לְמַ֨עַן טְבֹ֤חַ טֶ֨בַח֙ הוּחַ֔דָּה לְמַעַן־הֱיֵה־לָ֥הּ בָּ֖רָק מֹרָ֑טָּה אֹ֣ו נָשִׂ֔ישׂ שֵׁ֥בֶט בְּנִ֖י מֹאֶ֥סֶת כָּל־עֵֽץ׃
In order to slaughter a slaughter it is sharpened, in order that it may have lightning it is polished. Or shall we rejoice? The scepter of my son despises every tree.
Morphology
- לְמַעַן (le-maʿan) – Root: מען; Form: Preposition; Translation: “in order to”; Notes: Introduces purpose or result.
- טְבֹחַ (tvoaḥ) – Root: טבח; Form: Infinitive construct Qal; Translation: “to slaughter”; Notes: Denotes the act of slaughtering.
- טֶבַח (tevaḥ) – Root: טבח; Form: Noun masculine singular absolute; Translation: “slaughter”; Notes: Emphasizes the purpose of destruction.
- הוּחַדָּה (huhaddah) – Root: חדד; Form: Pual perfect 3fs; Translation: “it is sharpened”; Notes: Passive, referring to the sword.
- לְמַעַן־הֱיֵה־לָהּ (le-maʿan-heyeh-lah) – Root: היה; Form: Preposition + Qal infinitive construct + preposition + 3fs suffix; Translation: “in order that it may be for it”; Notes: States purpose.
- בָּרָק (baraq) – Root: ברק; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “lightning”; Notes: Suggests flashing brilliance of a polished sword.
- מֹרָטָּה (morattah) – Root: מרט; Form: Pual participle feminine singular; Translation: “polished”; Notes: Indicates readiness for use.
- אֹו (ʾo) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “or”; Notes: Introduces rhetorical alternative.
- נָשִׂישׂ (nashis) – Root: שׂושׂ; Form: Qal imperfect 1cp cohortative; Translation: “shall we rejoice?”; Notes: Expresses rhetorical question in response to doom.
- שֵׁבֶט (shevet) – Root: שבט; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “scepter”; Notes: Symbol of authority or kingship.
- בְּנִי (beni) – Root: בן; Form: Noun masculine singular construct + 1cs suffix; Translation: “my son”; Notes: Phrase often interpreted as a reference to Yisraʾel or the Davidic king.
- מֹאֶסֶת (moʾeset) – Root: מאס; Form: Qal participle feminine singular; Translation: “despises”; Notes: Expresses rejection or disdain.
- כָּל (kol) – Root: כל; Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “all”; Notes: Universal scope.
- עֵץ (ʿets) – Root: עץ; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “tree”; Notes: Possibly metaphor for power or rulers.