Amos 2:15

וְתֹפֵ֤שׂ הַקֶּ֨שֶׁת֙ לֹ֣א יַעֲמֹ֔ד וְקַ֥ל בְּרַגְלָ֖יו לֹ֣א יְמַלֵּ֑ט וְרֹכֵ֣ב הַסּ֔וּס לֹ֥א יְמַלֵּ֖ט נַפְשֹֽׁו׃

And he who grasps the bow shall not stand, and he who is swift of feet shall not escape, and he who rides the horse shall not deliver his life.

Morphology

1. וְתֹפֵ֤שׂ (ve-tofēs) – Root: תפשׂ; Form: Conjunction + Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “and he who grasps”; Notes: Refers to one skilled in warfare — holding or handling a bow in readiness.
2. הַקֶּ֨שֶׁת֙ (ha-qeshet) – Root: קשׁת; Form: Definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “the bow”; Notes: Represents the instrument of warfare, symbolizing martial power and defense.
3. לֹ֣א (lo) – Root: —; Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Negates the verb, indicating failure or inability.
4. יַעֲמֹ֔ד (yaʿamod) – Root: עמד; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “shall stand”; Notes: Implies that even the armed warrior cannot maintain his ground in the face of divine wrath.
5. וְקַ֥ל (ve-qal) – Root: קל; Form: Conjunction + adjective masculine singular; Translation: “and the swift”; Notes: Denotes agility or speed, particularly in flight or pursuit.
6. בְּרַגְלָ֖יו (be-raglav) – Root: רגל; Form: Preposition בְּ + noun feminine plural with suffix 3ms; Translation: “in his feet”; Notes: Indicates reliance on natural speed; even those fleet of foot cannot escape judgment.
7. לֹ֣א (lo) – Root: —; Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Continues the pattern of negation — total helplessness in the face of YHWH’s decree.
8. יְמַלֵּ֑ט (yemallet) – Root: מלט; Form: Piel imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “shall deliver” or “shall escape”; Notes: The intensive Piel form emphasizes futility — escape is utterly impossible.
9. וְרֹכֵ֣ב (ve-rokhev) – Root: רכב; Form: Conjunction + Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “and he who rides”; Notes: Refers to a mounted warrior — confident in his horse and mobility.
10. הַסּ֔וּס (ha-sus) – Root: סוס; Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the horse”; Notes: A symbol of military strength and rapid movement.
11. לֹ֥א (lo) – Root: —; Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Negates again the possibility of deliverance.
12. יְמַלֵּ֖ט (yemallet) – Root: מלט; Form: Piel imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “shall deliver” or “shall escape”; Notes: Repetition for emphasis — even superior position or speed offers no salvation.
13. נַפְשֹֽׁו׃ (nafsho) – Root: נפשׁ; Form: Noun feminine singular + suffix 3ms; Translation: “his life”; Notes: Denotes the whole person — inescapable judgment threatens life itself.