וְאָ֨נֹכִ֜י הִשְׁמַ֤דְתִּי אֶת־הָֽאֱמֹרִי֙ מִפְּנֵיהֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֨ר כְּגֹ֤בַהּ אֲרָזִים֙ גָּבְהֹ֔ו וְחָסֹ֥ן ה֖וּא כָּֽאַלֹּונִ֑ים וָאַשְׁמִ֤יד פִּרְיֹו֙ מִמַּ֔עַל וְשָׁרָשָׁ֖יו מִתָּֽחַת׃
And I destroyed the Emori before them, whose height was like the height of cedars, and he was strong like oaks; yet I destroyed his fruit from above and his roots from beneath.
Morphology
- וְאָ֨נֹכִ֜י (ve-ʾanokhi) – Root: אָנֹכִי; Form: Conjunction + independent pronoun 1st person singular; Translation: “And I”; Notes: Emphasizes YHWH as the speaker and agent of the destruction.
- הִשְׁמַ֤דְתִּי (hishmadti) – Root: שׁמד; Form: Hiphil perfect 1st person singular; Translation: “I destroyed”; Notes: Expresses complete annihilation — an act of divine warfare.
- אֶת־הָֽאֱמֹרִי֙ (ʾet-ha-ʾEmori) – Root: אמר (ʾemori, ethnonym); Form: Direct object marker + definite proper noun; Translation: “the Amorite”; Notes: One of the Canaanite nations, representing opposition to YHWH’s people.
- מִפְּנֵיהֶ֔ם (mi-peneihem) – Root: פנה; Form: Preposition מִן + plural construct noun + suffix 3mp; Translation: “from before them”; Notes: Indicates removal of enemies from the presence of Yisraʾel.
- אֲשֶׁ֨ר (ʾasher) – Root: אשר; Form: Relative pronoun; Translation: “who” or “whose”; Notes: Introduces a descriptive clause about the Amorite.
- כְּגֹ֤בַהּ (ke-govah) – Root: גבה; Form: Preposition כְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “like the height of”; Notes: Comparison marker introducing simile.
- אֲרָזִים֙ (ʾarazim) – Root: ארז; Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “cedars”; Notes: Symbol of majesty and strength, often used metaphorically for powerful nations or men.
- גָּבְהֹ֔ו (gavho) – Root: גבה; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular + suffix 3ms; Translation: “was his height”; Notes: Describes the Amorite’s imposing stature.
- וְחָסֹ֥ן (ve-ḥason) – Root: חסן; Form: Conjunction + adjective masculine singular; Translation: “and strong”; Notes: Indicates physical might and resilience.
- ה֖וּא (hu) – Root: הוא; Form: Independent pronoun 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he”; Notes: Reinforces emphasis on the Amorite’s strength.
- כָּֽאַלֹּונִ֑ים (ka-allonim) – Root: אלון; Form: Preposition כְּ + noun masculine plural; Translation: “like oaks”; Notes: Symbol of endurance and might; parallels the cedar comparison.
- וָאַשְׁמִ֤יד (va-ʾashmid) – Root: שׁמד; Form: Conjunction + Hiphil imperfect 1st person singular (converted to past by waw-consecutive); Translation: “and I destroyed”; Notes: Continuation of YHWH’s action of total annihilation.
- פִּרְיֹו֙ (piryo) – Root: פרי; Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 3ms; Translation: “his fruit”; Notes: Symbolic of offspring or visible success — what grew from him.
- מִמַּ֔עַל (mi-maʿal) – Root: מעל; Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine singular; Translation: “from above”; Notes: Indicates complete eradication starting from the top.
- וְשָׁרָשָׁ֖יו (ve-sharashav) – Root: שרשׁ; Form: Conjunction + noun masculine plural + suffix 3ms; Translation: “and his roots”; Notes: Represents foundational strength — full destruction includes both roots and fruit.
- מִתָּֽחַת׃ (mi-taḥat) – Root: תחת; Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine singular; Translation: “from beneath”; Notes: Complements “from above,” portraying complete and thorough annihilation.