יִתֶּנְךָ֨ יְהוָ֥ה נִגָּף֮ לִפְנֵ֣י אֹיְבֶיךָ֒ בְּדֶ֤רֶךְ אֶחָד֙ תֵּצֵ֣א אֵלָ֔יו וּבְשִׁבְעָ֥ה דְרָכִ֖ים תָּנ֣וּס לְפָנָ֑יו וְהָיִ֣יתָ לְזַעֲוָ֔ה לְכֹ֖ל מַמְלְכֹ֥ות הָאָֽרֶץ׃
YHWH will give you over to defeat before your enemies; you will go out against them by one way, but you will flee before them by seven ways, and you will become a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth.
Morphology
- יִתֶּנְךָ֨ (yittenkha) – Root: נתן (natan); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “will give you over”; Notes: Indicates YHWH as the subject causing the defeat.
- יְהוָ֥ה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenant name of the God of Yisra’el, emphasizing divine authority.
- נִגָּף֮ (niggāf) – Root: נגף (nagaf); Form: Nifal singular masculine noun; Translation: “defeat”; Notes: The passive form suggests being struck down or defeated.
- לִפְנֵ֣י (lifnei) – Root: פנה (panah); Form: Preposition; Translation: “before”; Notes: Indicates being in the presence of or in confrontation with.
- אֹיְבֶיךָ֒ (ʾoyvekha) – Root: אויב (ʾoyev); Form: Noun, masculine plural with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “your enemies”; Notes: Denotes opposition or adversaries in battle.
- בְּדֶ֤רֶךְ אֶחָד֙ (be-derekh eḥad) – Root: דרך (derekh); Form: Preposition + noun (masculine singular) + numeral; Translation: “by one way”; Notes: Suggests a united front in approaching the enemy.
- תֵּצֵ֣א (tetze) – Root: יצא (yatsaʾ); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “you will go out”; Notes: Refers to the act of going out to engage in battle.
- אֵלָ֔יו (elav) – Root: אל (ʾel); Form: Preposition + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “against him”; Notes: Points to the direction towards the enemy.
- וּבְשִׁבְעָ֥ה דְרָכִ֖ים (u-ve-shivʿah derakhim) – Root: שבע (shevaʿ), דרך (derekh); Form: Conjunction + preposition + numeral + plural noun; Translation: “by seven ways”; Notes: Symbolizes disarray and panic during retreat.
- תָּנ֣וּס (tanus) – Root: נוס (nus); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “you will flee”; Notes: Highlights the humiliation and chaos in retreat.
- לְפָנָ֑יו (lefanav) – Root: פנה (panah); Form: Preposition + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “before him”; Notes: Describes fleeing in the sight of the enemy.
- וְהָיִ֣יתָ (ve-hayita) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal perfect 2nd person masculine singular with conjunction; Translation: “and you will become”; Notes: Indicates a transformation into a state of fear and horror.
- לְזַעֲוָ֔ה (le-zaʿavah) – Root: זעוה (zaʿavah); Form: Preposition + noun, feminine singular; Translation: “a horror”; Notes: Suggests being an object of dread and disgrace.
- לְכֹ֖ל (le-khol) – Root: כלל (khalal); Form: Preposition + noun, masculine singular; Translation: “to all”; Notes: Refers to the universality of the humiliation.
- מַמְלְכֹ֥ות הָאָֽרֶץ (mamlekhot ha-ʾaretz) – Root: מלך (mālak), ארץ (ʾaretz); Form: Plural feminine noun + definite article + feminine singular noun; Translation: “the kingdoms of the earth”; Notes: Indicates the widespread impact and shame on a global scale.