לְמַ֣עַן לָמ֣וּג לֵ֗ב וְהַרְבֵּה֙ הַמִּכְשֹׁלִ֔ים עַ֚ל כָּל־שַׁ֣עֲרֵיהֶ֔ם נָתַ֖תִּי אִבְחַת־חָ֑רֶב אָ֛ח עֲשׂוּיָ֥ה לְבָרָ֖ק מְעֻטָּ֥ה לְטָֽבַח׃
In order that the heart may melt and the stumbling blocks be many, at all their gates I have set the flash of a sword. Ah! It is made like lightning, polished for slaughter.
Morphology
- לְמַעַן (le-maʿan) – Root: מען; Form: Preposition; Translation: “in order that”; Notes: Marks purpose or intended result.
- לָמ֣וּג (lamug) – Root: מוג; Form: Qal infinitive construct; Translation: “to melt”; Notes: Figurative for losing courage.
- לֵב (lev) – Root: לבב; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “heart”; Notes: Refers to inner strength or courage.
- וְהַרְבֵּה (ve-harbeh) – Root: רבה; Form: Hifil infinitive construct with waw; Translation: “and to multiply”; Notes: Introduces consequence of judgment.
- הַמִּכְשֹׁלִים (ha-miksholim) – Root: כשׁל; Form: Noun masculine plural definite; Translation: “the stumbling blocks”; Notes: Refers to hindrances, calamities, or downfalls.
- עַל (ʿal) – Form: Preposition; Translation: “upon/at”; Notes: Indicates location or target.
- כָּל־שַׁעֲרֵיהֶם (kol-shaʿareihem) – Root: שער; Form: Noun masculine plural construct + 3mp suffix; Translation: “all their gates”; Notes: Symbol of cities and centers of life.
- נָתַתִּי (natatti) – Root: נתן; Form: Qal perfect 1cs; Translation: “I have set/placed”; Notes: YHWH speaking directly.
- אִבְחַת (ʾibḥat) – Root: אבח; Form: Noun feminine singular construct; Translation: “flash of”; Notes: Refers to sword’s flashing gleam like lightning.
- חָרֶב (ḥerev) – Root: חרב; Form: Noun feminine singular absolute; Translation: “sword”; Notes: Instrument of divine judgment.
- אָח (aḥ) – Form: Interjection; Translation: “Ah!”; Notes: Expresses lament or dread.
- עֲשׂוּיָה (ʿasuyah) – Root: עשה; Form: Qal passive participle feminine singular; Translation: “made”; Notes: Describes preparation of the sword.
- לְבָרָק (le-baraq) – Root: ברק; Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “for lightning”; Notes: Polished to flash like lightning.
- מְעֻטָּה (meʿuttah) – Root: עטה; Form: Pual participle feminine singular; Translation: “polished/sheathed”; Notes: Likely polished, connoting readiness for use.
- לְטָבַח (le-tavakh) – Root: טבח; Form: Preposition + Qal infinitive construct; Translation: “for slaughter”; Notes: Indicates the sword’s ultimate purpose.