לָמָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה תַּעֲמֹ֣ד בְּרָחֹ֑וק תַּ֝עְלִ֗ים לְעִתֹּ֥ות בַּצָּרָֽה׃
Why, O YHWH, do You stand at a distance? Why do You hide Yourself in times of distress?
| # | Hebrew | Transliteration | Literal Gloss | Morph Tag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | לָמָה | lamah | “why” | Interrogative particle |
| 2 | יְהוָה | YHWH | “YHWH” | Proper noun |
| 3 | תַּעֲמֹד | taʿamod | “you stand” | Qal imperfect 2ms |
| 4 | בְּרָחֹוק | be-raḥoq | “at a distance” | Prep בְּ + N(ms) |
| 5 | תַּעְלִים | taʿlim | “you hide” | Hiphil imperfect 2ms |
| 6 | לְעִתֹּות | le-ʿittot | “for times of” | Prep לְ + N(fp) |
| 7 | בַּצָּרָה | ba-tsarah | “the distress” | Prep בְּ + Def. art. הַ + N(fs) |
Morphology
- לָמָה (lamah) – Root: uncertain; Root Type: Particle; Form: Interrogative particle; Translation: “Why”; Notes: Introduces a rhetorical question expressing distress and confusion.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: — ; Root Type: Proper divine name; Form: Proper noun masculine singular; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenant name of the God of Yisraʾel addressed directly in lament.
- תַּעֲמֹד (taʿamod) – Root: עמד (ʿamad); Root Type: Strong; Binyan: Qal; Form: Imperfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “You stand”; Notes: The psalmist poetically depicts YHWH as standing distant from the suffering.
- בְּרָחֹוק (be-raḥoq) – Root: רחק (r-ḥ-q); Root Type: II-Guttural (weak); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “at a distance”; Notes: Indicates perceived divine remoteness.
- תַּעְלִים (taʿlim) – Root: עלם (ʿ-l-m); Root Type: I-Guttural (weak); Binyan: Hiphil; Form: Imperfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “You hide”; Notes: In the causative Hiphil sense meaning “to conceal” or “to hide oneself.”
- לְעִתֹּות (le-ʿittot) – Root: עת (ʿet); Root Type: I-Guttural (weak); Form: Preposition לְ + noun feminine plural; Translation: “for times of”; Notes: Indicates specific seasons or moments of distress.
- בַּצָּרָה (ba-tsarah) – Root: צרר (ṣ-r-r); Root Type: Geminate; Form: Preposition בְּ + definite article הַ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “in the distress”; Notes: Refers to a time of trouble, oppression, or severe hardship.