וַיָּ֤קָם אָדָם֙ לִרְדָפְךָ֔ וּלְבַקֵּ֖שׁ אֶת־נַפְשֶׁ֑ךָ וְֽהָיְתָה֩ נֶ֨פֶשׁ אֲדֹנִ֜י צְרוּרָ֣ה בִּצְרֹ֣ור הַחַיִּ֗ים אֵ֚ת יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ וְאֵ֨ת נֶ֤פֶשׁ אֹיְבֶ֨יךָ֙ יְקַלְּעֶ֔נָּה בְּתֹ֖וךְ כַּ֥ף הַקָּֽלַע׃
And if a man rises to pursue you and to seek your life, then the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with YHWH your God, but the soul of your enemies He shall sling away in the midst of the hollow of a sling.
Morphology
- וַיָּ֤קָם (vayyaqam) – Root: קום (qum); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And he rises”; Notes: Indicates action of an enemy.
- אָדָם֙ (adam) – Root: אדם (adam); Form: Noun, masculine singular; Translation: “a man”; Notes: Refers to an unspecified enemy.
- לִרְדָפְךָ֔ (lirḏofkha) – Root: רדף (radaf); Form: Qal infinitive construct with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “to pursue you”; Notes: Expresses the enemy’s intent.
- וּלְבַקֵּ֖שׁ (u-levaqqesh) – Root: בקש (baqash); Form: Piel infinitive construct; Translation: “and to seek”; Notes: Reinforces hostile action.
- אֶת־נַפְשֶׁ֑ךָ (et-nafshekha) – Root: נפש (nefesh); Form: Noun, feminine singular with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “your life”; Notes: Refers to Dawid’s life.
- וְֽהָיְתָה֩ (ve-hayetah) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person feminine singular with vav-consecutive; Translation: “then shall be”; Notes: Introduces contrast.
- נֶ֨פֶשׁ (nefesh) – Root: נפש (nefesh); Form: Noun, feminine singular; Translation: “the soul”; Notes: Refers to Dawid’s essence.
- אֲדֹנִ֜י (ʾadoni) – Root: אדן (ʾadon); Form: Noun, masculine singular with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “of my lord”; Notes: Addressing Dawid.
- צְרוּרָ֣ה (tserurah) – Root: צרר (tsarar); Form: Qal passive participle feminine singular; Translation: “bound”; Notes: Indicates security.
- בִּצְרֹ֣ור (bi-tsror) – Root: צרור (tsror); Form: Noun, masculine singular construct; Translation: “in the bundle of”; Notes: Symbol of protection.
- הַחַיִּ֗ים (ha-ḥayyim) – Root: חיה (ḥayah); Form: Noun, masculine plural, definite; Translation: “life”; Notes: Represents divine care.
- אֵ֚ת (et) – Root: את (ʾet); Form: Direct object marker; Translation: “[with]”; Notes: Links to God.
- יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper noun, divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Subject of protection.
- אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ (ʾElohekha) – Root: אלה (ʾElohim); Form: Noun, masculine plural with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “your God”; Notes: Personalizes divine protection.
- וְאֵ֨ת (ve-et) – Root: את (ʾet); Form: Direct object marker; Translation: “but”; Notes: Contrasts Dawid’s fate with his enemies’.
- נֶ֤פֶשׁ (nefesh) – Root: נפש (nefesh); Form: Noun, feminine singular; Translation: “the soul”; Notes: Now referring to the enemies.
- אֹיְבֶ֨יךָ֙ (oyvekha) – Root: אויב (ʾoyev); Form: Noun, masculine plural construct with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “of your enemies”; Notes: Contrasts with Dawid.
- יְקַלְּעֶ֔נָּה (yeqalleʿennah) – Root: קלע (qalaʿ); Form: Piel imperfect 3rd person masculine singular with 3rd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “He shall sling away”; Notes: Act of divine judgment.
- בְּתֹ֖וךְ (be-tokh) – Root: תוך (tokh); Form: Noun, masculine singular construct; Translation: “into the midst of”; Notes: Describes the action.
- כַּ֥ף (kaf) – Root: כף (kaf); Form: Noun, feminine singular; Translation: “the hollow of”; Notes: Refers to a sling’s pouch.
- הַקָּֽלַע (ha-qalaʿ) – Root: קלע (qalaʿ); Form: Noun, masculine singular, definite; Translation: “a sling”; Notes: Metaphor for destruction.