וַיִּתְהַלֵּ֥ךְ בְּתֹוךְ־אֲרָיֹ֖ות כְּפִ֣יר הָיָ֑ה וַיִּלְמַ֥ד לִטְרָף־טֶ֖רֶף אָדָ֥ם אָכָֽל׃
And he went about among lions; a young lion he became, and he learned to tear prey; man he devoured.
Morphology
- וַיִּתְהַלֵּךְ (va-yithallekh) – Root: הלך (halakh); Form: Hitpael wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And he went about / walked to and fro”; Notes: Reflexive-intensified form, implying continual movement or conduct.
- בְּתוֹךְ־אֲרָיֹות (be-tokh-ʾarayot) – Root: אריה (ʾaryeh); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular “midst” + plural noun masculine “lions”; Translation: “among lions”; Notes: Suggests association with other powerful rulers or predators.
- כְּפִיר (kefir) – Root: כפר (kefir); Form: Noun masculine singular absolute; Translation: “a young lion”; Notes: Emphasizes his stage of strength and maturity.
- הָיָה (hayah) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he became”; Notes: Marks transition into a new identity—becoming a predator.
- וַיִּלְמַד (va-yilmad) – Root: למד (lamad); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he learned”; Notes: Indicates development of predatory skills.
- לִטְרָף־טֶרֶף (li-trof-teref) – Root: טרף (taraf); Form: Infinitive construct with cognate accusative; Translation: “to tear prey”; Notes: The doubling intensifies the act of devouring.
- אָדָם (ʾadam) – Root: אדם (ʾadam); Form: Noun masculine singular absolute; Translation: “man”; Notes: Specifies human victims of the lion’s violence.
- אָכָל (ʾakhal) – Root: אכל (ʾakhal); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he devoured”; Notes: Concludes the description with the act of consuming, showing complete predatory behavior.