זִקְנֵ֨י גְבַ֤ל וַחֲכָמֶ֨יהָ֙ הָ֣יוּ בָ֔ךְ מַחֲזִיקֵ֖י בִּדְקֵ֑ךְ כָּל־אֳנִיֹּ֨ות הַיָּ֤ם וּמַלָּֽחֵיהֶם֙ הָ֣יוּ בָ֔ךְ לַעֲרֹ֖ב מַעֲרָבֵֽךְ׃
The elders of Geval and its wise men were within you, repairing your seams; all the ships of the sea with their sailors were within you to barter your merchandise.
Morphology
- זִקְנֵי (ziqnei) – Root: זקן (zaqan); Form: Noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “elders of”; Notes: Refers to experienced or senior men, often leaders or master craftsmen.
- גְבַל (Geval) – Root: גבל (Geval); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Geval”; Notes: The Phoenician city of Byblos (modern Jbeil), famous for its maritime and architectural expertise.
- וַחֲכָמֶיהָ (va-ḥakha-meha) – Root: חכם (ḥakham); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine plural + suffix 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “and its wise men”; Notes: Indicates the skilled artisans and engineers of Geval.
- הָיוּ (hayu) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person common plural; Translation: “were”; Notes: Connects the elders and wise men to their role in Tyre.
- בָּךְ (bakh) – Root: —; Form: Preposition בְּ + suffix 2nd person feminine singular; Translation: “in you”; Notes: Tyre personified as a feminine entity, housing these experts within.
- מַחֲזִיקֵי (maḥazikei) – Root: חזיק (ḥazaq); Form: Hifil participle masculine plural construct; Translation: “those strengthening / repairing”; Notes: Refers to those who maintained or reinforced Tyre’s ship structures or walls.
- בִּדְקֵךְ (bidqekh) – Root: בדק (bedeq); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular construct + suffix 2nd person feminine singular; Translation: “your seams / breaches”; Notes: Can refer to repairing ship seams or breaches in walls; metaphor for maintenance of Tyre’s strength.
- כָּל־אֳנִיֹּות (kol-oniyyot) – Root: אניה (oniyah); Form: Noun feminine plural with prefixed כָּל־; Translation: “all the ships of”; Notes: Encompasses the entire maritime fleet interacting with Tyre.
- הַיָּם (ha-yam) – Root: ים (yam); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the sea”; Notes: Refers to the Mediterranean, the locus of Tyre’s naval and commercial activity.
- וּמַלָּחֵיהֶם (u-mallaḥehem) – Root: מלאח (mallaḥ); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine plural + suffix 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and their sailors”; Notes: Denotes mariners operating the ships, representing allied or trading nations.
- הָיוּ (hayu) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person common plural; Translation: “were”; Notes: Continues the description of those associated with Tyre.
- בָּךְ (bakh) – Root: —; Form: Preposition בְּ + suffix 2nd person feminine singular; Translation: “in you”; Notes: Tyre as the central hub for maritime operations.
- לַעֲרֹב (laʿarov) – Root: ערב (ʿarav); Form: Preposition לְ + infinitive construct; Translation: “to barter / trade”; Notes: Refers to the activity of exchange or trade agreements with Tyre.
- מַעֲרָבֵךְ (maʿaravekh) – Root: ערב (ʿerev); Form: Noun masculine singular construct + suffix 2nd person feminine singular; Translation: “your merchandise / trade goods”; Notes: Refers to the commodities or cargo involved in Tyre’s vast trading network.