כִּ֥י סְבָב֗וּנִי כְּלָ֫בִ֥ים עֲדַ֣ת מְ֭רֵעִים הִקִּיפ֑וּנִי כָּ֝אֲרִ֗י יָדַ֥י וְרַגְלָֽי׃
For dogs have surrounded me; an assembly of evildoers has encircled me; like a lion are my hands and my feet.
| # | Hebrew | Transliteration | Literal Gloss | Morph Tag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | כִּי | ki | “for” | Conjunction |
| 2 | סְבָבוּנִי | sevavuni | “they have surrounded me” | Qal perfect 3cp + suff 1cs |
| 3 | כְּלָבִים | kelavim | “dogs” | Noun masculine plural |
| 4 | עֲדַת | ʿadat | “assembly of” | Noun fs construct |
| 5 | מְרֵעִים | mereʿim | “evildoers” | Hiphil participle mp |
| 6 | הִקִּיפוּנִי | hiqqifuni | “they have encircled me” | Hiphil perfect 3cp + suff 1cs |
| 7 | כָּאֲרִי | kaʾari | “like a lion” | Prep כְּ + noun ms |
| 8 | יָדַי | yaday | “my hands” | Noun fd + suff 1cs |
| 9 | וְרַגְלָי | ve-raglay | “and my feet” | Conj וְ + noun fd + suff 1cs |
Morphology
- כִּי (ki) – Root: כי; Root Type: Particle; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “For”; Notes: Introduces the explanation of the psalmist’s distress.
- סְבָבוּנִי (sevavuni) – Root: סבב (s-b-b); Root Type: Geminate; Binyan: Qal; Form: Verb perfect 3rd person common plural + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “they have surrounded me”; Notes: The plural subject refers metaphorically to hostile enemies closing in on the speaker.
- כְּלָבִים (kelavim) – Root: כלב (k-l-b); Root Type: Strong; Form: Noun masculine plural absolute; Translation: “dogs”; Notes: In Biblical imagery, “dogs” often symbolize violent or contemptible enemies.
- עֲדַת (ʿadat) – Root: עדה (ʿ-d-h); Root Type: III-He (weak); Form: Noun feminine singular construct (state: construct); Translation: “assembly of”; Notes: Introduces a construct phrase describing the hostile group.
- מְרֵעִים (mereʿim) – Root: רעע (r-ʿ-ʿ); Root Type: Geminate; Binyan: Hiphil; Form: Participle masculine plural; Translation: “evildoers”; Notes: Describes those who actively practice wickedness or harmful actions.
- הִקִּיפוּנִי (hiqqifuni) – Root: נקף (n-q-p); Root Type: I-Nun (weak); Binyan: Hiphil; Form: Verb perfect 3rd person common plural + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “they have encircled me”; Notes: The Hiphil stem intensifies the action, indicating deliberate surrounding.
- כָּאֲרִי (kaʾari) – Root: ארי (ʾ-r-y); Root Type: I-Guttural (א); Form: Preposition כְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “like a lion”; Notes: A simile comparing the attackers to a lion, suggesting violent threat directed toward the speaker’s extremities.
- יָדַי (yaday) – Root: יד (y-d); Root Type: Strong; Form: Noun feminine dual + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “my hands”; Notes: The dual form reflects the natural pair of hands belonging to the speaker.
- וְרַגְלָי (ve-raglay) – Root: רגל (r-g-l); Root Type: Strong; Form: Conjunction וְ + noun feminine dual + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “and my feet”; Notes: Continues the description of bodily vulnerability under attack.