Ezekiel 27:7

שֵׁשׁ־בְּרִקְמָ֤ה מִמִּצְרַ֨יִם֙ הָיָ֣ה מִפְרָשֵׂ֔ךְ לִהְיֹ֥ות לָ֖ךְ לְנֵ֑ס תְּכֵ֧לֶת וְאַרְגָּמָ֛ן מֵאִיֵּ֥י אֱלִישָׁ֖ה הָיָ֥ה מְכַסֵּֽךְ׃

Fine linen with embroidery from Mitsrayim was your sail to be for you as a banner; blue and purple from the islands of Elisha were your covering.

Morphology

1. שֵׁשׁ־בְּרִקְמָה (shesh-berikmah) – Root: שׁשׁ (shesh) / רקם (raqam); Form: Noun masculine singular construct + noun feminine singular; Translation: “fine linen with embroidery”; Notes: Refers to richly woven linen decorated with colorful embroidery, a luxury textile often imported from Egypt.
2. מִמִּצְרַיִם (mi-Mitsrayim) – Root: מצרים (Mitsrayim); Form: Preposition מִן + proper noun; Translation: “from Mitsrayim”; Notes: Indicates the origin of the fine linen; Egypt was famed for high-quality fabrics.
3. הָיָה (hayah) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “was”; Notes: Links the subject (linen) to its function as Tyre’s sail.
4. מִפְרָשֵׂךְ (mifrasekh) – Root: פרשׂ (paras); Form: Noun masculine singular construct + suffix 2nd person feminine singular; Translation: “your sail”; Notes: Refers to the ship’s sail, symbolizing Tyre’s maritime identity.
5. לִהְיֹות (lih’yot) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Preposition לְ + infinitive construct; Translation: “to be”; Notes: Expresses purpose—why the sail was made (to serve as a banner).
6. לָךְ (lakh) – Root: —; Form: Preposition לְ + suffix 2nd person feminine singular; Translation: “for you”; Notes: Addressed to Tyre, personified as feminine.
7. לְנֵס (le-nes) – Root: נס (nes); Form: Preposition לְ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “as a banner / ensign”; Notes: Likely refers to the decorative or symbolic function of the sail, representing prestige.
8. תְּכֵלֶת (tekhelet) – Root: תכלת (tekhelet); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “blue”; Notes: A deep blue dye made from sea snails, associated with wealth and priestly garments.
9. וְאַרְגָּמָן (ve-argaman) – Root: ארגמן (argaman); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and purple”; Notes: Purple dye extracted from murex shells, symbolizing royal status and opulence.
10. מֵאִיֵּי (me-iyyei) – Root: אי (ʾiy); Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “from the islands of”; Notes: Indicates maritime origin of the imported dyes.
11. אֱלִישָׁה (Elishah) – Root: אֱלִישָׁה (Elishah); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Elishah”; Notes: Possibly refers to regions of the Aegean or southern Europe known for dye production.
12. הָיָה (hayah) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “was”; Notes: Parallel construction to earlier clause, describing material composition.
13. מְכַסֵּךְ (mekhassekh) – Root: כסה (kasah); Form: Piel participle masculine singular + suffix 2nd person feminine singular; Translation: “your covering”; Notes: Denotes decorative overlay, completing the ship’s luxurious imagery.