זֹ֞֠את הָעִ֤יר הָעַלִּיזָה֙ הַיֹּושֶׁ֣בֶת לָבֶ֔טַח הָאֹֽמְרָה֙ בִּלְבָבָ֔הּ אֲנִ֖י וְאַפְסִ֣י עֹ֑וד אֵ֣יךְ הָיְתָ֣ה לְשַׁמָּ֗ה מַרְבֵּץ֙ לַֽחַיָּ֔ה כֹּ֚ל עֹובֵ֣ר עָלֶ֔יהָ יִשְׁרֹ֖ק יָנִ֥יעַ יָדֹֽו׃ ס
This is the exultant city, sitting securely, the one saying in her heart, “I am, and there is none besides me.” How she has become a desolation, a resting place for the beast; everyone passing over her shall hiss, he shall shake his hand.
Morphology
- זֹאת (zoʾt) – Root: זה (zeh); Form: Demonstrative pronoun feminine singular; Translation: “This is”; Notes: Introduces the subject being identified— the once-proud city.
- הָעִיר (ha-ʿir) – Root: עיר (ʿir); Form: Definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “the city”; Notes: Refers to the city under judgment.
- הָעַלִּיזָה (ha-ʿallizah) – Root: עלז (ʿalaz); Form: Definite adjective feminine singular; Translation: “the exultant”; Notes: Indicates boasting joy or pride.
- הַיֹּושֶׁבֶת (ha-yoshevet) – Root: ישׁב (yashav); Form: Definite Qal participle feminine singular; Translation: “the one sitting”; Notes: Describes the city’s confident, secure position.
- לָבֶטַח (la-vetach) – Root: בטח (vataḥ); Form: Preposition לְ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “securely”; Notes: Implies self-confidence and perceived safety.
- הָאֹמְרָה (ha-ʾomrah) – Root: אמר (amar); Form: Definite Qal participle feminine singular; Translation: “the one saying”; Notes: Continues the characterization of the city as self-boasting.
- בִּלְבָבָהּ (bi-levavah) – Root: לבב (levav); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular + suffix 3fs; Translation: “in her heart”; Notes: Indicates inner thoughts or self-perception.
- אֲנִי (ani) – Root: אני (ani); Form: Independent pronoun; Translation: “I am”; Notes: Highlights the city’s arrogance.
- וְאַפְסִי (ve-afsi) – Root: אפס (efes); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine singular + suffix 1cs; Translation: “and there is none besides me”; Notes: Echoes absolute self-sufficiency.
- עוֹד (ʿod) – Root: עוד (ʿod); Form: Adverb; Translation: “anymore”; Notes: Reinforces exclusivity of the city’s boast.
- אֵיךְ (ʾekh) – Root: איך (ʾekh); Form: Interrogative adverb; Translation: “How”; Notes: Expresses astonishment at the city’s downfall.
- הָיְתָה (hayetah) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal perfect 3fs; Translation: “she has become”; Notes: Refers to the city (feminine noun ʿir).
- לְשַׁמָּה (le-shammah) – Root: שׁמם (shamam); Form: Preposition לְ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “a desolation”; Notes: Predicates the city’s ruined state.
- מַרְבֵּץ (marbets) – Root: רבץ (ravats); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “a resting place”; Notes: Image of animals occupying formerly human spaces.
- לַחַיָּה (la-ḥayyah) – Root: חיה (ḥayah); Form: Preposition לְ + definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “for the beast”; Notes: Indicates wild animals inhabiting the ruins.
- כֹּל (kol) – Root: כל (kol); Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “every”; Notes: Introduces an inclusive subject.
- עוֹבֵר (ʿover) – Root: עבר (avar); Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “one passing by”; Notes: Generic passerby responding to the city’s ruin.
- עָלֶיהָ (ʿalehah) – Root: על (ʿal); Form: Preposition עַל + suffix 3fs; Translation: “over her / concerning her”; Notes: Refers to the ruined city.
- יִשְׁרֹק (yishroq) – Root: שרק (sharaq); Form: Qal imperfect 3ms; Translation: “shall hiss”; Notes: Sign of derision or astonishment.
- יָנִיעַ (yaniʿa) – Root: נוע (nuaʿ); Form: Hifil imperfect 3ms; Translation: “he shall shake”; Notes: Gesture of scorn or shock.
- יָדֹו (yado) – Root: יד (yad); Form: Noun feminine singular + suffix 3ms; Translation: “his hand”; Notes: Object of the verb “shake,” expressing contempt.