hithpael) to loose oneself
Aramaic equivalent: pe.tach (פְּתַח "to open" H6606)
פָּתַח (pa.tach) — to engrave.
1) to carve, engrave
1a) (Piel) to engrave
1b) (Pual) to be engraved
V-Qal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singularHVqp3ms