Ezekiel 30:24

וְחִזַּקְתִּ֗י אֶת־זְרֹעֹות֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ בָּבֶ֔ל וְנָתַתִּ֥י אֶת־חַרְבִּ֖י בְּיָדֹ֑ו וְשָׁבַרְתִּי֙ אֶת־זְרֹעֹ֣ות פַּרְעֹ֔ה וְנָאַ֛ק נַאֲקֹ֥ות חָלָ֖ל לְפָנָֽיו׃

And I will strengthen the arms of the king of Bavel, and I will put My sword into his hand; but I will break the arms of Parʿo, and he shall groan with the groanings of one slain before him.

Morphology

1. וְחִזַּקְתִּי (ve-ḥizzakti) – Root: חזק (ḥazaq); Form: Piel perfect 1st person singular with conjunction וְ; Translation: “and I will strengthen”; Notes: The Piel form intensifies the action—YHWH personally empowers the king of Bavel (Babylon) as His instrument of judgment.
2. אֶת־זְרֹעֹות (ʾet-zerōʿot) – Root: זרוע (zerōaʿ); Form: Direct object marker + noun feminine plural; Translation: “the arms”; Notes: Symbol of power and strength—represents military might and authority granted by YHWH.
3. מֶלֶךְ בָּבֶל (melekh Bavel) – Root: מלך (malakh); Form: Noun masculine singular construct + proper noun; Translation: “the king of Bavel (Babylon)”; Notes: Refers to Nebukadretstsar (Nebuchadnezzar), the Babylonian ruler empowered to execute divine judgment.
4. וְנָתַתִּי (ve-natatti) – Root: נתן (natan); Form: Qal perfect 1st person singular with conjunction וְ; Translation: “and I will put” or “I will give”; Notes: Indicates YHWH’s act of placing His symbolic “sword” (judgment) into Babylon’s hand.
5. אֶת־חַרְבִּי (ʾet-ḥarbi) – Root: חרב (ḥerev); Form: Direct object marker + noun feminine singular + suffix 1st person singular; Translation: “My sword”; Notes: The “sword” represents divine warfare and justice executed through Babylon’s conquest.
6. בְּיָדֹו (be-yado) – Root: יד (yad); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun feminine singular construct + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “in his hand”; Notes: Denotes possession and control—YHWH grants Babylon the authority to act in His stead.
7. וְשָׁבַרְתִּי (ve-shavarti) – Root: שׁבר (shavar); Form: Qal perfect 1st person singular with conjunction וְ; Translation: “and I will break”; Notes: Echoes the earlier oracle against Parʿo—symbol of total defeat and collapse of Egypt’s might.
8. אֶת־זְרֹעֹות פַּרְעֹה (ʾet-zerōʿot Parʿo) – Root: זרוע (zerōaʿ); Form: Direct object marker + noun feminine plural + proper noun; Translation: “the arms of Parʿo”; Notes: Indicates complete weakening of Egypt’s defensive and offensive strength.
9. וְנָאַק (ve-naʾaq) – Root: נאק (naʾaq); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular with conjunction וְ; Translation: “and he shall groan”; Notes: Expresses agony and humiliation—Egypt’s suffering before Babylon’s might.
10. נַאֲקֹות (naʾakot) – Root: נאק (naʾaq); Form: Noun feminine plural; Translation: “groanings”; Notes: Reduplication for emphasis—the intensity of pain and lamentation at Egypt’s downfall.
11. חָלָל (ḥalal) – Root: חלל (ḥalal); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “slain” or “pierced one”; Notes: Describes Egypt’s condition as that of the mortally wounded—its life-force cut off.
12. לְפָנָיו (le-fanav) – Root: פנה (panah); Form: Preposition לְ + noun masculine plural construct + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “before him”; Notes: Refers to Parʿo’s position before Babylon’s king, groaning helplessly in defeat.