עֲלִ֤י גִלְעָד֙ וּקְחִ֣י צֳרִ֔י בְּתוּלַ֖ת בַּת־מִצְרָ֑יִם לַשָּׁוְא֙ הִרְבֵּית רְפֻאֹ֔ות תְּעָלָ֖ה אֵ֥ין לָֽךְ׃
Go up to Gileʿad and take balm, virgin daughter of Mitsrayim; in vain you have multiplied remedies, there is no healing for you.
Morphology
- עֲלִי (ʿali) – Root: עלה; Form: Qal imperative 2nd person feminine singular; Translation: “Go up”; Notes: Addressed metaphorically to Mitsrayim as a daughter/virgin.
- גִלְעָד (Gilʿad) – Root: Proper noun; Form: Proper place name; Translation: “Gilʿad”; Notes: Region famous for its healing balm.
- וּקְחִי (u-qeḥi) – Root: לקח; Form: Qal imperative 2nd person feminine singular with conjunctive waw; Translation: “and take”; Notes: Another command to Mitsrayim, parallel to “go up.”
- צֳרִי (tsori) – Root: צרי; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “balm”; Notes: Medicinal resin, associated with Gilʿad’s healing reputation.
- בְּתוּלַת (betulat) – Root: בתל; Form: Noun feminine singular construct; Translation: “virgin of”; Notes: Personification of Egypt as a virgin daughter.
- בַּת־מִצְרָיִם (bat-Mitsrayim) – Root: בת + מצרים; Form: Noun feminine singular construct + proper place name; Translation: “daughter of Mitsrayim”; Notes: Symbolic epithet for Egypt as a young woman.
- לַשָּׁוְא (la-shav) – Root: שוא; Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “in vain”; Notes: Indicates futility of Egypt’s attempts at healing.
- הִרְבֵּית (hirbeit) – Root: רבה; Form: Hifil perfect 2nd person feminine singular; Translation: “you have multiplied”; Notes: Direct address to Mitsrayim’s efforts.
- רְפֻאֹות (refuʾot) – Root: רפא; Form: Noun feminine plural; Translation: “remedies”; Notes: Medicines or healing attempts.
- תְּעָלָה (teʿalah) – Root: עלה; Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “healing”; Notes: Connotes cure, effectiveness of treatment.
- אֵין (ʾein) – Root: Particle; Form: Negation particle of existence; Translation: “there is no”; Notes: Denies the presence of healing.
- לָךְ (lakh) – Root: לך; Form: Preposition + pronominal suffix 2nd person feminine singular; Translation: “for you”; Notes: Directed to Mitsrayim (personified as feminine).