יְֽהוָ֗ה מִשָּׁמַיִם֮ הִשְׁקִ֪יף עַֽל־בְּנֵי־אָ֫דָ֥ם לִ֭רְאֹות הֲיֵ֣שׁ מַשְׂכִּ֑יל דֹּ֝רֵשׁ אֶת־אֱלֹהִֽים׃
YHWH from heaven has looked down upon the sons of ʾAdam to see whether there is one understanding, one seeking God.
| # | Hebrew | Transliteration | Literal Gloss | Morph Tag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | יְהוָה | YHWH | “YHWH” | Proper noun |
| 2 | מִשָּׁמַיִם | mi-shamayim | “from heaven” | Prep מִן + N mp |
| 3 | הִשְׁקִיף | hishqif | “has looked down” | Hiphil perfect 3ms |
| 4 | עַל־בְּנֵי | ʿal-benei | “upon the sons of” | Prep עַל + N mp construct |
| 5 | אָדָם | ʾAdam | “ʾAdam” | N ms |
| 6 | לִרְאֹות | lirʾot | “to see” | Prep לְ + Qal infinitive construct |
| 7 | הֲיֵשׁ | hayesh | “whether there is” | Interrogative particle + existential particle |
| 8 | מַשְׂכִּיל | maskil | “one understanding” | Hiphil participle ms |
| 9 | דֹּרֵשׁ | doresh | “seeking” | Qal participle ms |
| 10 | אֶת־ | ʾet | (direct object marker) | Particle |
| 11 | אֱלֹהִים | ʾElohim | “God” | N mp |
Morphology
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: הוה (hwh); Root Type: III-He (weak); Form: Proper noun masculine singular; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenant name of the God of Yisraʾel, standing as the subject of the clause.
- מִשָּׁמַיִם (mi-shamayim) – Root: שׁמים (shamayim); Root Type: Plural form; Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine plural; Translation: “from heaven”; Notes: The prefix מִן marks source or vantage point, emphasizing the heavenly perspective.
- הִשְׁקִיף (hishqif) – Root: שׁקף (shaqaf); Root Type: Strong; Binyan: Hiphil; Form: Perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “has looked down”; Notes: The Hiphil presents deliberate, directed observation from above.
- עַל־בְּנֵי (ʿal-benei) – Root: בן (ben); Root Type: III-Nun (weak); Form: Preposition עַל + noun masculine plural construct (state: construct); Translation: “upon the sons of”; Notes: The prefix עַל marks the object of YHWH’s gaze, and בְּנֵי is in construct with the following noun.
- אָדָם (ʾAdam) – Root: אדם (ʾadam); Root Type: I-Guttural (א); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “ʾAdam”; Notes: Here it functions collectively, referring to humankind.
- לִרְאֹות (lirʾot) – Root: ראה (raʾah); Root Type: III-He (weak); Binyan: Qal; Form: Preposition לְ + infinitive construct; Translation: “to see”; Notes: The prefix לְ introduces purpose, expressing why YHWH looked down.
- הֲיֵשׁ (hayesh) – Root: ישׁ (yesh); Root Type: Particle; Form: Interrogative particle הֲ + existential particle; Translation: “whether there is”; Notes: Introduces the content of the divine inquiry.
- מַשְׂכִּיל (maskil) – Root: שׂכל (sakhal); Root Type: Strong; Binyan: Hiphil; Form: Participle masculine singular; Translation: “one understanding”; Notes: Denotes one acting with insight, discernment, or prudence.
- דֹּרֵשׁ (doresh) – Root: דרשׁ (darash); Root Type: Strong; Binyan: Qal; Form: Participle masculine singular; Translation: “seeking”; Notes: Describes ongoing active pursuit of God.
- אֶת־ (ʾet) – Root: —; Root Type: Particle; Form: Direct object marker; Translation: (direct object marker); Notes: Marks אֱלֹהִים as the definite object of the participle דֹּרֵשׁ.
- אֱלֹהִים (ʾElohim) – Root: אלה (ʾelah); Root Type: I-Guttural (א); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “God”; Notes: Though morphologically plural, it refers here to the one true God.