הִֽתְחַזְּק֞וּ וִֽהְי֤וּ לַֽאֲנָשִׁים֙ פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים פֶּ֚ן תַּעַבְד֣וּ לָעִבְרִ֔ים כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר עָבְד֖וּ לָכֶ֑ם וִהְיִיתֶ֥ם לַאֲנָשִׁ֖ים וְנִלְחַמְתֶּֽם׃
Be strong and act like men, O Pelishtim, lest you serve the ʿIvrim as they have served you! Be men and fight!”
Morphology
- הִֽתְחַזְּק֞וּ (hitḥazzequ) – Root: חזק (ḥazaq); Form: Hitpael imperative masculine plural; Translation: “Be strong”; Notes: Reflexive form, urging self-empowerment.
- וִֽהְי֤וּ (vi-hyu) – Root: היה (haya); Form: Qal imperative masculine plural; Translation: “and be”; Notes: Command to take on a role.
- לַֽאֲנָשִׁים֙ (la-anashim) – Root: איש (ʾish); Form: Noun, masculine plural with preposition; Translation: “as men”; Notes: Encouragement to act bravely.
- פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים (Pelishtim) – Root: פלשתי (Pelishti); Form: Proper noun, plural; Translation: “O Pelishtim”; Notes: The addressed group.
- פֶּ֚ן (pen) – Root: פן (pen); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “lest”; Notes: Introduces a warning.
- תַּעַבְד֣וּ (taʿavdu) – Root: עבד (ʿavad); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you serve”; Notes: Negative consequence to be avoided.
- לָעִבְרִ֔ים (la-ʿIvrim) – Root: עבר (ʿavar); Form: Proper noun, plural with preposition; Translation: “the ʿIvrim”; Notes: Refers to the Hebrews.
- כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר (kaʾasher) – Root: כאשר (kaʾasher); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “as”; Notes: Introduces a comparison.
- עָבְד֖וּ (ʿavdu) – Root: עבד (ʿavad); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they served”; Notes: Describes past servitude.
- לָכֶ֑ם (lakhem) – Root: לכם (lakhem); Form: Preposition with 2nd person masculine plural pronoun; Translation: “you”; Notes: Refers to the Pelishtim.
- וִהְיִיתֶ֥ם (vi-hyitem) – Root: היה (haya); Form: Qal perfect consecutive 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “and be”; Notes: Continuation of the command.
- לַאֲנָשִׁ֖ים (la-anashim) – Root: איש (ʾish); Form: Noun, masculine plural with preposition; Translation: “as men”; Notes: Reiterating the call to bravery.
- וְנִלְחַמְתֶּֽם (ve-nilkhamtem) – Root: לחם (lakham); Form: Nifal perfect consecutive 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “and fight!”; Notes: Command to engage in battle.