שָׁמַ֖יִם

Alphabet Analysis

The word

1. word🔊 שָׁמַ֖יִם

   sha-MA-yim

   heavens
2. phraseyour reading level🔊 וַיֵּ֥ט שָׁמַ֖יִם

   va-YET sha-MA-yim

   and he stretched out or bowed heavens
3. clause🔊 וַיֵּ֥ט שָׁמַ֖יִם וַיֵּרַ֑ד

   va-YET sha-MA-yim va-ye-RAD

   and he stretched out or bowed heavens and he came down
4. sentence🔊 וַיֵּ֥ט שָׁמַ֖יִם וַיֵּרַ֑ד וַעֲרָפֶ֖ל תַּ֥חַת רַגְלָֽיו׃

   va-YET sha-MA-yim va-ye-RAD va-a-ra-FEL TA-khat rag-LAV

   and he stretched out or bowed heavens and he came down and thick darkness under his feet

Exegesis

The verse presents a sequence of vav-consecutive verbs, beginning with vayyet {וַיֵּ֥ט | wayyēṯ} ‘and he bent’ taking shamayim {שָׁמַ֖יִם | šāmāyim} ‘heavens’ as its object, followed by vayerad {וַיֵּרַ֑ד | wayyēraḏ} ‘and he descended’.

Root and etymology

shin–mem–yod🔊 shin–mem–yodsh-m-y

“heaven, sky”