בְּאַמְּצֹ֣ו שְׁחָקִ֣ים מִמָּ֑עַל בַּ֝עֲזֹ֗וז עִינֹ֥ות תְּהֹום׃
(Proverbs 8:28)
When He strengthened the skies above, in the strengthening of the fountains of the deep.
This verse compresses creation imagery into a poetic frame, showcasing two distinctive features of Biblical Hebrew: (1) the temporal use of בְּ prefixed to an infinitive-construct–type form, and (2) the elegant binding of nouns in a construct chain. Both phenomena highlight the compact and precise beauty of Hebrew expression.
The Moment of Strengthening
- בְּאַמְּצֹו: בְּ + infinitive-construct/abstract from אָמַץ with 3ms suffix, yielding “when He strengthened.”
- שְׁחָקִים מִמָּעַל: “the skies above,” target of the strengthening, with מִמָּעַל marking the location.
- The structure introduces a temporal frame: the act of creation as it unfolded “when He strengthened the skies above.”
Springs Bound to the Deep
The second colon mirrors the first:
- בַּעֲזֹוז: parallel to בְּאַמְּצֹו, another infinitive-construct–type form meaning “in the strengthening.”
- עִינֹות תְּהֹום: a construct chain where עִינֹות (“springs”) governs תְּהֹום (“the deep”), giving the unified sense “springs of the deep.”
- This compact form avoids prepositions or possessives and delivers a crisp poetic image.
The Grammar Table: Reading the Verse Step by Step
| Form | Morphology / Role | Sense / Function | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| בְּאַמְּצֹו | Preposition + infinitive-construct/abstract of אָמַץ + 3ms suffix | “when He strengthened” | Temporal use of בְּ |
| שְׁחָקִים | Plural noun | “skies / cloud-heights” | Direct object of strengthening |
| מִמָּעַל | Adverbial form from מִן | “above” | Locative closing first hemistich |
| בַּעֲזֹוז | Preposition + abstract/infinitive from עָזַז | “in strengthening” | Parallel to בְּאַמְּצֹו |
| עִינֹות תְּהֹום | Construct (עִינֹות) + genitive (תְּהֹום) | “springs of the deep” | Single semantic unit |
Reading the Poetry as Grammar
The verse moves in two beats: first the skies, then the waters. Hebrew expresses both with infinitive constructs under בְּ, compressing time into compact clauses. At the same time, the construct chain in עִינֹות תְּהֹום binds imagery into a single picture—deep waters with their springs, ordered and made firm by divine action.
Learning from the Firmament
This verse reminds us how Hebrew can carry vast theological and poetic weight through small grammatical tools. A simple prefix (בְּ) gives us the “when” of creation, while a construct chain shows the unity of the springs and the deep. Together, they teach that Hebrew syntax is never mere mechanics—it is the framework through which the text sings.