מִדַּ֣ם חֲלָלִ֗ים מֵחֵ֨לֶב֙ גִּבֹּורִ֔ים קֶ֚שֶׁת יְהֹ֣ונָתָ֔ן לֹ֥א נָשֹׂ֖וג אָחֹ֑ור וְחֶ֣רֶב שָׁא֔וּל לֹ֥א תָשׁ֖וּב רֵיקָֽם׃
From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Yehonatan did not turn back, and the sword of Shaʾul did not return empty.
Morphology
- מִדַּ֣ם (mi-dam) – Root: דם; Form: Preposition + noun, masculine singular construct; Translation: “From the blood”; Notes: Indicates source.
- חֲלָלִ֗ים (ḥalalim) – Root: חלל; Form: Noun, masculine plural absolute; Translation: “of the slain”; Notes: Refers to fallen warriors.
- מֵחֵ֨לֶב֙ (me-ḥelev) – Root: חלב; Form: Preposition + noun, masculine singular construct; Translation: “from the fat”; Notes: Represents abundance or strength.
- גִּבֹּורִ֔ים (gibborim) – Root: גבור; Form: Noun, masculine plural absolute; Translation: “of the mighty”; Notes: Refers to valiant warriors.
- קֶ֚שֶׁת (qeshet) – Root: קשת; Form: Noun, feminine singular absolute; Translation: “the bow”; Notes: Refers to Yehonatan’s weapon.
- יְהֹ֣ונָתָ֔ן (Yehonatan) – Root: יהונתן; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yehonatan”; Notes: Son of Shaʾul.
- לֹ֥א (lo) – Root: לא; Form: Negative particle; Translation: “did not”; Notes: Negates the verb.
- נָשֹׂ֖וג (nasog) – Root: נסג; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “turn back”; Notes: Describes the bow’s unwavering aim.
- אָחֹ֑ור (aḥor) – Root: אחור; Form: Adverb; Translation: “backward”; Notes: Further describes the verb.
- וְחֶ֣רֶב (ve-ḥerev) – Root: חרב; Form: Conjunction + noun, feminine singular absolute; Translation: “and the sword”; Notes: Refers to Shaʾul’s weapon.
- שָׁא֔וּל (Shaʾul) – Root: שאול; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Shaʾul”; Notes: The first king of Yisraʾel.
- לֹ֥א (lo) – Root: לא; Form: Negative particle; Translation: “did not”; Notes: Negates the verb.
- תָשׁ֖וּב (tashuv) – Root: שוב; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “return”; Notes: Describes the sword’s unrelenting strike.
- רֵיקָֽם׃ (reiqam) – Root: ריק; Form: Adjective, masculine singular absolute; Translation: “empty”; Notes: Meaning it never missed its mark.