הִתְמַהְמְה֣וּ וּתְמָ֔הוּ הִשְׁתַּֽעַשְׁע֖וּ וָשֹׁ֑עוּ שָֽׁכְר֣וּ וְלֹא־יַ֔יִן נָע֖וּ וְלֹ֥א שֵׁכָֽר׃
They have staggered and reeled, they have tottered and wandered; they are drunk, but not with wine, they have swayed, but not with liquor.
Morphology
- הִתְמַהְמְה֣וּ (hitmahmahu) – Root: מהה; Form: Hitpael perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “They have staggered”; Notes: Reflexive-intensified verb form denoting confusion or wavering.
- וּתְמָ֔הוּ (u-temahu) – Root: תמה; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural with prefixed conjunction; Translation: “and they have reeled”; Notes: Often expresses astonishment or staggering from bewilderment.
- הִשְׁתַּֽעַשְׁע֖וּ (hishtaʿashʿu) – Root: שעשׁע; Form: Hitpael perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they have tottered”; Notes: May also denote reeling or erratic movement in disorientation.
- וָשֹׁ֑עוּ (va-shaʾu) – Root: שׁעה; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural with prefixed vav; Translation: “and wandered”; Notes: Can indicate turning aside, wandering off course in a dazed state.
- שָֽׁכְר֣וּ (shakru) – Root: שׁכר; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they are drunk”; Notes: Indicates a state of intoxication, literal or metaphorical.
- וְלֹא־יַ֔יִן (ve-lo-yayin) – Root: יין; Form: Conjunction וְ + negative particle לֹא + noun masculine singular; Translation: “but not with wine”; Notes: Emphasizes the unnatural source of their stupor.
- נָע֖וּ (naʿu) – Root: נוע; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they have swayed”; Notes: Suggests physical instability, often associated with intoxication or judgment.
- וְלֹ֥א שֵׁכָֽר (ve-lo shekhar) – Root: שׁכר; Form: Conjunction וְ + negative particle לֹא + noun masculine singular; Translation: “but not with liquor”; Notes: “Shekhar” refers to strong drink or fermented beverage; again highlights unnatural drunkenness.