יְהוָ֛ה מָסַ֥ךְ בְּקִרְבָּ֖הּ ר֣וּחַ עִוְעִ֑ים וְהִתְע֤וּ אֶת־מִצְרַ֨יִם֙ בְּכָֽל־מַעֲשֵׂ֔הוּ כְּהִתָּעֹ֥ות שִׁכֹּ֖ור בְּקִיאֹֽו׃
YHWH has mixed within her a spirit of confusion, and they have caused Mitsrayim to err in all its work, as a drunkard staggers in his vomit.
Morphology
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: Divine name; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenant name of the God of Yisraʾel, subject of the sentence.
- מָסַךְ (masakh) – Root: מסך; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “has mixed,” “has poured”; Notes: Describes metaphorical mixing or infusion.
- בְּקִרְבָּהּ (be-qirbah) – Root: קרב; Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular with 3rd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “within her”; Notes: Refers to the midst of Mitsrayim.
- רוּחַ (ruaḥ) – Root: רוח; Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “spirit”; Notes: Often implies divine or psychological influence.
- עִוְעִים (ʿivʿim) – Root: עוע; Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “confusion,” “delusion”; Notes: Rare word indicating distortion or madness.
- וְהִתְעוּ (ve-hitʿu) – Root: תעה; Form: Hifil perfect 3rd person masculine plural with vav-consecutive; Translation: “and they have caused to err”; Notes: Refers to those influenced by the spirit of confusion.
- אֶת־מִצְרַיִם (et-Mitsrayim) – Root: Proper noun; Form: Direct object marker + name; Translation: “Mitsrayim”; Notes: Object of the misleading influence.
- בְּכָל־מַעֲשֵׂהוּ (be-khol-maʿasehu) – Root: עשה; Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular construct + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “in all its work”; Notes: Refers to the actions or enterprises of Mitsrayim.
- כְּהִתָּעֹות (ke-hitʿot) – Root: תעה; Form: Nifal infinitive construct; Translation: “as the staggering,” “as the erring”; Notes: Compares Egypt’s confusion to a drunkard’s stumbling.
- שִׁכֹּור (shikkor) – Root: שׁכר; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “a drunkard”; Notes: Symbol of confusion and instability.
- בְּקִיאוֹ (be-qiʾo) – Root: קיא; Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “in his vomit”; Notes: Describes repulsive, helpless staggering.