עַל־מִשְׁמַרְתִּ֣י אֶעֱמֹ֔דָה וְאֶֽתְיַצְּבָ֖ה עַל־מָצֹ֑ור וַאֲצַפֶּ֗ה לִרְאֹות֙ מַה־יְדַבֶּר־בִּ֔י וּמָ֥ה אָשִׁ֖יב עַל־תֹּוכַחְתִּֽי׃
Upon my watchpost I will stand, and I will station myself upon the rampart, and I will keep watch to see what He will speak in me, and what I will answer concerning my reproof.
Morphology
- עַל־ (ʿal) – Root: על (ʿal); Form: Preposition; Translation: “upon”; Notes: Introduces the elevated place where the prophet positions himself.
- מִשְׁמַרְתִּי (mishmarti) – Root: שׁמר (shamar); Form: Noun feminine singular + suffix 1cs; Translation: “my watchpost”; Notes: Indicates figurative or literal watch-duty awaiting YHWH’s answer.
- אֶעֱמֹדָה (eʿemodah) – Root: עמד (ʿamad); Form: Qal imperfect cohortative 1cs; Translation: “I will stand”; Notes: Cohortative expresses determined resolve.
- וְאֶתְיַצְּבָה (ve-et’yatztsevah) – Root: יצב (yatzav); Form: Conjunction + Hitpael imperfect cohortative 1cs; Translation: “and I will station myself”; Notes: Hitpael reflexive: the prophet deliberately positions himself.
- עַל־ (ʿal) – Root: על (ʿal); Form: Preposition; Translation: “upon”; Notes: Introduces the place of waiting.
- מָצוֹר (matsor) – Root: צור (tzur); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “rampart”; Notes: A defensive lookout point, figurative for spiritual vigilance.
- וַאֲצַפֶּה (va-atzappeh) – Root: צפה (tzafah); Form: Conjunction + Piel imperfect 1cs; Translation: “and I will keep watch”; Notes: Piel intensifies: “I will watch attentively.”
- לִרְאוֹת (lir’ot) – Root: ראה (ra’ah); Form: Preposition לְ + Qal infinitive construct; Translation: “to see”; Notes: Indicates purpose — watching to perceive YHWH’s response.
- מַה־ (mah) – Root: מה (mah); Form: Interrogative pronoun; Translation: “what”; Notes: Introduces the content of YHWH’s speech.
- יְדַבֶּר (yedabber) – Root: דבר (davar); Form: Piel imperfect 3ms; Translation: “he will speak”; Notes: Piel emphasizes articulate communication from YHWH.
- בִּי (bi) – Root: ב (b); Form: Preposition בְּ + suffix 1cs; Translation: “in me”; Notes: Suggests inward revelation, not merely external speech.
- וּמָה (u-mah) – Root: מה (mah); Form: Conjunction + interrogative pronoun; Translation: “and what”; Notes: Introduces the prophet’s anticipated reply.
- אָשִׁיב (ashiv) – Root: שׁוב (shuv); Form: Hifil imperfect 1cs; Translation: “I will answer”; Notes: Hifil causative: “I will cause to return (an answer).”
- עַל־ (ʿal) – Root: על (ʿal); Form: Preposition; Translation: “concerning”; Notes: Indicates basis for reply.
- תּוֹכַחְתִּי (tokhaḥti) – Root: יכח (yakhaḥ); Form: Noun feminine singular + suffix 1cs; Translation: “my reproof”; Notes: Refers to the prophet’s complaint or protest presented earlier.