שְׁבָ֤ה אִתִּי֙ אַל־תִּירָ֔א כִּ֛י אֲשֶׁר־יְבַקֵּ֥שׁ אֶת־נַפְשִׁ֖י יְבַקֵּ֣שׁ אֶת־נַפְשֶׁ֑ךָ כִּֽי־מִשְׁמֶ֥רֶת אַתָּ֖ה עִמָּדִֽי׃
Stay with me, do not be afraid, for the one who seeks my life seeks your life. For you will be safe with me.”
Morphology
- שְׁבָ֤ה (shəvāh) – Root: שׁבה (shāvah); Form: Qal imperative masculine singular; Translation: “Stay”; Notes: A command given by Dawid.
- אִתִּי֙ (ʾittī) – Root: את (ʾet); Form: Preposition + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “with me”; Notes: Indicates companionship.
- אַל־תִּירָ֔א (ʾal-tīrā) – Root: ירא (yārēʾ); Form: Qal imperfect jussive 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “do not be afraid”; Notes: Negative command expressing reassurance.
- כִּ֛י (kī) – Root: כי (kī); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces reason.
- אֲשֶׁר־יְבַקֵּ֥שׁ (ʾăsher-yəvaqqēsh) – Root: בקש (bāqash); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “the one who seeks”; Notes: Refers to Shaʾul.
- אֶת־נַפְשִׁ֖י (ʾet-nafshī) – Root: נפש (nepesh); Form: Definite direct object marker + noun, feminine singular construct + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “my life”; Notes: Refers to Dawid’s life.
- יְבַקֵּ֣שׁ (yəvaqqēsh) – Root: בקש (bāqash); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “seeks”; Notes: Indicates pursuit.
- אֶת־נַפְשֶׁ֑ךָ (ʾet-nafshekha) – Root: נפש (nepesh); Form: Definite direct object marker + noun, feminine singular construct + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “your life”; Notes: Refers to Ebyatar’s life.
- כִּֽי־מִשְׁמֶ֥רֶת (kī-mishmeret) – Root: שׁמר (shāmar); Form: Conjunction + noun, feminine singular; Translation: “For a safeguard”; Notes: Indicates protection.
- אַתָּ֖ה (ʾattāh) – Root: אתה (ʾattāh); Form: Pronoun, 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “you”; Notes: Emphasizes the addressee.
- עִמָּדִֽי׃ (ʿimmādī) – Root: עם (ʿim); Form: Preposition + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “with me”; Notes: Reiterates safety in Dawid’s presence.