Lexical Summary shinan: To sharpen, to whet, to teach diligently Original Word: שִׁנְאָן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance angels From shana; change, i.e. Repetition -- X angels. see HEBREW shana NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom shanah Definition repetition NASB Translation thousands (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs שִׁנְאָן noun [masculine] repetition (?); — אַלְפֵי שִׁנְאָ֑ן Psalm 68:18 thousands of repetition, i.e. thousands twice-told, Che; redoubled, Dr, i.e. thousands on thousands (Du, reading אֶלֶף, as שִׁנָּא with suffix removed them, treating ׳שׁנאן אדני מסיני בק as gloss). שֵׁנָה see √יָשֵׁן. שֶׁנְהַבִּים see √שׁנן Topical Lexicon Meaning and Immediate Context Psalm 68:17 employs שִׁנְאָן to portray a number so vast that human counting fails. “The chariots of God are tens of thousands—thousands of thousands; the Lord is in His sanctuary—Sinai is now in the sanctuary” (Psalm 68:17). The term heightens the triumphal vision of the psalm: the God who once descended on Sinai now ascends in royal procession accompanied by an innumerable host. Literary Setting within Psalm 68 1. Exodus imagery (verses 7-10) recalls God’s march from Sinai. Thus the word functions as a poetic bridge between the historic giving of the Law and the perpetual reign of God in Zion. Historical Background Psalm 68 was likely sung when the Ark was brought to Jerusalem (compare 2 Samuel 6:12-19). The psalmist pictures the scene through Sinai language, reminding worshipers that the same Lord who revealed Himself amid thunder now dwells among His people. The staggering number of chariots counters surrounding nations’ reliance on military hardware (Deuteronomy 20:1; Isaiah 31:1), affirming that Israel’s security rests in the unseen armies of the Lord. Theological Significance • Divine Sovereignty: God commands a limitless host; no earthly coalition can oppose Him (2 Kings 6:17). Christological Implications Psalm 68:18, immediately following שִׁנְאָן, is applied to the ascended Christ in Ephesians 4:8. The innumerable chariots foreshadow the triumphant retinue that surrounds the risen Lord (Hebrews 12:22-24). In Revelation 19:11-16 the conquering Messiah rides forth with heavenly armies, fulfilling the vision anticipated by שִׁנְאָן. Practical Ministry Application 1. Worship: Shinan invites corporate praise that magnifies God’s majesty beyond human measure (Psalm 150:2). Related Themes and Passages • God as Warrior: Exodus 15:3; Isaiah 42:13 Shinan therefore serves as a poetic testament to the immensity of God’s power, the continuity of His redemptive acts from Sinai to Zion, and the sure hope believers possess in the victorious, ascended Christ. Forms and Transliterations שִׁנְאָ֑ן שנאן shinAn šin’ān šin·’ānLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Psalm 68:17 HEB: רִבֹּתַ֣יִם אַלְפֵ֣י שִׁנְאָ֑ן אֲדֹנָ֥י בָ֝֗ם NAS: are myriads, thousands upon thousands; KJV: [even] thousands of angels: the Lord INT: are myriads thousands thousands the Lord Sinai 1 Occurrence |
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