הָעֲנִיִּ֨ים וְהָאֶבְיֹונִ֜ים מְבַקְשִׁ֥ים מַ֨יִם֙ וָאַ֔יִן לְשֹׁונָ֖ם בַּצָּמָ֣א נָשָׁ֑תָּה אֲנִ֤י יְהוָה֙ אֶעֱנֵ֔ם אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֹ֥א אֶעֶזְבֵֽם׃
The poor and the needy seek water, but there is none; their tongue is parched with thirst. I, YHWH, will answer them—the God of Yisraʾel—I will not forsake them.
Morphology
- הָעֲנִיִּים (ha-ʿaniyyim) – Root: ענה (ʿanah); Form: Definite article + noun masculine plural; Translation: “the poor”; Notes: Those afflicted or oppressed.
- וְהָאֶבְיֹונִים (ve-ha-ʾevyonim) – Root: אבן (ʾevyon); Form: Conjunction + definite noun masculine plural; Translation: “and the needy”; Notes: Refers to destitute or helpless persons.
- מְבַקְשִׁים (mevaqqeshim) – Root: בקשׁ (baqqash); Form: Piel participle masculine plural; Translation: “seeking”; Notes: Continuous or active search.
- מַיִם (mayim) – Root: מים (mayim); Form: Noun masculine dual (absolute); Translation: “water”; Notes: Symbol of life and survival, especially in desert imagery.
- וָאַיִן (va-ʾayin) – Root: אין (ʾayin); Form: Conjunction + existential negative; Translation: “but there is none”; Notes: Expresses absence or lack.
- לְשֹׁונָם (le-shonam) – Root: לשׁן (lashon); Form: Preposition + noun feminine singular with 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “their tongue”; Notes: Metonym for speech or thirst.
- בַּצָּמָא (ba-tsama) – Root: צמא (tsama); Form: Preposition + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “with thirst”; Notes: Expresses the condition of intense need.
- נָשָׁתָּה (nashatah) – Root: נשׁה (nashah); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “is parched”; Notes: Refers to the tongue drying or failing from thirst.
- אֲנִי (ʾani) – Root: אני (ʾani); Form: Independent pronoun 1st person singular; Translation: “I”; Notes: Emphatic divine speaker.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: הוה (YHWH); Form: Proper divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Covenant name of the God of Yisraʾel.
- אֶעֱנֵם (eʿenēm) – Root: ענה (ʿanah); Form: Qal imperfect 1st person singular + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “I will answer them”; Notes: Indicates divine response to prayer or suffering.
- אֱלֹהֵי (ʾelohei) – Root: אלה (ʾelohim); Form: Construct noun masculine plural; Translation: “God of”; Notes: Beginning of possessive phrase.
- יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisraʾel) – Root: שׂרה + אל (sar + ʾel); Form: Proper noun masculine singular; Translation: “Yisraʾel”; Notes: Completes construct: “God of Yisraʾel.”
- לֹא (lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Negates the following verb.
- אֶעֶזְבֵם (eʿezveim) – Root: עזב (ʿazav); Form: Qal imperfect 1st person singular + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “I will forsake them”; Notes: Assurance of divine loyalty and care.