הֲיֵ֨שׁ בְּהַבְלֵ֤י הַגֹּויִם֙ מַגְשִׁמִ֔ים וְאִם־הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם יִתְּנ֣וּ רְבִבִ֑ים הֲלֹ֨א אַתָּה־ה֜וּא יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֵ֨ינוּ֙ וּ֨נְקַוֶּה־לָּ֔ךְ כִּֽי־אַתָּ֥ה עָשִׂ֖יתָ אֶת־כָּל־אֵֽלֶּה׃ פ
Is there any among the idols of the nations that cause rain? Or can the heavens give showers? Is it not You—You are YHWH our God—and we hope in You, for You have done all these things.
Morphology
- הֲיֵ֨שׁ (ha-yesh) – Root: ישׁ; Form: Interrogative particle + existential particle; Translation: “Is there…?”; Notes: Introduces a rhetorical question indicating incredulity.
- בְּהַבְלֵ֤י (be-havlei) – Root: הבל; Form: Preposition + masculine plural construct; Translation: “among the vanities of”; Notes: Refers to idols or false gods; literally “breaths” or “emptiness.”
- הַגֹּויִם֙ (ha-goyim) – Root: גוי; Form: Noun masculine plural with definite article; Translation: “the nations”; Notes: Refers to gentile or non-Israelite peoples.
- מַגְשִׁמִ֔ים (magshimim) – Root: גשׁם; Form: Hifil participle masculine plural; Translation: “that cause rain”; Notes: Describes the supposed power attributed to idols; rhetorical denial.
- וְאִם־ (ve-im) – Root: אם; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “or if”; Notes: Introduces an alternative rhetorical possibility.
- הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם (ha-shamayim) – Root: שׁמים; Form: Noun masculine dual with definite article; Translation: “the heavens”; Notes: Dual form, common biblical term for the sky or heavens.
- יִתְּנ֣וּ (yittnu) – Root: נתן; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “give”; Notes: Describes the possibility of heaven giving rain; again, rhetorical.
- רְבִבִ֑ים (revivim) – Root: רבב; Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “showers”; Notes: Often used for abundant rain in poetic contexts.
- הֲלֹ֨א (halo) – Root: לא; Form: Interrogative particle with negative; Translation: “Is it not…?”; Notes: Reinforces the exclusivity of YHWH’s power.
- אַתָּה־ה֜וּא (attah-hu) – Root: אתה / הוא; Form: Personal pronoun + demonstrative; Translation: “You—You are”; Notes: Emphatic identification of YHWH as the true source of rain.
- יְהוָ֤ה (YHWH) – Root: היה; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Covenant name of the God of Yisraʾel.
- אֱלֹהֵ֨ינוּ֙ (Eloheinu) – Root: אלה; Form: Noun masculine plural with 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “our God”; Notes: Possessive indicating covenantal relationship.
- וּ֨נְקַוֶּה־לָּ֔ךְ (u-neqaweh-lakh) – Root: קוה; Form: Qal imperfect 1st person plural with vav-consecutive; Translation: “and we hope to You”; Notes: Expresses dependence and faith.
- כִּֽי־אַתָּ֥ה (ki-attah) – Root: כי / אתה; Form: Conjunction + pronoun; Translation: “for You”; Notes: Introduces reason for hope.
- עָשִׂ֖יתָ (ʿasita) – Root: עשה; Form: Qal perfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “You have done”; Notes: Emphasizes YHWH’s historical actions.
- אֶת־כָּל־אֵֽלֶּה (et-kol-elleh) – Root: כל / אלה; Form: Direct object marker + noun + demonstrative; Translation: “all these”; Notes: Refers to rains and natural provisions.