הַרְפּוּ וּדְעוּ כִּי־אָנֹכִי אֱלֹהִים אָרוּם בַּגֹּויִם אָרוּם בָּאָרֶץ׃
Be still and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.
| # | Hebrew | Transliteration | Literal Gloss | Morph Tag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | הַרְפּוּ | harpu | “be still” | Hiphil imperative mp |
| 2 | וּדְעוּ | u-deʿu | “and know” | Conj וְ + Qal imperative mp |
| 3 | כִּי־אָנֹכִי | ki-ʾanokhi | “that I” | Conj + pronoun 1cs |
| 4 | אֱלֹהִים | Elohim | “God” | N(mp) |
| 5 | אָרוּם | arum | “I will be exalted” | Qal imperfect 1cs |
| 6 | בַּגֹּויִם | ba-goyim | “among the nations” | Prep בְּ + Def. N(mp) |
| 7 | אָרוּם | arum | “I will be exalted” | Qal imperfect 1cs |
| 8 | בָּאָרֶץ | ba-ʾarets | “in the earth” | Prep בְּ + Def. N(fs) |
Morphology
- הַרְפּוּ (harpu) – Root: רפה (r-p-h); Root Type: III-He (weak); Binyan: Hiphil; Form: Imperative 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “be still”; Notes: Command to cease striving or let go. The Verb “Be still” (הַרְפּוּ) is a Hiphil imperative masculine plural from the root רפה (raphah).
- The root literally means to “sink,” “drop,” or “grow slack.” In the Hiphil, it means “cause to let go” or “abandon.”
- “Be still” is the classic rendering. A “strictly” literal version might be “Release” or “Let go.” In the context of the previous verse (shattering bows and burning wagons), God is telling the nations to “drop” their weapons and “stop” their striving.
- וּדְעוּ (u-deʿu) – Root: ידע (y-d-ʿ); Root Type: III-Guttural (ע) (weak); Binyan: Qal; Form: Conjunction וְ + imperative 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “and know”; Notes: Calls for recognition or understanding.
- כִּי־אָנֹכִי (ki-ʾanokhi) – Root: —; Root Type: Particle (Strong); Form: Conjunction כִּי + independent pronoun 1st person common singular; Translation: “that I”; Notes: Introduces the content of knowledge.
- אֱלֹהִים (Elohim) – Root: אלה (ʾ-l-h); Root Type: I-Guttural (א) (weak); Form: Noun masculine plural (singular meaning); Translation: “God”; Notes: Refers to the God of Yisraʾel.
- אָרוּם (arum) – Root: רום (r-w-m); Root Type: Hollow (weak); Binyan: Qal; Form: Imperfect 1st person common singular; Translation: “I will be exalted”; Notes: Expresses future exaltation. While many see this as a passive idea (“be exalted”), the Qal is actually active: “I will rise” or “I will be high.” However, “I will be exalted” is the standard way to express that God is the one in the position of height.
- בַּגֹּויִם (ba-goyim) – Root: גוי (g-w-y); Root Type: Hollow (weak); Form: Preposition בְּ + definite article הַ + noun masculine plural; Translation: “among the nations”; Notes: Indicates location among peoples.
- אָרוּם (arum) – Root: רום (r-w-m); Root Type: Hollow (weak); Binyan: Qal; Form: Imperfect 1st person common singular; Translation: “I will be exalted”; Notes: Repetition for emphasis. By repeating “I will be exalted” twice, the Hebrew poetic parallel (parallelismus membrorum) is maintained. This repetition reinforces the transition from the “nations” (גֹּויִם) to the “earth” (אָרֶץ) as a whole.
- בָּאָרֶץ (ba-ʾarets) – Root: ארץ (ʾ-r-ṣ); Root Type: I-Guttural (א) (weak); Form: Preposition בְּ + definite article הַ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “in the earth”; Notes: Universal scope of exaltation.