כֻּלֹּ֥ו סָג֮ יַחְדָּ֪ו נֶ֫אֱלָ֥חוּ אֵ֤ין עֹֽשֵׂה־טֹ֑וב אֵ֝֗ין גַּם־אֶחָֽד׃
All of him has turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none doing good; there is not even one.
| # | Hebrew | Transliteration | Literal Gloss | Morph Tag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | כֻּלֹּו | kullo | “all of him” | N(ms) + suff 3ms |
| 2 | סָג | sag | “he has turned aside” | Qal perfect 3ms |
| 3 | יַחְדָּו | yaḥdav | “together” | Adverb |
| 4 | נֶאֱלָחוּ | neʾelahu | “they have become corrupt” | Nifal perfect 3mp |
| 5 | אֵין | ʾein | “there is none” | Negative existential particle |
| 6 | עֹשֵׂה־ | ʿoseh | “doing” | Qal participle ms |
| 7 | טֹוב | tov | “good” | Adj(ms) |
| 8 | אֵין | ʾein | “there is not” | Negative existential particle |
| 9 | גַּם־ | gam | “even” | Particle |
| 10 | אֶחָד | ʾeḥad | “one” | Num(ms) |
Morphology
- כֻּלֹּו (kullo) – Root: כל (k-l); Root Type: Strong; Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “all of him”; Notes: Emphasizes totality, referring collectively to humanity. This is a very astute literal choice. כֻּלֹּו is the word “all” with a 3ms suffix (“his all”). While most versions smooth this out to “They have all,” the rendering “all of him” preserves the Hebrew’s treatment of the human race as a single collective entity (mankind as a whole) that has deviated.
- סָג (sag) – Root: סוג (s-w-g); Root Type: Hollow; Binyan: Qal; Form: Perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he has turned aside”; Notes: Indicates deviation from the right path. The root סוג means to move away, retreat, or backslide. “turned aside” is a strong literal equivalent, capturing the sense of wandering off a prescribed path.
- יַחְדָּו (yaḥdav) – Root: יחד (y-ḥ-d); Root Type: Strong; Form: Adverb; Translation: “together”; Notes: Highlights collective action or condition.
- נֶאֱלָחוּ (neʾelahu) – Root: אלח (ʾ-l-ḥ); Root Type: I-Guttural (א); Binyan: Nifal; Form: Perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they have become corrupt”; Notes: Passive or reflexive sense of becoming morally tainted. In Arabic cognates and other Semitic contexts, this root refers to milk going sour or turning rancid. “Become corrupt” is the standard moral equivalent. However, in strictly literal study, it is worth noting that the Hebrew suggests a chemical or biological change—something that was once fresh has now become “spoiled” or “tainted.”
- אֵין (ʾein) – Root: —; Root Type: Particle (Strong); Form: Negative existential particle; Translation: “there is none”; Notes: Denies existence of the following description. It is a particle of non-existence, making the statement absolute.
- עֹשֵׂה־ (ʿoseh) – Root: עשׂה (ʿ-ś-h); Root Type: III-He; Binyan: Qal; Form: Participle masculine singular (state: construct); Translation: “doing”; Notes: Substantive participle describing one who practices good.
- טֹוב (tov) – Root: טוב (ṭ-w-b); Root Type: Hollow; Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “good”; Notes: Specifies the quality of the action.
- אֵין (ʾein) – Root: —; Root Type: Particle (Strong); Form: Negative existential particle; Translation: “there is not”; Notes: Reinforces total absence.
- גַּם־ (gam) – Root: —; Root Type: Particle (Strong); Form: Additive particle; Translation: “even”; Notes: Intensifies the negation. The inclusion of גַּם, meaning “also” or “even,” creates a climactic negation. The sequence begins with “none” and ends with “not even one,” closing off any possible loophole for human merit.
- אֶחָד (ʾeḥad) – Root: אחד (ʾ-ḥ-d); Root Type: I-Guttural (א); Form: Numeral masculine singular; Translation: “one”; Notes: Emphasizes that not even a single individual does good.