וַתַּ֛עַל אֶחָ֥ד מִגֻּרֶ֖יהָ כְּפִ֣יר הָיָ֑ה וַיִּלְמַ֥ד לִטְרָף־טֶ֖רֶף אָדָ֥ם אָכָֽל׃
And she brought up one of her cubs; a young lion he became, and he learned to tear prey; man he devoured.
Morphology
- וַתַּעַל (va-taʿal) – Root: עלה (ʿalah); Form: Hiphil wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “And she brought up”; Notes: Refers to the lioness raising one of her cubs.
- אֶחָד (ʾeḥad) – Root: אחד (ʾeḥad); Form: Numeral masculine singular; Translation: “one”; Notes: Specifies a single cub from among the group.
- מִגֻּרֶיהָ (mi-gureha) – Root: גור (gur); Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine plural with 3rd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “from her cubs”; Notes: Indicates one chosen out of her offspring.
- כְּפִיר (kefir) – Root: כפר (kefir); Form: Noun masculine singular absolute; Translation: “a young lion”; Notes: Symbolizes vigor and emerging strength.
- הָיָה (hayah) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he became”; Notes: Marks transition into a new state—becoming a predator.
- וַיִּלְמַד (va-yilmad) – Root: למד (lamad); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he learned”; Notes: Indicates acquiring the skills of predation.
- לִטְרָף־טֶרֶף (li-trof-teref) – Root: טרף (taraf); Form: Infinitive construct with object + noun masculine singular; Translation: “to tear prey”; Notes: Repetition emphasizes predatory instinct.
- אָדָם (ʾadam) – Root: אדם (ʾadam); Form: Noun masculine singular absolute; Translation: “man”; Notes: Indicates human victims of the lion’s violence.
- אָכָל (ʾakhal) – Root: אכל (ʾakhal); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he devoured”; Notes: Conveys the destructive power and consumption by the lion.