וַתִּקֹּ֨ד בַּת־שֶׁ֤בַע אַפַּ֨יִם֙ אֶ֔רֶץ וַתִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּ לַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַתֹּ֕אמֶר יְחִ֗י אֲדֹנִ֛י הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ דָּוִ֖ד לְעֹלָֽם׃ פ
Then Bat-sheva bowed with her face to the ground and prostrated herself to the king, and she said, “May my lord King Dawid live forever.”
Morphology
- וַתִּקֹּד (va-tikkod) – Root: קדד (kadad); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “and she bowed”; Notes: A deep act of respect or submission.
- בַּת־שֶׁבַע (Bat-shevaʿ) – Root: בת שבע; Form: Proper noun, feminine singular; Translation: “Bat-Sheva”; Notes: Wife of Dawid, mother of Shelomoh.
- אַפַּיִם (appayim) – Root: אף (aph); Form: Dual noun, accusative of manner; Translation: “face down”; Notes: Literally “two nostrils,” idiom for falling face down.
- אֶרֶץ (ʾerets) – Root: ארץ (ʾerets); Form: Noun, feminine singular; Translation: “to the ground”; Notes: Indicates the direction of bowing.
- וַתִּשְׁתַּחוּ (va-tishtakhu) – Root: שׁחה (shakha); Form: Hishtaphel wayyiqtol 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “and she prostrated herself”; Notes: Expresses homage and deep reverence.
- לַמֶּלֶךְ (la-melekh) – Root: מלך (melekh); Form: Preposition + definite noun; Translation: “to the king”; Notes: The object of Bat-Sheva’s bowing.
- וַתֹּאמֶר (va-toʾmer) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “and she said”; Notes: Introduces Bat-Sheva’s declaration.
- יְחִי (yeḥi) – Root: חיה (ḥayah); Form: Qal jussive 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “may he live”; Notes: Jussive expression of a wish.
- אֲדֹנִי (adoni) – Root: אדן (ʾadon); Form: Noun with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “my lord”; Notes: Formal address to the king.
- הַמֶּלֶךְ (ha-melekh) – Root: מלך (melekh); Form: Definite noun, masculine singular; Translation: “the king”; Notes: Title of Dawid.
- דָּוִד (Dawid) – Root: דוד (Dawid); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Dawid”; Notes: Specifies the royal individual.
- לְעֹלָם (le-ʿolam) – Root: עולם (ʿolam); Form: Preposition + noun, masculine singular; Translation: “forever”; Notes: Idiomatic for “long live.”