Nahum 1:3

יְהֹוָ֗ה אֶ֤רֶךְ אַפַּ֨יִם֙ וְגָדוֹל־כֹּ֔חַ וְנַקֵּ֖ה לֹ֣א יְנַקֶּ֑ה יְהוָ֗ה בְּסוּפָ֤ה וּבִשְׂעָרָה֙ דַּרְכֹּ֔ו וְעָנָ֖ן אֲבַ֥ק רַגְלָֽיו׃

YHWH is slow to anger and great in power, and clearing he does not clear. YHWH in storm and in whirlwind is his way, and cloud is the dust of his feet.

Morphology

1. יְהֹוָה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Divine proper name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Covenant name of the God of Yisraʾel.
2. אֶרֶךְ (ʾerekh) – Root: ארך (ʾarakh); Form: Noun masculine singular in construct; Translation: “slow of”; Notes: Forms a fixed idiom “slow to anger.”
3. אַפַּיִם (appayim) – Root: אף (ʾaf); Form: Noun masculine dual; Translation: “anger”; Notes: Literally “nostrils,” idiomatically “anger.”
4. וְגָדוֹל (ve-gadol) – Root: גדל (gadal); Form: Conjunction וְ + adjective masculine singular; Translation: “and great”; Notes: Describes the magnitude of YHWH’s power.
5. כֹּחַ (koaḥ) – Root: כח (koaḥ); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “power”; Notes: Common term for strength, might.
6. וְנַקֵּה (ve-naqqeh) – Root: נקה (naqeh); Form: Conjunction וְ + Piel participle masculine singular; Translation: “and clearing”; Notes: Refers to the act of declaring someone innocent.
7. לֹא (lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Negates the action of clearing.
8. יְנַקֶּה (ye-naqqeh) – Root: נקה (naqeh); Form: Piel imperfect 3rd masculine singular; Translation: “he will clear”; Notes: Expresses divine refusal to acquit the guilty.
9. יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Divine proper name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Repeated for emphasis and structural reinforcement.
10. בְּסוּפָה (be-sufah) – Root: סוף (suf); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “in storm”; Notes: Indicates the medium or environment of divine movement.
11. וּבִשְׂעָרָה (u-vi-seʿarah) – Root: סער (saʿar); Form: Conjunction וּ + preposition בְּ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “and in whirlwind”; Notes: Parallel to “in storm,” forming classic theophany imagery.
12. דַּרְכּוֹ (darko) – Root: דרך (darakh); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 3ms; Translation: “his way”; Notes: Metaphor describing YHWH’s mode of appearing or acting.
13. וְעָנָן (ve-ʿanan) – Root: ענן (ʿanan); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and cloud”; Notes: Common motif associated with divine presence.
14. אֲבַק (ʾavaq) – Root: אבק (ʾavaq); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “dust”; Notes: Symbolizes insignificance before divine majesty.
15. רַגְלָיו (raglav) – Root: רגל (ragal); Form: Noun masculine plural + suffix 3ms; Translation: “his feet”; Notes: Anthropomorphic imagery emphasizing God’s overwhelming presence.