Habakkuk 3:14

נָקַ֤בְתָּ בְמַטָּיו֙ רֹ֣אשׁ פְּרָזָ֔יו יִסְעֲר֖וּ לַהֲפִיצֵ֑נִי עֲלִ֣יצֻתָ֔ם כְּמֹו־לֶאֱכֹ֥ל עָנִ֖י בַּמִּסְתָּֽר׃

You pierced with his staffs the head of his warriors; they stormed to scatter me. Their rejoicing was as one devouring the poor in secret.

Morphology

1. נָקַבְתָּ (naqavta) – Root: נקב (naqav); Form: Qal perfect 2ms; Translation: “You pierced”; Notes: Depicts decisive divine striking of the enemy.
2. בְמַטָּיו (be-mattav) – Root: מטה (matteh); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine plural construct + suffix 3ms; Translation: “with his staffs”; Notes: His own weapons ironically turned against him.
3. רֹאשׁ (rosh) – Root: ראשׁ (rosh); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “the head”; Notes: Symbol of leadership or chief warrior.
4. פְּרָזָיו (perazav) – Root: פרז (paraz); Form: Noun masculine plural + suffix 3ms; Translation: “his warriors”; Notes: Likely referring to elite fighters from unwalled/open settlements.
5. יִסְעֲרוּ (yisʿaru) – Root: סער (saʿar); Form: Qal imperfect 3mp; Translation: “they stormed”; Notes: Conveys violent rushing or assault.
6. לַהֲפִיצֵנִי (la-hafitseni) – Root: פוץ (puts); Form: Preposition לְ + Hiphil infinitive construct + suffix 1cs; Translation: “to scatter me”; Notes: Expresses intended harm against the speaker.
7. עֲלִיצֻתָם (ʿalitsutam) – Root: עלץ (ʿalats); Form: Noun feminine singular + suffix 3mp; Translation: “their rejoicing”; Notes: A sinister triumph over anticipated violence.
8. כְּמֹו (ke-mo) – Root: כמו (kemo); Form: Preposition כְּ + adverb; Translation: “as / like”; Notes: Introduces the comparison.
9. לֶאֱכֹל (leʾekhol) – Root: אכל (akhal); Form: Preposition לְ + Qal infinitive construct; Translation: “to devour”; Notes: Violent metaphor of predatory behavior.
10. עָנִי (ani) – Root: עני (ʿani); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “poor one”; Notes: Represents vulnerable prey targeted by the wicked.
11. בַּמִּסְתָּר (ba-mistar) – Root: סתר (satar); Form: Preposition בְּ + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “in the secret place”; Notes: Suggests ambush, concealed violence.