וַיֹּאמַ֗ר יְהוָ֞ה אֱלֹהֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֵין־כָּמֹ֣וךָ אֱלֹהִ֔ים בַּשָּׁמַ֣יִם מִמַּ֔עַל וְעַל־הָאָ֖רֶץ מִתָּ֑חַת שֹׁמֵ֤ר הַבְּרִית֙ וְֽהַחֶ֔סֶד לַעֲבָדֶ֕יךָ הַהֹלְכִ֥ים לְפָנֶ֖יךָ בְּכָל־לִבָּֽם׃
And he said, “YHWH, God of Yisraʾel, there is none like You, God in the heavens above or on the earth beneath, keeping the covenant and the lovingkindness for Your servants who walk before You with all their heart.
Morphology
- וַיֹּאמַ֗ר (vayyoʾmar) – Root: אמר; Form: Wayyiqtol (narrative past) Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And he said”; Notes: Marks the beginning of Shelomoh’s prayer.
- יְהוָ֞ה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה; Form: Proper divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Direct address to God.
- אֱלֹהֵ֤י (Elohei) – Root: אלהים; Form: Construct plural masculine noun; Translation: “God of”; Notes: Construct with “Yisraʾel.”
- יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (Yisraʾel) – Root: ישראל; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yisraʾel”; Notes: Refers to the covenant nation.
- אֵין־כָּמֹ֣וךָ (ʾein-kamokha) – Root: אין / כמו; Form: Particle of non-existence + preposition with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “there is none like You”; Notes: Confession of YHWH’s uniqueness.
- אֱלֹהִ֔ים (Elohim) – Root: אלהים; Form: Absolute plural masculine noun; Translation: “God”; Notes: Reemphasizes the uniqueness of YHWH among all gods.
- בַּשָּׁמַ֣יִם (ba-shamayim) – Root: שׁמים; Form: Preposition + definite plural masculine noun; Translation: “in the heavens”; Notes: First spatial domain of YHWH’s superiority.
- מִמַּ֔עַל (mimmaʿal) – Root: מעל; Form: Preposition; Translation: “above”; Notes: Indicates height or exaltation.
- וְעַל־הָאָ֖רֶץ (ve-ʿal-ha-ʾaretz) – Root: על / ארץ; Form: Conjunction + preposition + definite feminine noun; Translation: “and on the earth”; Notes: Expands domain of God’s uniqueness.
- מִתָּ֑חַת (mittaḥat) – Root: תחת; Form: Preposition; Translation: “beneath”; Notes: Completes vertical contrast with “above.”
- שֹׁמֵ֤ר (shomer) – Root: שׁמר; Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “keeping”; Notes: Describes continuous divine action.
- הַבְּרִית֙ (ha-berit) – Root: ברית; Form: Definite article + feminine singular noun; Translation: “the covenant”; Notes: Refers to the binding agreement with Yisraʾel.
- וְהַחֶ֔סֶד (ve-ha-ḥesed) – Root: חסד; Form: Conjunction + definite article + masculine singular noun; Translation: “and the lovingkindness”; Notes: Describes steadfast love or covenant loyalty.
- לַעֲבָדֶ֕יךָ (laʿavadeikha) – Root: עבד; Form: Preposition + masculine plural noun with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “for Your servants”; Notes: Refers to those faithful to YHWH.
- הַהֹלְכִ֥ים (ha-holkhim) – Root: הלך; Form: Definite article + Qal participle masculine plural; Translation: “who walk”; Notes: Describes continual conduct or behavior.
- לְפָנֶ֖יךָ (lefanekha) – Root: פנים; Form: Preposition + plural noun with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “before You”; Notes: Indicates living in YHWH’s presence.
- בְּכָל־לִבָּֽם (be-khol-libam) – Root: כל / לב; Form: Preposition + noun “all” + masculine singular noun with 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “with all their heart”; Notes: Signifies wholehearted devotion and sincerity.