הֹ֣וי הַיֹּרְדִ֤ים מִצְרַ֨יִם֙ לְעֶזְרָ֔ה עַל־סוּסִ֖ים יִשָּׁעֵ֑נוּ וַיִּבְטְח֨וּ עַל־רֶ֜כֶב כִּ֣י רָ֗ב וְעַ֤ל פָּֽרָשִׁים֙ כִּֽי־עָצְמ֣וּ מְאֹ֔ד וְלֹ֤א שָׁעוּ֙ עַל־קְדֹ֣ושׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְאֶת־יְהוָ֖ה לֹ֥א דָרָֽשׁוּ׃
Woe to those going down to Mitsrayim for help, who rely on horses, and trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong, but they do not look to the Holy One of Yisraʾel, and YHWH they have not sought.
Morphology
- הֹ֣וי (hoy) – Root: הוי; Form: Interjection; Translation: “Woe”; Notes: A prophetic cry of judgment or lament.
- הַיֹּרְדִ֤ים (ha-yordim) – Root: ירד; Form: Definite article + Qal participle masculine plural; Translation: “those going down”; Notes: Refers to people descending physically and figuratively (in trust) to Mitsrayim.
- מִצְרַ֨יִם (Mitsrayim) – Root: מצרים; Form: Proper noun, place name; Translation: “Mitsrayim”; Notes: The land of Egypt.
- לְעֶזְרָ֔ה (le-ʿezrah) – Root: עזר; Form: Preposition לְ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “for help”; Notes: Refers to seeking assistance or military support.
- עַל־סוּסִ֖ים (ʿal-susim) – Root: סוס; Form: Preposition עַל + plural noun masculine; Translation: “upon horses”; Notes: Symbolizes trust in military strength.
- יִשָּׁעֵ֑נוּ (yishaʿenu) – Root: ישע; Form: Nifal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they rely”; Notes: Reflexive nuance, “to seek safety” or “trust.”
- וַיִּבְטְח֨וּ (va-yivteḥu) – Root: בטח; Form: Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they trusted”; Notes: Indicates misplaced reliance.
- עַל־רֶ֜כֶב (ʿal-rekhev) – Root: רכב; Form: Preposition עַל + noun masculine singular; Translation: “in chariot”; Notes: Military force.
- כִּ֣י (ki) – Root: כי; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “because”; Notes: Introduces reason.
- רָ֗ב (rav) – Root: רבב; Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “many”; Notes: Emphasizes numerical strength.
- וְעַל־פָּֽרָשִׁים֙ (ve-ʿal-parashim) – Root: פרשׁ; Form: Conjunction + preposition עַל + noun masculine plural; Translation: “and in horsemen”; Notes: Mounted warriors or cavalry.
- כִּֽי־עָצְמ֣וּ (ki-ʿatsmu) – Root: עצם; Form: Conjunction + Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “because they are strong”; Notes: Describes strength or might.
- מְאֹ֔ד (meʾod) – Root: מאד; Form: Adverb; Translation: “very”; Notes: Intensifies the preceding verb.
- וְלֹ֤א (ve-lo) – Root: לא; Form: Conjunction + negative particle; Translation: “but not”; Notes: Contrasts trust in humans with lack of trust in YHWH.
- שָׁעוּ֙ (shaʿu) – Root: שׁעה; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they looked”; Notes: Implies attention or regard, often toward YHWH.
- עַל־קְדֹ֣ושׁ (ʿal-qedosh) – Root: קדשׁ; Form: Preposition עַל + noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “to the Holy One”; Notes: A divine epithet of YHWH.
- יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (Yisraʾel) – Root: ישראל; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yisraʾel”; Notes: Refers to the covenant people or nation.
- וְאֶת־יְהוָ֖ה (ve-et-YHWH) – Root: יהוה; Form: Conjunction + direct object marker + proper noun; Translation: “and YHWH”; Notes: The divine name of the God of Yisraʾel.
- לֹ֥א (lo) – Root: לא; Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Continues the contrast.
- דָרָֽשׁוּ (darashu) – Root: דרשׁ; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they sought”; Notes: Seeking in the sense of inquiring of, worshiping, or relying upon.