כִּי־רָאָ֧ה יְהוָ֛ה אֶת־עֳנִ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מֹרֶ֣ה מְאֹ֑ד וְאֶ֤פֶס עָצוּר֙ וְאֶ֣פֶס עָז֔וּב וְאֵ֥ין עֹזֵ֖ר לְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
For YHWH saw the affliction of Yisraʾel, that it was very bitter, and there was no one restrained and no one left, and there was no helper for Yisraʾel.
Morphology
- כִּי־רָאָ֧ה (ki-raʾah) – Root: ראה (raʾah); Form: Conjunction + Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “For [he] saw”; Notes: Introduces the reason for divine action—YHWH perceived the situation.
- יְהוָ֛ה (YHWH) – Root: — ; Form: Proper noun, Tetragrammaton; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenant God of Yisraʾel.
- אֶת־עֳנִ֥י (et-ʿoni) – Root: עני; Form: Direct object marker + noun masculine singular in construct; Translation: “the affliction of”; Notes: Expresses the suffering state of the nation.
- יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (Yisraʾel) – Root: ישראל; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yisraʾel”; Notes: Refers to the northern kingdom.
- מֹרֶ֣ה (moreh) – Root: מרה; Form: Participle masculine singular; Translation: “bitter”; Notes: Indicates deep hardship or misery.
- מְאֹ֑ד (meʾod) – Root: מאד; Form: Adverb; Translation: “very”; Notes: Intensifies the bitterness of their affliction.
- וְאֶ֤פֶס (ve-efes) – Root: אפס; Form: Conjunction + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and there was no”; Notes: Denotes lack or absence of something.
- עָצוּר֙ (ʿatsur) – Root: עצר; Form: Passive participle masculine singular; Translation: “restrained”; Notes: Possibly meaning those confined or protected; used here as a class of people.
- וְאֶ֣פֶס (ve-efes) – Root: אפס; Form: Conjunction + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and there was no”; Notes: Repeated for emphasis.
- עָז֔וּב (ʿazuv) – Root: עזב; Form: Passive participle masculine singular; Translation: “left”; Notes: Refers to those remaining or surviving; none remained.
- וְאֵ֥ין (ve-ein) – Root: אין; Form: Conjunction + particle of non-existence; Translation: “and there was no”; Notes: Expresses complete absence.
- עֹזֵ֖ר (ʿozer) – Root: עזר; Form: Qal active participle masculine singular; Translation: “helper”; Notes: No one remained to help or deliver them.
- לְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל (le-Yisraʾel) – Root: ישראל; Form: Preposition + proper noun; Translation: “for Yisraʾel”; Notes: Refers again to the suffering nation lacking assistance.