מָֽה־אֱנֹ֥ושׁ כִּֽי־תִזְכְּרֶ֑נּוּ וּבֶן־֝אָדָ֗ם כִּ֣י תִפְקְדֶֽנּוּ׃
What is man that you remember him, and son of Adam that you attend to him?
| # | Hebrew | Transliteration | Literal Gloss | Morph Tag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | מָֽה־ | mah | “what?” | Interrogative pronoun |
| 2 | אֱנֹ֥ושׁ | ʾenosh | “man” | N(ms) |
| 3 | כִּֽי־ | ki | “that” | Conjunction |
| 4 | תִזְכְּרֶ֑נּוּ | tizkerennu | “you remember him” | Qal impf 2ms + suff 3ms |
| 5 | וּבֶן־ | u-ven | “and son of” | Conj וְ + N(ms) construct |
| 6 | אָדָם | ʾadam | “Adam / man” | N(ms) |
| 7 | כִּ֣י | ki | “that” | Conjunction |
| 8 | תִפְקְדֶֽנּוּ | tifqedennu | “you attend to him” | Qal impf 2ms + suff 3ms |
Morphology
- מָֽה־ (mah) – Root: מה (mah); Root Type: Strong; Form: Interrogative pronoun; Translation: “What”; Notes: Introduces a rhetorical question emphasizing the insignificance of humanity in contrast with the majesty of the heavens.
- אֱנֹ֥ושׁ (ʾenosh) – Root: אנשׁ (ʾ-n-sh); Root Type: I-Guttural (א) (weak); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “man”; Notes: Often highlights human frailty or mortality in poetic contexts.
- כִּֽי־ (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Root Type: Strong; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “that”; Notes: Introduces the subordinate clause explaining the question.
- תִזְכְּרֶ֑נּוּ (tizkerennu) – Root: זכר (zakhar); Root Type: Strong; Binyan: Qal; Form: Imperfect 2nd person masculine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “you remember him”; Notes: Expresses divine remembrance directed toward humanity.
- וּבֶן־ (u-ven) – Root: בן (ben); Root Type: Strong; Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine singular construct (state: construct); Translation: “and son of”; Notes: The construct links the noun with what follows, forming the phrase “son of Adam.”
- אָדָם (ʾadam) – Root: אדם (ʾadam); Root Type: I-Guttural (א) (weak); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “Adam” / “man”; Notes: Here it functions generically for humanity, emphasizing human lineage.
- כִּ֣י (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Root Type: Strong; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “that”; Notes: Introduces the second parallel clause in the poetic structure.
- תִפְקְדֶֽנּוּ (tifqedennu) – Root: פקד (paqad); Root Type: Strong; Binyan: Qal; Form: Imperfect 2nd person masculine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “you attend to him”; Notes: The verb carries the sense of attentive oversight, visitation, or care.