כִּֽי־תַעֲלֶ֤ה בָבֶל֙ הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וְכִ֥י תְבַצֵּ֖ר מְרֹ֣ום עֻזָּ֑הּ מֵאִתִּ֗י יָבֹ֧אוּ שֹׁדְדִ֛ים לָ֖הּ נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃ ס
Though Bavel should ascend to the heavens, and though she should fortify the height of her strength, from me destroyers shall come to her,” declares YHWH.
Morphology
- כִּי (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “though / even if”; Notes: Introduces a hypothetical situation.
- תַעֲלֶה (taʿaleh) – Root: עלה (ʿalah); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “she should ascend”; Notes: Refers to Babylon’s attempt to exalt itself.
- בָבֶל (Bavel) – Root: Proper noun; Form: Place name feminine singular; Translation: “Bavel”; Notes: The city/empire of Babylon.
- הַשָּׁמַיִם (ha-shamayim) – Root: שׁמים (shamayim); Form: Definite noun masculine plural; Translation: “the heavens”; Notes: Symbolizes extreme heights or unreachable places.
- וְכִי (ve-ki) – Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “and though”; Notes: Continues the hypothetical condition.
- תְבַצֵּר (tevattser) – Root: בצר (batsar); Form: Piel imperfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “she should fortify”; Notes: Indicates building strong defenses.
- מְרוֹם (merom) – Root: רום (rum); Form: Noun masculine singular absolute; Translation: “height”; Notes: Suggests elevation or exalted position.
- עֻזָּהּ (uzzah) – Root: עזז (ʿazaz); Form: Noun masculine singular with 3rd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “her strength”; Notes: Babylon’s might and power.
- מֵאִתִּי (me-itti) – Root: את (ʾet); Form: Preposition + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “from me”; Notes: Indicates that YHWH is the source of the destroyers.
- יָבֹאוּ (yavoʾu) – Root: בוא (boʾ); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “shall come”; Notes: Refers to the arrival of invading forces.
- שֹׁדְדִים (shodedim) – Root: שׁדד (shadad); Form: Qal participle masculine plural; Translation: “destroyers”; Notes: Designates those who devastate or plunder.
- לָהּ (lah) – Root: הוא (huʾ); Form: Preposition + 3rd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “to her”; Notes: Refers to Babylon as the target.
- נְאֻם (neʾum) – Root: נאם (naʾam); Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “utterance of”; Notes: A prophetic declaration formula.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: Divine Name; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The God of Israel, author of the judgment against Babylon.