גֹּ֖וי עַ֣ז פָּנִ֑ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹא־יִשָּׂ֤א פָנִים֙ לְזָקֵ֔ן וְנַ֖עַר לֹ֥א יָחֹֽן׃
A nation fierce of face, that will not show favor to the old, nor show mercy to the young.
Morphology
- גֹּ֖וי (goy) – Root: גוי (g-w-y); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “nation”; Notes: Refers to a foreign, hostile people.
- עַ֣ז (ʿaz) – Root: עזז (ʿ-z-z); Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “fierce” or “strong”; Notes: Describes the aggressive and unyielding nature of the nation.
- פָּנִ֑ים (panim) – Root: פנים (p-n-y-m); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “face”; Notes: Used metaphorically here to denote demeanor or countenance.
- אֲשֶׁ֨ר (ʾasher) – Root: אשר (ʾ-sh-r); Form: Relative pronoun; Translation: “that” or “which”; Notes: Introduces the clause describing the behavior of the nation.
- לֹא־יִשָּׂ֤א (lo-yissa) – Root: נשא (n-ś-ʾ); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular with negative particle; Translation: “will not show favor” or “will not lift up”; Notes: Indicates a lack of partiality or respect.
- פָנִים֙ (panim) – Root: פנים (p-n-y-m); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “face”; Notes: The repetition emphasizes the lack of favoritism.
- לְזָקֵ֔ן (lezaken) – Root: זקן (z-q-n); Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “to the old”; Notes: Refers to elderly individuals, emphasizing the nation’s ruthlessness.
- וְנַ֖עַר (venaʿar) – Root: נער (n-ʿ-r); Form: Conjunction + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and the young”; Notes: Extends the lack of mercy to the youth as well.
- לֹ֥א (lo) – Root: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Denotes negation of the following verb.
- יָחֹֽן (yachon) – Root: חנן (ḥ-n-n); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “will show mercy”; Notes: Indicates the complete absence of compassion.