הַבִּ֣יטָֽה עֲ֭נֵנִי יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהָ֑י הָאִ֥ירָה עֵ֝ינַ֗י פֶּן־אִישַׁ֥ן הַמָּֽוֶת׃
Look, answer me, YHWH my God; give light to my eyes, lest I sleep the death.
| # | Hebrew | Transliteration | Literal Gloss | Morph Tag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | הַבִּיטָה | habbitah | “look” | Hiphil imperative 2ms |
| 2 | עֲנֵנִי | ʿanenî | “answer me” | Qal imperative 2ms + suff 1cs |
| 3 | יְהוָה | YHWH | “YHWH” | Proper noun |
| 4 | אֱלֹהָי | Elojai | “my God” | Noun mp + suff 1cs |
| 5 | הָאִירָה | haʾirah | “give light” | Hiphil imperative 2ms |
| 6 | עֵינַי | ʿeinai | “my eyes” | Noun fd + suff 1cs |
| 7 | פֶּן | pen | “lest” | Conjunction |
| 8 | אִישַׁן | ʾishan | “I sleep” | Qal imperfect 1cs |
| 9 | הַמָּוֶת | hamavet | “the death” | Def art הַ + N ms |
Morphology
- הַבִּיטָה (habbitah) – Root: נבט (n-b-ṭ); Root Type: I-Nun; Binyan: Hiphil; Form: Imperative 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “look”; Notes: A direct plea asking YHWH to turn His attention toward the speaker.
- עֲנֵנִי (ʿanenî) – Root: ענה (ʿ-n-h); Root Type: III-He; Binyan: Qal; Form: Imperative 2nd person masculine singular + suffix 1cs; Translation: “answer me”; Notes: The suffix marks the psalmist as the object of the requested response.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: הוה (hwh); Root Type: III-He; Form: Proper noun masculine singular; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenant name of the God of Yisraʾel.
- אֱלֹהָי (Elojai) – Root: אלה (ʾ-l-h); Root Type: I-Guttural; Form: Noun masculine plural + suffix 1cs; Translation: “my God”; Notes: Personal address emphasizing covenant relationship.
- הָאִירָה (haʾirah) – Root: אור (ʾ-w-r); Root Type: I-Guttural; Binyan: Hiphil; Form: Imperative 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “give light”; Notes: The Hiphil expresses causing light or restoring vitality.
- עֵינַי (ʿeinai) – Root: עין (ʿ-y-n); Root Type: I-Guttural; Form: Noun feminine dual + suffix 1cs; Translation: “my eyes”; Notes: The dual form reflects the natural pair of eyes.
- פֶּן (pen) – Root: —; Root Type: Particle; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “lest”; Notes: Introduces a negative consequence to be avoided.
- אִישַׁן (ʾishan) – Root: ישׁן (y-sh-n); Root Type: I-Yod; Binyan: Qal; Form: Imperfect 1st person common singular; Translation: “I sleep”; Notes: In poetic language “sleep” is a metaphor for death.
- הַמָּוֶת (hamavet) – Root: מות (m-w-t); Root Type: Hollow (II-Waw); Form: Definite article הַ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “the death”; Notes: Refers to mortal death as the feared outcome.