כִּֽי־גָבְה֥וּ שָׁמַ֖יִם מֵאָ֑רֶץ כֵּ֣ן גָּבְה֤וּ דְרָכַי֙ מִדַּרְכֵיכֶ֔ם וּמַחְשְׁבֹתַ֖י מִמַּחְשְׁבֹתֵיכֶֽם׃
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.
Morphology
- כִּֽי־ (ki) – Root: כי; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “For”; Notes: Introduces a reason or explanation for the preceding statement.
- גָבְה֥וּ (gavhu) – Root: גבה; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they are higher”; Notes: Refers to the heavens in contrast with the earth.
- שָׁמַ֖יִם (shamayim) – Root: שמים; Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “heavens”; Notes: Subject of the verb “they are higher.”
- מֵאָ֑רֶץ (me-aretz) – Root: ארץ; Form: Preposition מִן + noun feminine singular; Translation: “than the earth”; Notes: Comparative phrase expressing the lower point of reference.
- כֵּ֣ן (ken) – Root: כן; Form: Adverb; Translation: “so”; Notes: Introduces the point of analogy.
- גָּבְה֤וּ (gavhu) – Root: גבה; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they are higher”; Notes: Parallel verb used for the comparison of YHWH’s ways.
- דְרָכַי (derakhai) – Root: דרך; Form: Noun masculine plural construct + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “My ways”; Notes: Refers to YHWH’s paths or manner of action.
- מִדַּרְכֵיכֶ֔ם (mi-darkhekhem) – Root: דרך; Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine plural construct + 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “than your ways”; Notes: Comparative expression showing distinction between divine and human behavior.
- וּמַחְשְׁבֹתַ֖י (u-maḥshevotai) – Root: חשב; Form: Conjunction + noun feminine plural construct + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “and My thoughts”; Notes: Conjoined with the previous clause, extending the comparison.
- מִמַּחְשְׁבֹתֵיכֶֽם (mi-maḥshevotekhem) – Root: חשב; Form: Preposition מִן + noun feminine plural construct + 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “than your thoughts”; Notes: Reinforces the divine-human contrast in reasoning and purpose.