מִ֣י לֹ֤א יִֽרָאֲךָ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ הַגֹּויִ֔ם כִּ֥י לְךָ֖ יָאָ֑תָה כִּ֣י בְכָל־חַכְמֵ֧י הַגֹּויִ֛ם וּבְכָל־מַלְכוּתָ֖ם מֵאֵ֥ין כָּמֹֽוךָ׃
Who would not fear you, O King of the nations? For it is fitting to you. For among all the wise ones of the nations and in all their kingdoms there is none like you.
Morphology
- מִ֣י (mi) – Root: מי (mi); Form: Interrogative pronoun; Translation: “Who”; Notes: Introduces a rhetorical question implying universal obligation to fear YHWH.
- לֹ֤א (lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Negates the following verb.
- יִֽרָאֲךָ֙ (yiraʾekha) – Root: ירא (yaraʾ); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “would fear you”; Notes: Refers to reverential awe directed toward YHWH.
- מֶ֣לֶךְ (melekh) – Root: מלך (melekh); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “king”; Notes: Here in apposition to “who,” vocative usage for YHWH.
- הַגֹּויִ֔ם (ha-goyim) – Root: גוי (goy); Form: Definite noun masculine plural; Translation: “of the nations”; Notes: Specifies YHWH’s sovereignty over all peoples.
- כִּ֥י (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces reason or grounds.
- לְךָ֖ (lekha) – Root: לך (lakh); Form: Preposition + 2nd person masculine singular pronoun; Translation: “to you”; Notes: Indicates possession or worthiness.
- יָאָ֑תָה (yaʾatah) – Root: יאה (yaʾah); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person feminine singular + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “it is fitting”; Notes: Refers to what is proper or appropriate toward YHWH.
- כִּ֣י (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Begins a second explanatory clause.
- בְכָל־חַכְמֵ֧י (ve-khol-ḥakhmei) – Root: חכם (ḥakham); Form: Preposition בְּ + construct noun masculine plural; Translation: “among all the wise ones of”; Notes: Refers to learned or spiritually insightful individuals.
- הַגֹּויִ֛ם (ha-goyim) – Root: גוי (goy); Form: Definite noun masculine plural; Translation: “the nations”; Notes: Repeats the focus on universal scope.
- וּבְכָל־מַלְכוּתָ֖ם (u-ve-khol-malkhutam) – Root: מלך (melekh); Form: Conjunction וְ + preposition בְּ + construct noun feminine singular + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “and in all their kingdoms”; Notes: Extends the scope to political dominions.
- מֵאֵ֥ין (meʾein) – Root: אין (ʾayin); Form: Preposition מִן + negative existential; Translation: “there is none”; Notes: Expresses total exclusivity.
- כָּמֹֽוךָ (kamokha) – Root: כמו (kamo); Form: Preposition + 2nd person masculine singular pronoun; Translation: “like you”; Notes: Declares YHWH’s absolute incomparability.