הַֽ֭אֹוכַל בְּשַׂ֣ר אַבִּירִ֑ים וְדַ֖ם עַתּוּדִ֣ים אֶשְׁתֶּֽה׃
Shall I eat the flesh of mighty ones, and the blood of goats shall I drink?
| # | Hebrew | Transliteration | Literal Gloss | Morph Tag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | הַאֹוכַל | ha-ʾokhal | “shall I eat” | Interrogative הֲ + Qal imperfect 1cs |
| 2 | בְּשַׂר | besar | “flesh of” | N(ms) construct |
| 3 | אַבִּירִים | ʾabbirim | “mighty ones” | N(mp) |
| 4 | וְדַם | ve-dam | “and blood of” | Conj וְ + N(ms) construct |
| 5 | עַתּוּדִים | ʿattudim | “goats” | N(mp) |
| 6 | אֶשְׁתֶּה | ʾeshteh | “shall I drink” | Qal imperfect 1cs |
Morphology
- הַאֹוכַל (ha-ʾokhal) – Root: אכל (ʾ-k-l); Root Type: I-Guttural (א); Binyan: Qal; Form: Interrogative particle הֲ + imperfect 1st person common singular. The ha- prefix identifies the interrogative he (“Shall I…?”), which turns the statement into a question; Translation: “Shall I eat”; Notes: Introduces a rhetorical question, implying negation. This verse (Psalm 50:13) is the climax of God’s “cross-examination.” He uses a rhetorical question to point out the absurdity of thinking that a spiritual being has biological needs.
- בְּשַׂר (besar) – Root: בשׂר (b-ś-r); Root Type: Strong; Form: Noun masculine singular construct (state: construct); Translation: “flesh of”; Notes: Forms a construct chain with the following noun. By using “flesh”, the poet emphasizes the gross, physical nature of the sacrifice compared to the spirit of God.
- אַבִּירִים (ʾabbirim) – Root: אבר (ʾ-b-r) or lexical noun; Root Type: I-Guttural (א); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “mighty ones”; Notes: Often refers to strong animals such as bulls. While most translations simply say “bulls,” the Hebrew word אַבִּיר (abbir) means “mighty” or “strong.” It is a poetic way to describe bulls, but it also mocks the idea that God needs to consume the “strength” of a creature He created.
- וְדַם (ve-dam) – Root: דם (d-m); Root Type: Strong; Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine singular construct (state: construct); Translation: “and blood of”; Notes: Continues the construct relationship with the next noun.
- עַתּוּדִים (ʿattudim) – Root: עתד (ʿ-t-d); Root Type: I-Guttural (ע); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “goats”; Notes: Male goats used in sacrificial contexts.
- אֶשְׁתֶּה (ʾeshteh) – Root: שתה (sh-t-h); Root Type: III-He; Binyan: Qal; Form: Imperfect 1st person common singular; Translation: “shall I drink”; Notes: Completes the rhetorical question parallel to “shall I eat.” For an Israelite audience, the idea of anyone drinking blood was a massive religious violation (Leviticus 17:10-12). By asking this, God is saying: “You think I want you to perform a ritual that involves something I have forbidden you to even touch? Do you think I am a blood-drinking demon?”
The Theological Pivot
This verse marks the end of the negative argument. God has spent the last few verses saying what He does not want:
– He does not want your “stuff” (vv. 9–10).
– He does not have “hunger” (v. 12).
– He does not “eat” or “drink” (v. 13).By using the term “mighty ones,” it highlights a subtle dig in the Hebrew: no matter how “mighty” the bull is, it is only meat to the Creator. The word strips the ritual of its supposed “magic” and forces the people to confront the raw reality of what they are doing.