Jeremiah 14:6

וּפְרָאִים֙ עָמְד֣וּ עַל־שְׁפָיִ֔ם שָׁאֲפ֥וּ ר֖וּחַ כַּתַּנִּ֑ים כָּל֥וּ עֵינֵיהֶ֖ם כִּי־אֵ֥ין עֵֽשֶׂב׃

And wild donkeys stood on the bare heights; they panted for wind like jackals. Their eyes failed because there was no grass.

Morphology

1. וּפְרָאִים (u-fraʾim) – Root: פרא; Form: Conjunction + noun masculine plural; Translation: “and wild donkeys”; Notes: Symbol of untamed, desert-dwelling animals.
2. עָמְד֣וּ (ʿamdu) – Root: עמד; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person common plural; Translation: “they stood”; Notes: Indicates stationary posture, often implying helplessness or waiting.
3. עַל־שְׁפָיִ֔ם (ʿal-shefayim) – Root: שפה; Form: Preposition + noun masculine plural; Translation: “on the bare heights”; Notes: Elevated, desolate areas where animals search for food.
4. שָׁאֲפ֥וּ (shaʾafu) – Root: שאף; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person common plural; Translation: “they panted” or “snuffed”; Notes: Expresses labored breathing, often due to thirst or exhaustion.
5. רוּחַ (ruaḥ) – Root: רוח; Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “wind”; Notes: They breathe in mere wind—nothing substantial.
6. כַּתַּנִּ֑ים (ka-tannim) – Root: תן; Form: Preposition כְּ + noun masculine plural; Translation: “like jackals”; Notes: Emphasizes wild, desolate suffering behavior.
7. כָּל֥וּ (kalu) – Root: כלה; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person common plural; Translation: “they failed” or “were spent”; Notes: Often used for wasting away or perishing.
8. עֵינֵיהֶ֖ם (ʿeinehem) – Root: עין; Form: Noun feminine plural with 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “their eyes”; Notes: Symbol of perception or hope failing.
9. כִּי־אֵ֥ין (ki-ʾein) – Root: אין; Form: Conjunction + negative particle of nonexistence; Translation: “because there was no”; Notes: Introduces the reason for their condition.
10. עֵֽשֶׂב (ʿesev) – Root: עשב; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “grass”; Notes: Represents necessary food source—its absence means famine.