תָּ֭בֹוא עַד־דֹּ֣ור אֲבֹותָ֑יו עַד־֝נֵ֗צַח לֹ֣א יִרְאוּ־אֹֽור׃
It comes unto the generation of his fathers, unto eternity they do not see light.
| # | Hebrew | Transliteration | Literal Gloss | Morph Tag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | תָּבֹוא | tavoʾ | “it comes” | Qal imperfect 3fs |
| 2 | עַד־דֹּור | ʿad-dor | “unto generation” | Prep עַד + N(ms) |
| 3 | אֲבֹותָיו | ʾavotav | “of his fathers” | N(mp) + suff 3ms |
| 4 | עַד־נֵצַח | ʿad-netsaḥ | “unto eternity” | Prep עַד + N(ms) |
| 5 | לֹא | lo | “not” | Neg |
| 6 | יִרְאוּ | yirʾu | “they see” | Qal imperfect 3mp |
| 7 | אֹור | ʾor | “light” | N(ms) |
Morphology
- תָּבֹוא (tavoʾ) – Root: בוא (b-w-ʾ); Root Type: III-Aleph (weak); Binyan: Qal; Form: Imperfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “it comes”; Notes: Refers to the soul or fate proceeding onward. In Hebrew, תָּבֹוא is a feminine form. However, the word “soul” (Nefesh) from the previous verse is feminine. Most scholars agree this refers back to the “soul” (Nefesh) mentioned in verse 19. So, “It (the soul) shall come/go.” While תָּבֹוא usually means “come,” in the context of genealogy and death, it often means “to join” or “go to.” The translation “It comes” is grammatically defensible if “it” refers to the soul. However, many translations say “He shall go” to match the man being discussed.
- עַד־דֹּור (ʿad-dor) – Root: דור (d-w-r); Root Type: Hollow (weak); Form: Preposition עַד + noun masculine singular; Translation: “unto generation”; Notes: Limit or extent of continuation.
- אֲבֹותָיו (ʾavotav) – Root: אב (ʾ-v); Root Type: I-Guttural (א) (weak); Form: Noun masculine plural + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “of his fathers”; Notes: Ancestral line. This is a poetic way of describing death. In the Ancient Near East, being “gathered to one’s fathers” was the standard idiom for dying. The “generation of his fathers” is essentially the realm of the dead.
- עַד־נֵצַח (ʿad-netsaḥ) – Root: נצח (n-ṣ-ḥ); Root Type: Strong; Form: Preposition עַד + noun masculine singular; Translation: “unto eternity”; Notes: Duration without end. It emphasizes that this isn’t a temporary visit; it’s a permanent state.
- לֹא (lo) – Root: —; Root Type: Particle (Strong); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Negates the following verb.
- יִרְאוּ (yirʾu) – Root: ראה (r-ʾ-h); Root Type: III-He (weak); Binyan: Qal; Form: Imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they see”; Notes: Experience or perceive. The verse starts with “It/She comes” (singular) but ends with “they do not see” (plural). This is typical of Hebrew poetry—it starts with the individual rich man and then widens the lens to include his entire line of ancestors who lived the same selfish way. They are all in the dark together.
- אֹור (ʾor) – Root: אור (ʾ-w-r); Root Type: I-Guttural (א) (weak); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “light”; Notes: Symbol of life or vitality. This is a powerful contrast to the “glory” and “blessing” mentioned in the previous verses. In the dark of the grave, all the wealth and self-congratulation result in total darkness.