נִדְמֶ֥ה שֹׁמְרֹ֖ון מַלְכָּ֑הּ כְּקֶ֖צֶף עַל־פְּנֵי־מָֽיִם׃
Shomeron is destroyed; her king is like foam upon the face of the waters.
Morphology
- נִדְמֶה (nidmeh) – Root: דמה (damah); Form: Niphal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “is destroyed” or “has perished”; Notes: The Niphal form conveys a passive or reflexive sense—Shomeron’s downfall as an accomplished fact decreed by YHWH.
- שֹׁמְרֹון (Shomeron) – Root: שׁמר (shamar); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Shomeron” (Samaria); Notes: Refers to the capital city of the northern kingdom, representing its political and religious center—soon to fall under Assyrian judgment.
- מַלְכָּהּ (malkah) – Root: מלך (melekh); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 3fs; Translation: “her king”; Notes: Refers to the ruler of Shomeron (the northern kingdom)—helpless and transient like foam upon the water.
- כְּקֶצֶף (ke-qetsef) – Root: קצף (qetsef); Form: Preposition כְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “like foam”; Notes: The image evokes fragility and transience—foam quickly dissolving on moving water symbolizes the fleeting reign of the king.
- עַל (ʿal) – Root: על (ʿal); Form: Preposition; Translation: “upon”; Notes: Indicates the surface on which the foam rests—used metaphorically for instability and impermanence.
- פְּנֵי (penei) – Root: פנה (panah); Form: Noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “the surface of” or “the face of”; Notes: Often used idiomatically with “waters” to mean the visible expanse or surface.
- מָיִם (mayim) – Root: מים (mayim); Form: Noun masculine plural (dual in form); Translation: “waters”; Notes: Symbol of instability and motion—the foam on its surface represents the fleeting power of Shomeron’s monarchy.