הַיֹּשֵׁב֙ עַל־ח֣וּג הָאָ֔רֶץ וְיֹשְׁבֶ֖יהָ כַּחֲגָבִ֑ים הַנֹּוטֶ֤ה כַדֹּק֙ שָׁמַ֔יִם וַיִּמְתָּחֵ֥ם כָּאֹ֖הֶל לָשָֽׁבֶת׃
The One who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers—who stretches out the heavens like a thin veil and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.
Morphology
- הַיֹּשֵׁב֙ (hayyoshev) – Root: ישׁב; Form: Qal participle masculine singular with definite article; Translation: “the one who sits”; Notes: Describes continuous action or state.
- עַל־ח֣וּג (ʿal-ḥug) – Root: חוג; Form: Preposition + noun, masculine singular; Translation: “above the circle”; Notes: ḥug can mean “circle,” “vault,” or “horizon.”
- הָאָ֔רֶץ (ha-aretz) – Root: ארץ; Form: Noun, feminine singular with definite article; Translation: “the earth.”
- וְיֹשְׁבֶ֖יהָ (veyoshveha) – Root: ישׁב; Form: Qal participle masculine plural with 3rd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “and its inhabitants”; Notes: Refers to the people dwelling on the earth.
- כַּחֲגָבִ֑ים (kaḥagavim) – Root: חגב; Form: Preposition + noun, masculine plural; Translation: “like grasshoppers”; Notes: Metaphor for smallness or insignificance.
- הַנֹּוטֶ֤ה (hannoteh) – Root: נטה; Form: Qal participle masculine singular with definite article; Translation: “the one who stretches”; Notes: Continuing the description of YHWH.
- כַדֹּק֙ (kaddoq) – Root: דק; Form: Preposition + noun, masculine singular; Translation: “like a curtain” or “thin veil”; Notes: Refers to a fine spread or canopy.
- שָׁמַ֔יִם (shamayim) – Root: שׁמי; Form: Noun, masculine plural (dual in form); Translation: “heavens.”
- וַיִּמְתָּחֵ֥ם (vayyimtaḥem) – Root: מתח; Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine singular + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “and he spread them out”; Notes: Refers to spreading out the heavens.
- כָּאֹ֖הֶל (kaohel) – Root: אהל; Form: Preposition + noun, masculine singular with definite article; Translation: “like a tent.”
- לָשָֽׁבֶת (lashavet) – Root: ישׁב; Form: Preposition + infinitive construct; Translation: “to dwell”; Notes: Purpose clause indicating the function of the tent.