יְהֹושָׁפָ֡ט עָשָׂה אֳנִיֹּ֨ות תַּרְשִׁ֜ישׁ לָלֶ֧כֶת אֹופִ֛ירָה לַזָּהָ֖ב וְלֹ֣א הָלָ֑ךְ כִּֽי־נִשְׁבְּרָה אֳנִיֹּ֖ות בְּעֶצְיֹ֥ון גָּֽבֶר׃
Yehoshafat made Tarshish ships to go to Ofir for gold, but they did not go, for the ships were broken at ʿEtzyon Gever.
Morphology
- יְהֹושָׁפָט (Yehoshafat) – Root: יהושפט (Yehoshafat); Form: Proper noun masculine singular; Translation: “Yehoshafat”; Notes: King of Yehudah, known for piety and political ventures.
- עָשָׂה (ʿasah) – Root: עשׂה (ʿasah); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “made”; Notes: Indicates construction or commissioning of ships.
- אֳנִיֹּות (ʾoniyyot) – Root: אניה (ʾoniyah); Form: Noun feminine plural; Translation: “ships”; Notes: Naval vessels, likely large cargo ships.
- תַּרְשִׁישׁ (Tarshish) – Root: תרשיש (Tarshish); Form: Proper noun used attributively; Translation: “Tarshish”; Notes: Possibly a type or style of ship, or ships intended for the Tarshish route.
- לָלֶכֶת (la-lekhet) – Root: הלך (halakh); Form: Preposition + Qal infinitive construct; Translation: “to go”; Notes: Purpose of the ships.
- אֹופִירָה (ʾOfirah) – Root: אופיר (ʾOfir); Form: Proper noun with directional ending (locative he); Translation: “to Ophir”; Notes: Legendary region associated with gold.
- לַזָּהָב (la-zahav) – Root: זהב (zahav); Form: Preposition + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “for the gold”; Notes: Specifies the economic intent of the voyage.
- וְלֹא הָלָךְ (ve-lo halakh) – Root: הלך (halakh); Form: Conjunction + negative + Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “but they did not go”; Notes: Refers back collectively to the ships.
- כִּי־נִשְׁבְּרָה (ki-nishberah) – Root: שׁבר (shavar); Form: Conjunction + Niphal perfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “for they were broken”; Notes: Niphal passive—accidental or divinely allowed mishap.
- אֳנִיֹּות (ʾoniyyot) – Root: אניה (ʾoniyah); Form: Noun feminine plural; Translation: “ships”; Notes: Repetition for emphasis; subject of the verb “were broken.”
- בְּעֶצְיֹון גָּבֶר (be-ʿEtzyon-Gaver) – Roots: עצי (ʿEtzyon), גבר (Gaver); Form: Preposition + proper noun; Translation: “at ʿEtzyon Gaver”; Notes: Seaport on the Red Sea, site of shipwreck or failure.