הַצֳרִי֙ אֵ֣ין בְּגִלְעָ֔ד אִם־רֹפֵ֖א אֵ֣ין שָׁ֑ם כִּ֗י מַדּ֨וּעַ֙ לֹ֣א עָֽלְתָ֔ה אֲרֻכַ֖ת בַּת־עַמִּֽי׃
Is there no balm in Gilʿad? Is there no healer there? For why has the healing of the daughter of my people not arisen?
Morphology
- הַצֳרִי (ha-tsori) – Root: צרי (tsori); Form: Definite article + noun masculine singular; Translation: “the balm”; Notes: A resin used for healing, associated with Gilʿad.
- אֵין (ʾein) – Root: Negative existential; Form: Particle; Translation: “is there not?”; Notes: Used rhetorically to express lack or question existence.
- בְּגִלְעָד (be-Gilʿad) – Root: גלעד (Gilʿad); Form: Preposition + proper noun; Translation: “in Gilʿad”; Notes: A region east of the Yarden, known for healing balm.
- אִם־רֹפֵא (im-rofeʾ) – Root: רפא (rafaʾ); Form: Conditional particle + Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “if a healer”; Notes: Continues the rhetorical question.
- אֵין (ʾein) – Root: Negative existential; Form: Particle; Translation: “is there not?”; Notes: Repetition for emphasis.
- שָׁם (sham) – Root: שם (sham); Form: Adverb; Translation: “there”; Notes: Refers to Gilʿad.
- כִּי (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces a reason or explanation.
- מַדּוּעַ (madduaʿ) – Root: ידע (yadaʿ, from מה + דּע); Form: Interrogative adverb; Translation: “why”; Notes: Introduces the question of inaction.
- לֹא (lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Negates the following verb.
- עָלְתָה (ʿaltah) – Root: עלה (ʿalah); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “has arisen”; Notes: Refers metaphorically to recovery or healing.
- אֲרֻכַת (ʾarukhat) – Root: ארך (ʾarakh); Form: Noun feminine singular construct; Translation: “healing”; Notes: Refers to restoration or cure.
- בַּת־עַמִּי (bat-ʿammi) – Root: בת (bat), עם (ʿam); Form: Construct noun + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “the daughter of my people”; Notes: Poetic reference to the nation of Yisraʾel.