לְבִנְיָמִ֣ן אָמַ֔ר יְדִ֣יד יְהֹוָ֔ה יִשְׁכֹּ֥ן לָבֶ֖טַח עָלָ֑יו חֹפֵ֤ף עָלָיו֙ כָּל־הַיֹּ֔ום וּבֵ֥ין כְּתֵיפָ֖יו שָׁכֵֽן׃ ס
Of Binyamin he said, “The beloved of YHWH shall dwell securely by Him; He shields him all the day, and between His shoulders He dwells.”
Morphology
- לְבִנְיָמִ֣ן (le-Vinyamin) – Root: בִּנְיָמִין (b-n-y-m-n); Form: Proper noun masculine singular with preposition לְ (“to/for”); Translation: “Of Binyamin”; Notes: Refers to the tribe of Binyamin.
- אָמַ֔ר (amar) – Root: אָמַר (ʾ-m-r); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he said”; Notes: Introduces the blessing directed to Binyamin.
- יְדִ֣יד (yedid) – Root: יָדִיד (y-d-d); Form: Masculine singular noun in construct; Translation: “beloved”; Notes: Indicates a term of endearment, referring to Binyamin as beloved of YHWH.
- יְהֹוָ֔ה (YHWH) – Root: The Tetragrammaton, representing the name of God; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “LORD”; Notes: Refers to the covenantal name of the God of Yisraʾel.
- יִשְׁכֹּ֥ן (yishkon) – Root: שָׁכַן (sh-k-n); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “shall dwell”; Notes: Refers to YHWH’s protective presence with Binyamin.
- לָבֶ֖טַח (laveṭaḥ) – Root: בָּטַח (b-ṭ-ḥ); Form: Noun with preposition לְ (“in/with”); Translation: “securely”; Notes: Indicates safety and confidence under divine protection.
- עָלָ֑יו (ʿalav) – Root: עַל (ʿ-l); Form: Preposition with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “by Him”; Notes: Indicates the proximity of YHWH’s presence.
- חֹפֵ֤ף (ḥofef) – Root: חָפַף (ḥ-p-p); Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “shields” or “hovers”; Notes: Describes protective covering, like an eagle over its young.
- עָלָיו֙ (ʿalav) – Root: עַל (ʿ-l); Form: Preposition with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “over him”; Notes: Repeats to emphasize the personal protection.
- כָּל־הַיֹּ֔ום (kol ha-yom) – Root: כֹּל (k-l) and יֹום (y-w-m); Form: Construct noun phrase; Translation: “all the day”; Notes: Emphasizes the continual nature of YHWH’s protection.
- וּבֵ֥ין (u-vein) – Root: בֵּין (b-y-n); Form: Preposition with conjunction; Translation: “and between”; Notes: Indicates close, intimate proximity.
- כְּתֵיפָ֖יו (kteifav) – Root: כָּתֵף (k-t-p); Form: Dual noun with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “his shoulders”; Notes: Symbolizes strength and support.
- שָׁכֵֽן׃ (shakhen) – Root: שָׁכַן (sh-k-n); Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “He dwells”; Notes: Highlights YHWH’s constant abiding presence.