כִּ֤י כַבֶּ֨גֶד֙ יֹאכְלֵ֣ם עָ֔שׁ וְכַצֶּ֖מֶר יֹאכְלֵ֣ם סָ֑ס וְצִדְקָתִי֙ לְעֹולָ֣ם תִּֽהְיֶ֔ה וִישׁוּעָתִ֖י לְדֹ֥ור דֹּורִֽים׃ ס
For like a garment the moth shall eat them, and like wool the grub shall eat them, but my righteousness shall be forever, and my salvation to all generations.”
Morphology
- כִּ֤י (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “For”; Notes: Introduces the reason or explanation.
- כַבֶּ֨גֶד (ka-beged) – Root: בגד (beged); Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “like a garment”; Notes: Comparative image for decay.
- יֹאכְלֵ֣ם (yoʾkheleim) – Root: אכל (ʾakal); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “shall eat them”; Notes: Refers to destructive consumption.
- עָ֔שׁ (ʿash) – Root: עש (ʿash); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “moth”; Notes: Image of corruption or frailty.
- וְכַצֶּ֖מֶר (ve-katsémer) – Root: צמר (tsémer); Form: Conjunction + preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and like wool”; Notes: Continues the simile with another material subject to decay.
- יֹאכְלֵ֣ם (yoʾkheleim) – Root: אכל (ʾakal); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “shall eat them”; Notes: Repetition emphasizes certainty of judgment.
- סָ֑ס (sas) – Root: סס (sas); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “grub” or “larva”; Notes: Likely refers to a consuming insect; parallel to “moth.”
- וְצִדְקָתִי֙ (ve-tsidqati) – Root: צדק (tsedeq); Form: Conjunction + noun feminine singular + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “but my righteousness”; Notes: Contrast with temporary decay; eternal quality of divine righteousness.
- לְעֹולָ֣ם (le-ʿolam) – Root: עולם (ʿolam); Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “forever”; Notes: Refers to everlasting duration.
- תִּֽהְיֶ֔ה (tihyeh) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “shall be”; Notes: Verb agreeing with “righteousness.”
- וִישׁוּעָתִ֖י (vi-yeshuʿati) – Root: ישע (yashaʿ); Form: Conjunction + noun feminine singular + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “and my salvation”; Notes: Paralleled with “righteousness,” both eternal.
- לְדֹ֥ור (le-dor) – Root: דור (dor); Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “to a generation”; Notes: First part of a poetic pair.
- דֹּורִֽים (dorim) – Root: דור (dor); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “generations”; Notes: Expresses perpetuity across all future ages.