Psalm 1:4

לֹא־כֵ֥ן הָרְשָׁעִ֑ים כִּ֥י אִם־֝כַּמֹּ֗ץ אֲֽשֶׁר־תִּדְּפֶ֥נּוּ רֽוּחַ׃

Not so the wicked ones, but rather like the chaff which the wind drives away.

 

# Hebrew Transliteration Literal Gloss Morph Tag
1 לֹא lo “not” Negative particle
2 כֵן khen “so/thus” Adverb
3 הָרְשָׁעִים ha-reshaʿim “the wicked ones” Def. art. הַ + N(mp)
4 כִּי ki “but/rather” Conjunction
5 אִם ʾim “if” Particle
6 כַּמֹּץ ka-mots “like the chaff” Prep כְּ + Def. N(ms)
7 אֲשֶׁר ʾasher “which” Relative particle
8 תִּדְּפֶנּוּ tiddefennu “she/it drives him/it away” Binyan: Qal; Imperfect 3fs + suff 3ms
9 רוּחַ ruaḥ “wind” N(fs)

 

Morphology

  1. לֹא (lo) – Root: לא (l-ʾ); Root Type: I-Guttural (א) (weak); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “Not”; Notes: Absolute negation introducing contrast with the righteous.
  2. כֵן (khen) – Root: כן (k-n); Root Type: Strong; Form: Adverb; Translation: “so/thus”; Notes: Refers back to the prior description, denying similar stability to the wicked.
  3. הָרְשָׁעִים (ha-reshaʿim) – Root: רשע (r-š-ʿ); Root Type: Strong; Form: Definite article הַ + noun masculine plural absolute; Translation: “the wicked ones”; Notes: Plural class term describing those opposed to righteousness.
  4. כִּי (ki) – Root: כי (k-y); Root Type: Strong; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “but/rather”; Notes: Functions adversatively here in the idiom כִּי אִם.
  5. אִם (ʾim) – Root: אם (ʾ-m); Root Type: I-Guttural (א) (weak); Form: Particle; Translation: “if”; Notes: Together with כִּי forms idiomatic “but rather.”
  6. כַּמֹּץ (ka-mots) – Root: מוץ (m-w-ṣ); Root Type: Hollow (II-Waw); Form: Preposition כְּ + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “like the chaff”; Notes: The definite article assimilated in form, comparing the wicked to worthless husks.
  7. אֲשֶׁר (ʾasher) – Root: אשר (ʾ-š-r); Root Type: Strong; Form: Relative particle; Translation: “which”; Notes: Introduces descriptive clause about the chaff.
  8. תִּדְּפֶנּוּ (tiddefennu) – Root: דָּפָה (d-p-h); Root Type: III-He (weak); Binyan: Qal; Form: Imperfect 3rd person feminine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “she/it drives him/it away”; Notes: Feminine subject agrees with רוּחַ, conveying forceful scattering.
  9. רוּחַ (ruaḥ) – Root: רוח (r-w-ḥ); Root Type: Hollow (II-Waw); Form: Noun feminine singular absolute; Translation: “wind”; Notes: Symbol of instability and dispersion, contrasting with rooted tree imagery.

 

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