אַל־יָנ֣וּס הַקַּ֔ל וְאַל־יִמָּלֵ֖ט הַגִּבֹּ֑ור צָפֹ֨ונָה֙ עַל־יַ֣ד נְהַר־פְּרָ֔ת כָּשְׁל֖וּ וְנָפָֽלוּ׃
“Let not the swift flee, and let not the mighty escape; northward, by the River Perat, they stumble and fall.
Morphology
- אַל־יָנ֣וּס (ʾal-yānūs) – Root: נוס; Form: Qal imperfect jussive 3ms with negative particle אַל; Translation: “let not [him] flee”; Notes: Jussive expression commanding that the swift not escape.
- הַקַּ֔ל (ha-qal) – Root: קלל; Form: Noun, masculine singular with definite article; Translation: “the swift”; Notes: Refers to one who is fast or light-footed—likely a fast warrior or runner.
- וְאַל־יִמָּלֵ֖ט (veʾal-yimmālēt) – Root: מלט; Form: Niphal imperfect jussive 3ms with negative particle; Translation: “and let not [him] escape”; Notes: Parallel jussive to the first clause, showing inevitability of judgment.
- הַגִּבֹּ֑ור (ha-gibbōr) – Root: גבר; Form: Noun, masculine singular with definite article; Translation: “the mighty”; Notes: A strong warrior or elite soldier.
- צָפֹ֨ונָה (tsāfōnāh) – Root: צפון; Form: Directional noun with he locale suffix; Translation: “northward”; Notes: Denotes direction, here implying geographic reference to battle location.
- עַל־יַ֣ד (ʿal-yad) – Root: יד; Form: Preposition + noun construct; Translation: “by the side of”; Notes: Idiomatic for location “near.”
- נְהַר־פְּרָ֔ת (nehar-Pərāt) – Root: נהר; Form: Noun construct + proper name; Translation: “the River Perat” (Euphrates); Notes: Refers to the Euphrates River, site of decisive military events.
- כָּשְׁל֖וּ (kāshəlū) – Root: כשׁל; Form: Qal perfect 3mp; Translation: “they stumbled”; Notes: Signifies loss of balance, metaphor for defeat or failure.
- וְנָפָֽלוּ (venāfālū) – Root: נפל; Form: Qal perfect 3mp; Translation: “and they fell”; Notes: Final result of the judgment—physical or military collapse.