חָלְק֤וּ מַחְמָאֹ֣ת פִּיו֮ וּֽקֲרָב־לִ֫בֹּ֥ו רַכּ֖וּ דְבָרָ֥יו מִשֶּׁ֗מֶן וְהֵ֣מָּה פְתִחֹֽות׃
Smooth are the butter-like words of his mouth, but battle is his heart; soft are his words more than oil, yet they are drawn blades.
| # | Hebrew | Transliteration | Literal Gloss | Morph Tag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | חָלְקוּ | ḥalequ | “they are smooth” | Qal perfect 3mp |
| 2 | מַחְמָאֹת | maḥmaʾot | “butter-like things” | N(fp) |
| 3 | פִּיו | piv | “his mouth” | N(ms)+suff 3ms |
| 4 | וּקֲרָב | u-qerav | “but battle” | Conj + N(ms) |
| 5 | לִבֹּו | libbo | “his heart” | N(ms)+suff 3ms |
| 6 | רַכּוּ | rakku | “they are soft” | Qal perfect 3mp |
| 7 | דְבָרָיו | devarav | “his words” | N(mp)+suff 3ms |
| 8 | מִשֶּׁמֶן | mi-shemen | “than oil” | Prep מִן + N(ms) |
| 9 | וְהֵמָּה | ve-hemmah | “yet they” | Conj + Pron 3mp |
| 10 | פְתִחֹות | petiḥot | “drawn blades” | N(fp) |
Morphology
- חָלְקוּ (ḥalequ) – Root: חלק (ḥ-l-q); Root Type: I-Guttural (ח) (weak); Binyan: Qal; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they are smooth”; Notes: Describes deceptive smoothness of speech.
- מַחְמָאֹת (maḥmaʾot) – Root: חמאה (ḥ-m-ʾ); Root Type: III-Guttural (א) (weak); Form: Noun feminine plural; Translation: “butter-like things”; Notes: Figurative for smooth, flattering expressions. The noun מַחְמָאֹת derives from the root חמא, meaning butter or cream. Many translations smooth this into an adjective, “buttery words.” Retaining the noun form as “butter‑like words” preserves the Hebrew imagery while remaining coherent in English. The metaphor suggests speech that melts or slides easily, words that disarm by their softness even as they conceal hostility.
- פִּיו (piv) – Root: פה (p-h); Root Type: III-He (weak); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “his mouth”; Notes: Source of speech.
- וּקֲרָב (u-qerav) – Root: קרב (q-r-b); Root Type: Strong; Form: Conjunction וּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “but battle”; Notes: Contrasts outward speech with inward intent. The verse maintains a chiastic tension between mouth and heart. The mouth speaks with smooth, butter‑like words; the heart harbors battle (קֲרָב). The words flow softly, like oil, yet the result is drawn blades (פְתִחֹות). The parallelism intensifies the contrast—outer gentleness masking inner violence.
- לִבֹּו (libbo) – Root: לבב (l-b-b); Root Type: Geminate; Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “his heart”; Notes: Seat of intention.
- רַכּוּ (rakku) – Root: רכך (r-k-k); Root Type: Geminate; Binyan: Qal; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they are soft”; Notes: Continues description of speech.
- דְבָרָיו (devarav) – Root: דבר (d-b-r); Root Type: Strong; Form: Noun masculine plural + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “his words”; Notes: Spoken expressions.
- מִשֶּׁמֶן (mi-shemen) – Root: שׁמן (š-m-n); Root Type: Strong; Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine singular; Translation: “than oil”; Notes: Comparative softness. The preposition מִ (mi) in מִשֶּׁמֶן functions as a comparative, “more than oil.” It highlights the slippery, friction‑less nature of the traitor’s speech. The phrase balances the earlier “butter” image.
- וְהֵמָּה (ve-hemmah) – Root: —; Root Type: Pronoun; Form: Conjunction וְ + independent pronoun 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “yet they”; Notes: Emphasizes contrast.
- פְתִחֹות (petiḥot) – Root: פתח (p-t-ḥ); Root Type: III-Guttural (ח) (weak); Form: Noun feminine plural; Translation: “drawn blades”; Notes: Figurative for hidden danger beneath smooth speech. The word פְתִחֹות derives from the root פתח (“to open”). Literally, it refers to swords “opened” or “unwrapped”—weapons pulled from their sheaths and ready to strike. Rendered as “drawn blades,” the image is sharp and accurate: the apparent softness was only a scabbard concealing lethal intent.