מַה־נָּאו֨וּ עַל־הֶהָרִ֜ים רַגְלֵ֣י מְבַשֵּׂ֗ר מַשְׁמִ֧יעַ שָׁלֹ֛ום מְבַשֵּׂ֥ר טֹ֖וב מַשְׁמִ֣יעַ יְשׁוּעָ֑ה אֹמֵ֥ר לְצִיֹּ֖ון מָלַ֥ךְ אֱלֹהָֽיִךְ׃
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the one who brings good news, who announces peace, who brings good news of good, who proclaims salvation, who says to Tsiyyon, “Your God reigns.”
Morphology
- מַה־נָּאו֨וּ (mah-naʾu) – Root: נאה (naʾeh); Form: Interrogative + Qal perfect 3rd person plural; Translation: “How beautiful”; Notes: Exclamatory admiration of beauty or fittingness.
- עַל־הֶהָרִ֜ים (ʿal-he-harim) – Root: הר (har); Form: Preposition + definite article + plural noun masculine; Translation: “upon the mountains”; Notes: Scene of the messenger’s arrival—elevated and visible.
- רַגְלֵ֣י (raglei) – Root: רגל (regel); Form: Noun feminine plural construct; Translation: “the feet of”; Notes: Refers poetically to the messenger’s approach.
- מְבַשֵּׂ֗ר (mevaser) – Root: בשׂר (basar); Form: Piel participle masculine singular; Translation: “one who brings good news”; Notes: Herald of divine victory and restoration.
- מַשְׁמִ֧יעַ (mashmiʿa) – Root: שׁמע (shamaʿ); Form: Hifil participle masculine singular; Translation: “who causes to hear”; Notes: Describes proclamation or broadcasting of a message.
- שָׁלֹ֛ום (shalom) – Root: שׁלם (shalem); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “peace”; Notes: Comprehensive wholeness and well-being.
- מְבַשֵּׂ֥ר (mevaser) – Root: בשׂר (basar); Form: Piel participle masculine singular (repetition); Translation: “who brings good news”; Notes: Reinforces the joyful content of the message.
- טֹ֖וב (tov) – Root: טוב (tov); Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “good”; Notes: Describes the nature of the news—pleasant, beneficial.
- מַשְׁמִ֣יעַ (mashmiʿa) – Root: שׁמע (shamaʿ); Form: Hifil participle masculine singular (repetition); Translation: “who causes to hear”; Notes: Again emphasizes the vocal nature of the proclamation.
- יְשׁוּעָ֑ה (yeshuʿah) – Root: ישע (yashaʿ); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “salvation”; Notes: Deliverance, likely both physical and spiritual.
- אֹמֵ֥ר (omer) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “who says”; Notes: Introduces the content of the message.
- לְצִיֹּ֖ון (le-Tsiyon) – Root: ציון (Tsiyon); Form: Preposition + proper noun; Translation: “to Tsiyon”; Notes: The recipient of the glad tidings.
- מָלַ֥ךְ (malakh) – Root: מלך (malakh); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “has reigned” / “reigns”; Notes: Declares YHWH’s kingship as present or newly realized.
- אֱלֹהָֽיִךְ (Elohayikh) – Root: אלה (ʾeloh); Form: Noun masculine plural + 2nd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “your God”; Notes: Affirms YHWH’s reign over His people.