כִּ֣י לֹ֤א בְחִפָּזֹון֙ תֵּצֵ֔אוּ וּבִמְנוּסָ֖ה לֹ֣א תֵלֵכ֑וּן כִּֽי־הֹלֵ֤ךְ לִפְנֵיכֶם֙ יְהוָ֔ה וּמְאַסִּפְכֶ֖ם אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ ס
For not in haste shall you go out, and not in flight shall you go; for YHWH goes before you, and the God of Yisraʾel is your rear guard.
Morphology
- כִּ֣י (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “For”; Notes: Introduces the reason or explanation.
- לֹ֤א (lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Negates the following verb.
- בְחִפָּזֹון֙ (ve-ḥippazon) – Root: חפז (ḥafaz); Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “in haste”; Notes: Conveys hurried or panicked movement.
- תֵּצֵ֔אוּ (tetzeʾu) – Root: יצא (yatza); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you shall go out”; Notes: Refers to future departure, likely from exile.
- וּבִמְנוּסָ֖ה (u-vi-menusah) – Root: מנס (manas); Form: Conjunction + preposition + noun feminine singular; Translation: “and in flight”; Notes: Emphasizes fear-driven escape.
- לֹ֣א (lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Parallel negation with the previous clause.
- תֵלֵכ֑וּן (telekhun) – Root: הלך (halakh); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural (with final nun); Translation: “shall you go”; Notes: Expresses calm, deliberate movement instead of panic.
- כִּֽי־הֹלֵ֤ךְ (ki-holekh) – Root: הלך (halakh); Form: Conjunction + Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “for goes”; Notes: Ongoing presence or leadership of YHWH.
- לִפְנֵיכֶם֙ (lifneikhem) – Root: פנה (panah); Form: Preposition + plural suffix; Translation: “before you”; Notes: Indicates divine guidance or leadership.
- יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The one leading the return from exile.
- וּמְאַסִּפְכֶ֖ם (u-meʾassifkhem) – Root: אסף (ʾasaf); Form: Conjunction + Piel participle masculine singular + 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “and your rear guard”; Notes: Literally “gatherer of you,” but conveys protection from behind.
- אֱלֹהֵ֥י (Elohei) – Root: אלה (ʾeloh); Form: Noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “God of”; Notes: Construct form introducing possessive relationship.
- יִשְׂרָאֵֽל (Yisraʾel) – Root: ישראל; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yisraʾel”; Notes: The covenant nation under divine care.