Read Psalm 29 here (text coming …) or at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraph:
29:1-11 {p} The awesome power of YHVH in His mastery over nature, available to His people
Psalm 29:1-11 Chiastic Structure:
The central axis of the central axis, “The voice of YHVH hews out flames of fire,” can be difficult to understand, so let’s investigate.
To hew out is in Hebrew, Strong’s H2672, חצב chatsav, a primitive verb meaning, “to hew, to dig.”
chet ח = the wall, thus outside, divide, half
tsadey צ ,ץ = the trail, thus a man concealed, journey, chase, hunt
bet ב = the house, thus house, household, family, in, within
The parable being told by the Hebrew Root Word is of dividing (chet) the side (tsadey, as a man lies on his side to remain concealed on the game trail) from within (bet). So, cognate words are interior tent walls, which divides one side of the tent from the other, but also an arrow, which divides one side of the flesh from the other. This hewing out is an action requiring brute force, as in chopping down trees, quarrying stone, or digging wells.
Flames of fire can be understood as lightning coming from heaven to strike the earth, or even as fire and brimstone, which fell from heaven to consume Sodom and Gomorrah. So the idea of the central axis, is of the awesome power of God over the usual course of nature, and in harnessing natural forces with great strength so that they serve His will.
Strength is in Hebrew, Strong’s H5797, az, an abstract concept, from Strong’s H5810, עזז azaz, a primitive verb meaning “to be strong, to prevail.”
ayin ע = the eye, thus watch, know, shade
zayin ז = the mattock, thus tool, food, cut, nourish
zayin ז = the mattock, thus tool, food, cut, nourish
The parable being told is of watching over (ayin) while wielding one tool or weapon (zayin) after another (zayin), i.e., employing all necessary tools in defense. The positive spin on the verb is strength to successfully defend; the negative spin, is strength used to oppress.
This strength of YHVH in the 1A pair, which the central axis expounds upon in His majestic and awesome power, is the same strength which He employs for the sake of His people in the 2A pair; the exact same Hebrew word is used in both places. He successfully defends His people! I sleep peacefully at night in this knowledge. ♥
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