חַיִּ֤ים שָׁאַ֣ל מִ֭מְּךָ נָתַ֣תָּה לֹּ֑ו אֹ֥רֶךְ יָ֝מִ֗ים עֹולָ֥ם וָעֶֽד׃
Life he asked from You, You gave to him length of days forever and ever.
| # | Hebrew | Transliteration | Literal Gloss | Morph Tag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | חַיִּים | ḥayyim | “life” | N(mp) |
| 2 | שָׁאַל | shaʾal | “he asked” | Qal perfect 3ms |
| 3 | מִמְּךָ | mimmekha | “from You” | Prep מִן + suffix 2ms |
| 4 | נָתַתָּה | natattah | “You gave” | Qal perfect 2ms |
| 5 | לֹּו | lo | “to him” | Prep לְ + suffix 3ms |
| 6 | אֹרֶךְ | ʾorekh | “length of” | N(ms construct) |
| 7 | יָמִים | yamim | “days” | N(mp) |
| 8 | עֹולָם | ʿolam | “forever” | N(ms) |
| 9 | וָעֶד | vaʿed | “and ever” | Conj וְ + N(ms) |
Morphology
- חַיִּים (ḥayyim) – Root: חיה (ḥ-y-h); Root Type: III-He weak; Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “life”; Notes: Although plural in form, often used collectively to mean “life.”
- שָׁאַל (shaʾal) – Root: שׁאל (š-ʾ-l); Root Type: II-Guttural; Binyan: Qal; Form: Perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he asked”; Notes: Refers to the king requesting life from YHWH.
- מִמְּךָ (mimmekha) – Root: — ; Root Type: Pronominal; Form: Preposition מִן + suffix 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “from You”; Notes: Indicates YHWH as the source from whom life is requested.
- נָתַתָּה (natattah) – Root: נתן (n-t-n); Root Type: I-Nun weak; Binyan: Qal; Form: Perfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “You gave”; Notes: Acknowledges divine granting of the king’s request.
- לֹּו (lo) – Root: — ; Root Type: Pronominal; Form: Preposition לְ + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “to him”; Notes: Refers to the king as recipient.
- אֹרֶךְ (ʾorekh) – Root: ארך (ʾ-r-k); Root Type: I-Guttural; Form: Noun masculine singular construct (state: construct); Translation: “length of”; Notes: Begins a construct chain describing the duration granted.
- יָמִים (yamim) – Root: יום (y-w-m); Root Type: Hollow; Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “days”; Notes: Completes the phrase “length of days,” meaning extended life.
- עֹולָם (ʿolam) – Root: עלם (ʿ-l-m); Root Type: I-Guttural; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “forever”; Notes: Denotes an indefinite or everlasting duration.
- וָעֶד (vaʿed) – Root: עד (ʿ-d); Root Type: I-Guttural; Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and ever”; Notes: Strengthens the idea of perpetual duration.