Ezekiel 31:7

וַיְּיִ֣ף בְּגָדְלֹ֔ו בְּאֹ֖רֶךְ דָּֽלִיֹּותָ֑יו כִּֽי־הָיָ֥ה שָׁרְשֹׁ֖ו אֶל־מַ֥יִם רַבִּֽים׃

And it was beautiful in its greatness, in the length of its branches, for its root was by many waters.

Morphology

1. וַיְּיִף (vayyeyif) – Root: יפי (yafi); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and it was beautiful”; Notes: The waw-consecutive links this to the previous description of the cedar (Assyria). The verb emphasizes the visual and symbolic splendor of the tree—its majesty representing imperial magnificence.
2. בְּגָדְלֹו (be-gadlo) – Root: גדל (gadal); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “in its greatness”; Notes: Indicates the source or sphere of its beauty—its majesty or power. The greatness of the cedar mirrors Assyria’s political and military expansion.
3. בְּאֹרֶךְ (be-orekh) – Root: ארך (ʾarakh); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “in the length of”; Notes: Suggests physical or figurative extension; symbolizing the long reach of influence and strength of the empire.
4. דָּלִיֹּותָיו (daliyotav) – Root: דלה (dalah); Form: Noun feminine plural + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “its branches”; Notes: Derived from the root meaning “to draw up” or “extend.” The imagery highlights both graceful beauty and the functional spread of life-sustaining influence.
5. כִּי (ki) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces causal explanation for the cedar’s grandeur—its life source.
6. הָיָה (hayah) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “was”; Notes: Establishes a state of being—stability and continuity of its nourishment.
7. שָׁרְשֹׁו (sharsho) – Root: שרשׁ (shoresh); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “its root”; Notes: Represents foundational stability—deep connection to the source of sustenance (waters, symbolizing divine provision).
8. אֶל (ʾel) – Root: —; Form: Preposition; Translation: “toward” or “by”; Notes: Indicates proximity or orientation—root draws nourishment from the waters.
9. מַיִם (mayim) – Root: מים (mayim); Form: Noun masculine plural (dual in concept); Translation: “waters”; Notes: Symbol of abundance and life; source of the cedar’s prosperity.
10. רַבִּים (rabbim) – Root: רבב (ravav); Form: Adjective masculine plural; Translation: “many”; Notes: Denotes abundance—plentiful water symbolizes wealth and divine favor sustaining the empire’s greatness.