בַּבֹּ֤קֶר תֹּאמַר֙ מִֽי־יִתֵּ֣ן עֶ֔רֶב וּבָעֶ֥רֶב תֹּאמַ֖ר מִֽי־יִתֵּ֣ן בֹּ֑קֶר מִפַּ֤חַד לְבָֽבְךָ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּפְחָ֔ד וּמִמַּרְאֵ֥ה עֵינֶ֖יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּרְאֶֽה׃
In the morning you will say, “If only it were evening!” and in the evening you will say, ‘If only it were morning!’ because of the fear in your heart that you will fear, and because of the sight of your eyes that you will see.
Morphology
- בַּבֹּ֤קֶר (babboqer) – Root: בקר (b-q-r); Form: Preposition + definite article + noun masculine singular; Translation: “in the morning”; Notes: Indicates the start of the day, often associated with hope, but here with dread.
- תֹּאמַר֙ (to’mar) – Root: אמר (ʾ-m-r); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “you will say”; Notes: Implies a habitual or continuous action.
- מִֽי־יִתֵּ֣ן (mi-yitten) – Root: נתן (n-t-n); Form: Interrogative + Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “If only it were”; Notes: Expresses a longing or wish.
- עֶ֔רֶב (ʿerev) – Root: ערב (ʿ-r-b); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “evening”; Notes: Represents the end of the day, here ironically desired in the morning due to distress.
- וּבָעֶ֥רֶב (uvaʿerev) – Root: ערב (ʿ-r-b); Form: Conjunction + preposition + definite article + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and in the evening”; Notes: Indicates the cyclical nature of the fear.
- תֹּאמַ֖ר (to’mar) – Root: אמר (ʾ-m-r); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “you will say”; Notes: Repetition emphasizes the ongoing dread.
- מִֽי־יִתֵּ֣ן (mi-yitten) – Root: נתן (n-t-n); Form: Interrogative + Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “If only it were”; Notes: The wish for morning now desired in the evening highlights persistent anxiety.
- בֹּ֑קֶר (boqer) – Root: בקר (b-q-r); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “morning”; Notes: Desired during the evening, reflecting a constant yearning for change.
- מִפַּ֤חַד (mippaḥad) – Root: פחד (p-ḥ-d); Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “because of the fear”; Notes: The source of the longing for time to pass.
- לְבָֽבְךָ֙ (levavekha) – Root: לבב (l-v-v); Form: Noun masculine singular construct + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “of your heart”; Notes: Indicates internal, emotional fear.
- אֲשֶׁ֣ר (asher) – Root: Relative pronoun; Form: Relative particle; Translation: “that”; Notes: Introduces a relative clause explaining the source of fear.
- תִּפְחָ֔ד (tifḥad) – Root: פחד (p-ḥ-d); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “you will fear”; Notes: The verb emphasizes the ongoing, personal experience of fear.
- וּמִמַּרְאֵ֥ה (umimmarʾeh) – Root: ראה (r-ʾ-h); Form: Conjunction + preposition + noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “and because of the sight”; Notes: The visual stimuli contributing to distress.
- עֵינֶ֖יךָ (ʿeynekha) – Root: עין (ʿ-ʿ-n); Form: Noun feminine dual construct + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “of your eyes”; Notes: Refers to what is seen and perceived as threatening.
- אֲשֶׁ֥ר (asher) – Root: Relative pronoun; Form: Relative particle; Translation: “that”; Notes: Introduces a clause providing further explanation.
- תִּרְאֶֽה (tirʾeh) – Root: ראה (r-ʾ-h); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “you will see”; Notes: The direct cause of fear, emphasizing perception.