אֶֽל־יִדְרֹ֤ךְ ידרך הַדֹּרֵךְ֙ קַשְׁתֹּ֔ו וְאֶל־יִתְעַ֖ל בְּסִרְיֹנֹ֑ו וְאַֽל־תַּחְמְלוּ֙ אֶל־בַּ֣חֻרֶ֔יהָ הַחֲרִ֖ימוּ כָּל־צְבָאָֽהּ׃
Against him who bends, let the archer bend his bow, and against him who exalts himself in his armor. Do not spare her young men; devote to destruction all her army.
Morphology
- אֶל־יִדְרֹךְ (el-yidroḵ) – Root: דרך; Form: Preposition אֶל + Qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular jussive; Translation: “against him let bend”; Notes: Command directed against the Babylonian warrior.
- ידרך (yidrokh) – Root: דרך; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular; Translation: “let him bend”; Notes: Repetition emphasizes certainty of the act.
- הַדֹּרֵךְ (ha-dorekh) – Root: דרך; Form: Qal participle masculine singular with article; Translation: “the one bending”; Notes: Refers to the archer preparing his bow.
- קַשְׁתֹּו (qashto) – Root: קשׁת; Form: Noun feminine singular construct + 3rd masculine singular suffix; Translation: “his bow”; Notes: Possession highlights individual warrior’s weapon.
- וְאֶל־יִתְעַל (ve-el-yitʿal) – Root: עלל; Form: Preposition אֶל + Hitpael imperfect 3rd masculine singular jussive; Translation: “and against him who exalts himself”; Notes: Refers to one boasting in strength.
- בְּסִרְיֹנֹו (be-siryonov) – Root: שרן; Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular (armor/coat of mail) + 3rd masculine singular suffix; Translation: “in his armor”; Notes: Symbol of military confidence.
- וְאַל־תַּחְמְלוּ (ve-al-taḥmelu) – Root: חמל; Form: Conjunction + negative particle אַל + Qal imperfect 2nd masculine plural jussive; Translation: “and do not spare”; Notes: Command forbidding mercy.
- אֶל־בַּחוּרֶיהָ (el-baḥureha) – Root: בחור; Form: Preposition אֶל + noun masculine plural construct + 3rd feminine singular suffix; Translation: “her young men”; Notes: Babylon’s youthful warriors.
- הַחֲרִימוּ (haḥarimu) – Root: חרם; Form: Hifil imperative 2nd masculine plural; Translation: “devote to destruction”; Notes: Refers to ban, complete annihilation in holy war.
- כָּל־צְבָאָהּ (kol-tzevaʾah) – Root: צבא; Form: Noun masculine singular construct + 3rd feminine singular suffix; Translation: “all her army”; Notes: Comprehensive destruction of Babylon’s forces.