בֵּ֤ין הָאוּלָם֙ וְלַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ יִבְכּוּ֙ הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים מְשָׁרְתֵ֖י יְהוָ֑ה וְֽיֹאמְר֞וּ ח֧וּסָה יְהוָ֣ה עַל־עַמֶּ֗ךָ וְאַל־תִּתֵּ֨ן נַחֲלָתְךָ֤ לְחֶרְפָּה֙ לִמְשָׁל־בָּ֣ם גֹּויִ֔ם לָ֚מָּה יֹאמְר֣וּ בָֽעַמִּ֔ים אַיֵּ֖ה אֱלֹהֵיהֶֽם׃
Between the porch and the altar let the priests, the ministers of YHWH, weep, and let them say, “Spare, O YHWH, Your people, and do not give Your inheritance to reproach, for the nations to rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”
Morphology
- בֵּ֤ין (bein) – Root: בין (bein); Form: Preposition; Translation: “between”; Notes: Marks the spatial location for the priests’ intercession.
- הָאוּלָם֙ (ha-ʾulam) – Root: אולם (ʾulam); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the porch”; Notes: Refers to the vestibule area of the temple before the Holy Place.
- וְלַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ (ve-la-mizbeach) – Root: מזבח (mizbeaḥ); Form: Conjunction + preposition לְ + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “and the altar”; Notes: Indicates the space between the porch and the altar where priests ministered.
- יִבְכּוּ֙ (yivku) – Root: בכה (bakha); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural (jussive nuance); Translation: “let them weep”; Notes: Expresses lamentation and intercession on behalf of the people.
- הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים (ha-kohanim) – Root: כהן (kohan); Form: Definite noun masculine plural; Translation: “the priests”; Notes: Those who serve as mediators between YHWH and Yisraʾel.
- מְשָׁרְתֵ֖י (mesharthei) – Root: שרת (sharat); Form: Piel participle masculine plural construct; Translation: “ministers of”; Notes: Designates those who perform sacred service.
- יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenantal name of God, central to priestly intercession.
- וְֽיֹאמְר֞וּ (ve-yomru) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Conjunction + Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural (jussive nuance); Translation: “and let them say”; Notes: Introduces the content of the priests’ supplication.
- ח֧וּסָה (ḥusah) – Root: חוס (ḥus); Form: Qal imperative 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “spare”; Notes: Plea for YHWH’s mercy and compassion toward His people.
- יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “O YHWH”; Notes: Direct invocation of the divine name in prayer.
- עַל־ (ʿal) – Root: על (ʿal); Form: Preposition; Translation: “upon” or “for”; Notes: Here expresses concern or compassion directed toward the people.
- עַמֶּ֗ךָ (ʿammekha) – Root: עם (ʿam); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 2ms; Translation: “Your people”; Notes: Refers to Yisraʾel, YHWH’s covenant community.
- וְאַל־ (ve-al) – Root: אל (ʾal); Form: Conjunction + negative particle; Translation: “and do not”; Notes: Introduces prohibition or plea against an undesired action.
- תִּתֵּ֨ן (titten) – Root: נתן (natan); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “give”; Notes: Refers to allowing or delivering over to disgrace.
- נַחֲלָתְךָ֤ (naḥalatekha) – Root: נחל (naḥal); Form: Noun feminine singular + suffix 2ms; Translation: “Your inheritance”; Notes: Refers to Yisraʾel as YHWH’s special possession.
- לְחֶרְפָּה֙ (le-ḥerpa) – Root: חרף (ḥaraf); Form: Preposition לְ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “to reproach”; Notes: Indicates disgrace or shame among the nations.
- לִמְשָׁל־ (limshal) – Root: משׁל (mashal); Form: Preposition לְ + infinitive construct; Translation: “for ruling over”; Notes: Denotes subjugation or domination.
- בָּ֣ם (bam) – Root: ב (b); Form: Preposition בְּ + suffix 3mp; Translation: “over them”; Notes: Refers to the people of YHWH being ruled by foreign nations.
- גֹּויִ֔ם (goyim) – Root: גוי (goy); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “nations”; Notes: Represents foreign peoples who might mock Yisraʾel’s God.
- לָ֚מָּה (lammah) – Root: מה (mah); Form: Interrogative adverb; Translation: “why”; Notes: Introduces rhetorical questioning about divine reputation among the nations.
- יֹאמְר֣וּ (yomru) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “should they say”; Notes: Expresses concern over potential derision by others.
- בָֽעַמִּ֔ים (ba-ʿammim) – Root: עם (ʿam); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine plural; Translation: “among the peoples”; Notes: Refers to surrounding nations observing Yisraʾel’s fate.
- אַיֵּ֖ה (ʾayyeh) – Root: אי (ʾay); Form: Interrogative particle; Translation: “where”; Notes: Used in taunting speech questioning YHWH’s presence or power.
- אֱלֹהֵיהֶֽם (ʾEloheihem) – Root: אלה (ʾeloh); Form: Noun masculine plural construct + suffix 3mp; Translation: “their God”; Notes: Derisive question implying abandonment or weakness of Yisraʾel’s deity.