וְקַלּ֨וּ מִנְּמֵרִ֜ים סוּסָ֗יו וְחַדּוּ֙ מִזְּאֵ֣בֵי עֶ֔רֶב וּפָ֖שׁוּ פָּֽרָשָׁ֑יו וּפָֽרָשָׁיו֙ מֵרָחֹ֣וק יָבֹ֔אוּ יָעֻ֕פוּ כְּנֶ֖שֶׁר חָ֥שׁ לֶאֱכֹֽול׃
And swifter than leopards are his horses and sharper than wolves of evening and his horsemen spread out and his horsemen from afar come they swoop like an eagle hastening to eat.
Morphology
- וְקַלּוּ (ve-kallu) – Root: קלל (qalal); Form: Conjunction + Qal perfect 3cp; Translation: “and they are swift”; Notes: Describes extraordinary speed attributed to the horses.
- מִנְּמֵרִים (mi-nemerim) – Root: נמר (nemer); Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine plural; Translation: “than leopards”; Notes: Comparative expression showing superior speed.
- סוּסָיו (susav) – Root: סוס (sus); Form: Noun masculine plural + suffix 3ms; Translation: “his horses”; Notes: Refers to the cavalry mounts of the Kasdim.
- וְחַדּוּ (ve-ḥaddu) – Root: חדד (ḥadad); Form: Conjunction + Qal perfect 3cp; Translation: “and they are sharp”; Notes: Figurative for fierceness or keenness.
- מִזְּאֵבֵי (mi-zeʾevei) – Root: זאב (zeʾev); Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “than wolves of”; Notes: Comparative phrase emphasizing ferocity.
- עֶרֶב (ʿerev) – Root: ערב (ʿerev); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “evening”; Notes: Wolves are especially dangerous at twilight.
- וּפָשׁוּ (u-fashu) – Root: פושׁ (fosh); Form: Conjunction + Qal perfect 3cp; Translation: “and they spread out”; Notes: Indicates rapid deployment or dispersal of cavalry.
- פָּרָשָׁיו (parashav) – Root: פרשׁ (parash); Form: Noun masculine plural + suffix 3ms; Translation: “his horsemen”; Notes: Identifies the cavalry soldiers.
- וּפָרָשָׁיו (u-parashav) – Root: פרשׁ (parash); Form: Conjunction + noun masculine plural + suffix 3ms; Translation: “and his horsemen”; Notes: Repetition creates intensification.
- מֵרָחֹוק (me-raḥoq) – Root: רחוק (raḥoq); Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine singular; Translation: “from afar”; Notes: Emphasizes long-range mobility.
- יָבֹאוּ (yavoʾu) – Root: בוא (bo); Form: Qal imperfect 3cp; Translation: “they come”; Notes: Describes continuous approach of invading cavalry.
- יָעֻפוּ (yaʿufu) – Root: עוף (ʿuf); Form: Qal imperfect 3cp; Translation: “they swoop”; Notes: Images rapid, bird-like descent for attack.
- כְּנֶשֶׁר (ke-nesher) – Root: נשר (nesher); Form: Preposition כְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “like an eagle”; Notes: Comparison to the swift and deadly predatory dive of an eagle.
- חָשׁ (ḥash) – Root: חושׁ (ḥush); Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “hastening”; Notes: Highlights urgent, immediate aggression.
- לֶאֱכֹול (leʾekhol) – Root: אכל (akhal); Form: Preposition לְ + Qal infinitive construct; Translation: “to eat”; Notes: Metaphor for devouring in conquest.