בְּנֵ֧י אַרְוַ֣ד וְחֵילֵ֗ךְ עַל־חֹומֹותַ֨יִךְ֙ סָבִ֔יב וְגַ֨מָּדִ֔ים בְּמִגְדְּלֹותַ֖יִךְ הָי֑וּ שִׁלְטֵיהֶ֞ם תִּלּ֤וּ עַל־חֹומֹותַ֨יִךְ֙ סָבִ֔יב הֵ֖מָּה כָּלְל֥וּ יָפְיֵֽךְ׃
The sons of Arwad and your army were upon your walls all around, and Gammadim were in your towers; they hung their shields on your walls all around; they perfected your beauty.
Morphology
- בְּנֵי (bene) – Root: בן (ben); Form: Noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “sons of”; Notes: Indicates people or inhabitants of a place—here referring to Arwad’s citizens as Tyre’s defenders.
- אַרְוַד (Arvad) – Root: ארוד (Arvad); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Arvad”; Notes: An island city north of Tyre, known for its sailors and warriors.
- וְחֵילֵךְ (ve-ḥeilekh) – Root: חיל (ḥayil); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine singular construct + suffix 2nd person feminine singular; Translation: “and your army”; Notes: Refers to Tyre’s military force, symbolizing strength and defense.
- עַל־חֹומֹותַיִךְ (ʿal-ḥomotayikh) – Root: חומה (ḥomah); Form: Preposition עַל + noun feminine plural construct + suffix 2nd person feminine singular; Translation: “upon your walls”; Notes: Depicts Tyre’s defenses being manned by allied troops.
- סָבִיב (saviv) – Root: סביב (saviv); Form: Adverb; Translation: “all around”; Notes: Indicates complete surrounding or encirclement.
- וְגַמָּדִים (ve-gammadim) – Root: גמד (gammad); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine plural; Translation: “and Gammadim”; Notes: Possibly refers to warriors from a region called Gammad or a class of elite Tyrian guards.
- בְּמִגְדְּלֹותַיִךְ (be-migdelotayikh) – Root: מגדל (migdal); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun feminine plural construct + suffix 2nd person feminine singular; Translation: “in your towers”; Notes: Refers to fortified structures along Tyre’s city walls.
- הָיוּ (hayu) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person common plural; Translation: “were”; Notes: Describes the military presence stationed in Tyre’s fortifications.
- שִׁלְטֵיהֶם (shiltehem) – Root: שלט (shelet); Form: Noun masculine plural + suffix 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “their shields”; Notes: Refers to defensive gear displayed as symbols of might or protection.
- תִּלּוּ (tilu) – Root: תלה (talah); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they hung”; Notes: Describes how shields were suspended on the walls—perhaps for decoration or readiness.
- עַל־חֹומֹותַיִךְ (ʿal-ḥomotayikh) – Root: חומה (ḥomah); Form: Preposition עַל + noun feminine plural construct + suffix 2nd person feminine singular; Translation: “upon your walls”; Notes: Repetition emphasizes Tyre’s fortified and adorned defenses.
- סָבִיב (saviv) – Root: סביב (saviv); Form: Adverb; Translation: “all around”; Notes: Reinforces the totality of Tyre’s protection and splendor.
- הֵמָּה (hemah) – Root: —; Form: Independent pronoun masculine plural; Translation: “they”; Notes: Emphasizes the role of these defenders and builders in enhancing Tyre’s beauty.
- כָּלְלוּ (kalelu) – Root: כלל (kalal); Form: Piel perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they perfected / completed”; Notes: Piel form emphasizes completion or embellishment, here referring to Tyre’s aesthetic and military perfection.
- יָפְיֵךְ (yofyekh) – Root: יפה (yafeh); Form: Noun masculine singular construct + suffix 2nd person feminine singular; Translation: “your beauty”; Notes: Symbolizes Tyre’s external magnificence and glory through military adornment and strength.