נַ֤עַר הָיִ֗יתִי גַּם־זָ֫קַ֥נְתִּי וְֽלֹא־֭רָאִיתִי צַדִּ֣יק נֶעֱזָ֑ב וְ֝זַרְעֹ֗ו מְבַקֶּשׁ־לָֽחֶם׃
A youth I was, and also I have grown old, and not have I seen a righteous one forsaken, and his offspring seeking bread.
| # | Hebrew | Transliteration | Literal Gloss | Morph Tag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | נַעַר | naʿar | “a youth” | N(ms) |
| 2 | הָיִיתִי | hayiti | “I was” | Qal perfect 1cs |
| 3 | גַּם | gam | “also” | Particle |
| 4 | זָקַנְתִּי | zaqanti | “I have grown old” | Qal perfect 1cs |
| 5 | וְלֹא | ve-lo | “and not” | Conj + Neg |
| 6 | רָאִיתִי | raʾiti | “I have seen” | Qal perfect 1cs |
| 7 | צַדִּיק | tsaddiq | “righteous one” | N(ms) |
| 8 | נֶעֱזָב | neʿezav | “being forsaken” | Nifal participle ms |
| 9 | וְזַרְעוֹ | ve-zarʿo | “and his offspring” | Conj + N(ms) + suff 3ms |
| 10 | מְבַקֵּשׁ | mevaqqesh | “seeking” | Piel participle ms |
| 11 | לָחֶם | laḥem | “bread” | N(ms) |
Morphology
- נַעַר (naʿar) – Root: נער (n-ʿ-r); Root Type: II-Guttural (ע); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “a youth”; Notes: Indicates early stage of life.
- הָיִיתִי (hayiti) – Root: היה (h-y-h); Root Type: III-He; Binyan: Qal; Form: Perfect 1st person common singular; Translation: “I was”; Notes: First-person testimony.
- גַּם (gam) – Root: —; Root Type: Particle (Strong); Form: Particle; Translation: “also”; Notes: Adds contrast between stages of life.
- זָקַנְתִּי (zaqanti) – Root: זקן (z-q-n); Root Type: Strong; Binyan: Qal; Form: Perfect 1st person common singular; Translation: “I have grown old”; Notes: Indicates completion of life progression.
- וְלֹא (ve-lo) – Root: —; Root Type: Particle (Strong); Form: Conjunction וְ + negative particle; Translation: “and not”; Notes: Negates the observation.
- רָאִיתִי (raʾiti) – Root: ראה (r-ʾ-h); Root Type: III-He; Binyan: Qal; Form: Perfect 1st person common singular; Translation: “I have seen”; Notes: Empirical testimony.
- צַדִּיק (tsaddiq) – Root: צדק (ṣ-d-q); Root Type: Strong; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “righteous one”; Notes: Object of observation.
- נֶעֱזָב (neʿezav) – Root: עזב (ʿ-z-b); Root Type: I-Guttural (ע); Binyan: Nifal; Form: Participle masculine singular; Translation: “being forsaken”; Notes: Passive state denied in the verse.
- וְזַרְעוֹ (ve-zarʿo) – Root: זרע (z-r-ʿ); Root Type: III-Guttural (ע); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and his offspring”; Notes: Refers to descendants.
- מְבַקֵּשׁ (mevaqqesh) – Root: בקשׁ (b-q-š); Root Type: Strong; Binyan: Piel; Form: Participle masculine singular; Translation: “seeking”; Notes: Indicates ongoing need or searching.
- לָחֶם (laḥem) – Root: לחם (l-ḥ-m); Root Type: Strong; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “bread”; Notes: Symbol of basic sustenance.