אֱלֹהִ֣ים לָ֭נוּ מַחֲסֶ֣ה וָעֹ֑ז עֶזְרָ֥ה בְצָרֹ֗ות נִמְצָ֥א מְאֹֽד׃
God is for us a refuge and strength, a help in troubles, He is found exceedingly.
| # | Hebrew | Transliteration | Literal Gloss | Morph Tag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | אֱלֹהִים | Elohim | “God” | N(mp) |
| 2 | לָנוּ | lanu | “for us” | Prep לְ + suff 1cp |
| 3 | מַחֲסֶה | maḥaseh | “refuge” | N(ms) |
| 4 | וָעֹז | va-ʿoz | “and strength” | Conj וְ + N(ms) |
| 5 | עֶזְרָה | ʿezrah | “help” | N(fs) |
| 6 | בְצָרֹות | be-tsarot | “in troubles” | Prep בְּ + N(fp) |
| 7 | נִמְצָא | nimtsa | “He is found” | Nifal participle ms |
| 8 | מְאֹד | meʾod | “exceedingly” | Adv |
Morphology
- אֱלֹהִים (Elohim) – Root: אלה (ʾ-l-h); Root Type: I-Guttural (א) (weak); Form: Noun masculine plural (singular meaning when referring to God); Translation: “God”; Notes: Plural form with singular reference to the God of Yisraʾel.
- לָנוּ (lanu) – Root: —; Root Type: Particle (Strong); Form: Preposition לְ + suffix 1st person common plural; Translation: “for us”; Notes: Indicates benefit or relation. Hebrew often omits the copula (the verb “to be”), and the placement of the word “is” makes the relationship between God and the “refuge” clear and direct.
- מַחֲסֶה (maḥaseh) – Root: חסה (ḥ-s-h); Root Type: III-He (weak); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “refuge”; Notes: A place of safety or protection.
- וָעֹז (va-ʿoz) – Root: עזז (ʿ-z-z); Root Type: Geminate; Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and strength”; Notes: Represents power or might.
- עֶזְרָה (ʿezrah) – Root: עזר (ʿ-z-r); Root Type: I-Guttural (ע) (weak); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “help”; Notes: Assistance or support.
- בְצָרֹות (be-tsarot) – Root: צרר (ṣ-r-r); Root Type: Geminate; Form: Preposition בְּ + noun feminine plural; Translation: “in troubles”; Notes: Times of distress or adversity. Translating it as “troubles” captures the sense of being in “tight places” or “distresses.”
- נִמְצָא (nimtsa) – Root: מצא (m-ṣ-ʾ); Root Type: III-Aleph (weak); Binyan: Nifal; Form: Participle masculine singular; Translation: “He is found”; Notes: Expresses accessibility or availability. The word נִמְצָא is a Nifal (passive/reflexive) form. While it is here translated as a stative “He is found,” some scholars argue it functions here as “He has let Himself be found” or even “He is accessible.” The literal choice of “found” is very accurate to the stem.
- מְאֹד (meʾod) – Root: אדד (ʾ-d-d); Root Type: I-Guttural (א) (weak); Form: Adverb; Translation: “exceedingly”; Notes: Intensifies the degree. In Hebrew, מְאֹד (me’od) usually modifies the preceding word. However, since me’od is an adverb (“very/exceedingly”), it’s a bit unusual to have it modify a verb like “found” without an accompanying adjective.