וָאֶשְׁמַ֣ע אֶת־קֹ֣ול כַּנְפֵיהֶ֡ם כְּקֹול֩ מַ֨יִם רַבִּ֤ים כְּקֹול־שַׁדַּי֙ בְּלֶכְתָּ֔ם קֹ֥ול הֲמֻלָּ֖ה כְּקֹ֣ול מַחֲנֶ֑ה בְּעָמְדָ֖ם תְּרַפֶּ֥ינָה כַנְפֵיהֶֽן׃
And I heard the sound of their wings, like the sound of many waters, like the sound of Shaddai in their going, the sound of a tumult like the sound of an army; when they stood still, they let down their wings.
Morphology
- וָאֶשְׁמַע (va-ʾeshmaʿ) – Root: שׁמע; Form: Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 1st person common singular; Translation: “And I heard”; Notes: Narrator (Ezekiel) recounts hearing the visionary sound.
- אֶת־ (ʾet) – Root: —; Form: Direct object marker; Translation: [not translated]; Notes: Marks the definite direct object.
- קֹול (qol) – Root: קול; Form: Noun masculine singular absolute; Translation: “the sound”; Notes: Refers to auditory phenomenon, specifically wings.
- כַּנְפֵיהֶם (kanfeihem) – Root: כנף; Form: Noun feminine plural construct + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “of their wings”; Notes: Possessive form, referring to the creatures’ wings.
- כְּקֹול (ke-qol) – Root: קול; Form: Preposition כְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “like the sound of”; Notes: Simile introducing comparison.
- מַיִם (mayim) – Root: מים; Form: Noun masculine plural (dual in form, always plural); Translation: “waters”; Notes: Image of rushing or abundant water.
- רַבִּים (rabbim) – Root: רבב; Form: Adjective masculine plural; Translation: “many”; Notes: Describes the abundance and power of the waters.
- כְּקֹול־ (ke-qol) – Root: קול; Form: Preposition כְּ + noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “like the sound of”; Notes: Comparison continued.
- שַׁדַּי (Shaddai) – Root: שׁדד; Form: Proper name of God; Translation: “Shaddai”; Notes: Divine title, often denoting might and overwhelming power.
- בְּלֶכְתָּם (be-lekhtam) – Root: הלך; Form: Preposition ב + infinitive construct with 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “in their going”; Notes: Describes the context of the sound during movement.
- קֹול (qol) – Root: קול; Form: Noun masculine singular absolute; Translation: “the sound”; Notes: Repetition emphasizes auditory imagery.
- הֲמֻלָּה (hamullah) – Root: המם; Form: Noun feminine singular absolute; Translation: “of a tumult”; Notes: Suggests roaring, noisy commotion like a crowd or battle.
- כְּקֹול (ke-qol) – Root: קול; Form: Preposition כְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “like the sound of”; Notes: Continues the chain of similes.
- מַחֲנֶה (maḥaneh) – Root: חנה; Form: Noun masculine singular absolute; Translation: “an army, a camp”; Notes: Military imagery of assembled troops.
- בְּעָמְדָם (be-ʿamdam) – Root: עמד; Form: Preposition ב + infinitive construct with 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “when they stood”; Notes: Marks situation of standing still.
- תְּרַפֶּינָה (terappena) – Root: רפה; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person feminine plural with paragogic nun; Translation: “they let down”; Notes: The wings relax or drop when not in motion.
- כַּנְפֵיהֶן (kanfeihen) – Root: כנף; Form: Noun feminine plural construct + 3rd person feminine plural suffix; Translation: “their wings”; Notes: Refers back to the living creatures’ wings, now resting.