וְאִם־יֵחָֽבְאוּ֙ בְּרֹ֣אשׁ הַכַּרְמֶ֔ל מִשָּׁ֥ם אֲחַפֵּ֖שׂ וּלְקַחְתִּ֑ים וְאִם־יִסָּ֨תְר֜וּ מִנֶּ֤גֶד עֵינַי֙ בְּקַרְקַ֣ע הַיָּ֔ם מִשָּׁ֛ם אֲצַוֶּ֥ה אֶת־הַנָּחָ֖שׁ וּנְשָׁכָֽם׃
And if they hide at the top of the Karmel, from there I will search and take them, and if they hide from before My eyes at the bottom of the sea, from there I will command the serpent, and it shall bite them.
Morphology
- וְאִם (ve-ʾim) – Root: אם (ʾim); Form: Conjunction וְ + conditional particle; Translation: “and if”; Notes: Introduces a hypothetical scenario parallel to the previous verse.
- יֵחָבְאוּ (yeḥaveʾu) – Root: חבא (ḥavaʾ); Form: Nifal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they hide themselves”; Notes: Nifal denotes passive/reflexive—seeking concealment.
- בְּרֹאשׁ (be-rosh) – Root: ראשׁ (rosh); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “at the top of”; Notes: Indicates location.
- הַכַּרְמֶל (ha-Karmel) – Root: כרמל (Karmel); Form: Proper noun with definite article; Translation: “the Karmel”; Notes: Mountain ridge in northern Yisraʾel; remote and rugged.
- מִשָּׁם (mi-sham) – Root: שׁם (sham); Form: Preposition מִן + adverb; Translation: “from there”; Notes: Emphasizes YHWH’s reach even in remote places.
- אֲחַפֵּשׂ (aḥappes) – Root: חפשׂ (ḥapes); Form: Piel imperfect 1st person singular; Translation: “I will search”; Notes: Piel indicates intensive action—diligent searching.
- וּלְקַחְתִּים (u-leqaḥtim) – Root: לקח (laqach); Form: Conjunction וְ + preposition לְ + Qal infinitive construct + suffix 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and take them”; Notes: YHWH ensures capture even after searching.
- וְאִם (ve-ʾim) – Root: אם (ʾim); Form: Conjunction וְ + conditional particle; Translation: “and if”; Notes: Introduces a second hypothetical case.
- יִסָּתְרוּ (yissateru) – Root: סתר (satar); Form: Nifal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they hide themselves”; Notes: Reflexive hiding, attempting secrecy.
- מִנֶּגֶד (mi-neged) – Root: נגד (neged); Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine singular; Translation: “from before”; Notes: Implies hiding from divine sight.
- עֵינַי (ʿeinai) – Root: עין (ʿayin); Form: Noun feminine plural + suffix 1st person singular; Translation: “My eyes”; Notes: Anthropomorphic expression of YHWH’s omniscience.
- בְּקַרְקַע (be-qarqaʿ) – Root: קרקע (qarqaʿ); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “at the bottom of”; Notes: Refers to the sea floor, the deepest reaches.
- הַיָּם (ha-yam) – Root: ים (yam); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the sea”; Notes: Possibly the Mediterranean Sea.
- מִשָּׁם (mi-sham) – Root: שׁם (sham); Form: Preposition מִן + adverb; Translation: “from there”; Notes: Repeated for parallelism and emphasis.
- אֲצַוֶּה (aʿatsaveh) – Root: צוה (tsavah); Form: Piel imperfect 1st person singular; Translation: “I will command”; Notes: Piel intensifies—authoritative divine command.
- אֶת־הַנָּחָשׁ (et-ha-naḥash) – Root: נחשׁ (naḥash); Form: Direct object marker + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the serpent”; Notes: Possibly a sea serpent or symbolic agent of divine judgment.
- וּנְשָׁכָם (u-neshakham) – Root: נשׁך (nashakh); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and it shall bite them”; Notes: Indicates fatal divine retribution.