בֶּן־אָדָ֕ם שָׂ֥א קִינָ֖ה עַל־מֶ֣לֶךְ צֹ֑ור וְאָמַ֣רְתָּ לֹּ֗ו כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֔ה אַתָּה֙ חֹותֵ֣ם תָּכְנִ֔ית מָלֵ֥א חָכְמָ֖ה וּכְלִ֥יל יֹֽפִי׃
“Son of man, take up a lamentation over the king of Tsor, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord YHWH: “You are the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
Morphology
- בֶּן־אָדָם (ben-ʾadam) – Root: בן (ben), אדם (ʾadam); Form: Noun masculine singular construct + noun masculine singular; Translation: “son of man”; Notes: A divine address formula to the prophet Yeḥezqel, emphasizing human limitation in contrast to divine authority.
- שָׂא (saʾ) – Root: נשא (nasaʾ); Form: Qal imperative masculine singular; Translation: “take up”; Notes: A command to utter or lift up a poetic lamentation or dirge.
- קִינָה (qinah) – Root: קונ (qin); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “lamentation”; Notes: Refers to a funeral dirge or prophetic song of mourning over the fall of a ruler or city.
- עַל־מֶלֶךְ (ʿal-melekh) – Root: מלך (melekh); Form: Preposition עַל + noun masculine singular; Translation: “over the king”; Notes: Indicates the subject or object of lament — directed toward the king of Tyre (Tsor).
- צֹור (Tsor) – Root: צור (tsor); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Tsor” (Tyre); Notes: A major Phoenician port city, often symbolizing pride and wealth.
- וְאָמַרְתָּ (ve-ʾamarta) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal perfect 2nd person masculine singular with conjunction; Translation: “and say”; Notes: Instruction to proclaim a divine message publicly.
- לֹּו (lo) – Root: —; Form: Preposition לְ + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “to him”; Notes: Marks the recipient of the prophetic address — the king of Tsor.
- כֹּה (koh) – Root: —; Form: Demonstrative adverb; Translation: “thus”; Notes: Typical formula introducing a prophetic oracle from YHWH.
- אָמַר (ʾamar) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “has said”; Notes: Introduces direct divine speech, underscoring the authority of the oracle.
- אֲדֹנָי (ʾadonai) – Root: אדן (ʾadon); Form: Noun plural of majesty in construct; Translation: “Lord”; Notes: Refers to YHWH in His sovereign rule and authority.
- יְהוִה (YHWH) – Root: הוה (havah); Form: Proper divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The personal covenant name of God, marking divine origin of the message.
- אַתָּה (ʾattah) – Root: —; Form: Independent pronoun masculine singular; Translation: “you”; Notes: Addresses the king directly, heightening rhetorical emphasis.
- חֹותֵם (ḥotem) – Root: חתם (ḥatam); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “seal”; Notes: Metaphorically, a mark of completeness or authentication — the king as the “seal of perfection.”
- תָּכְנִית (tokhnit) – Root: תכן (takhan); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “pattern” or “perfection”; Notes: Suggests divine design, order, or perfection — possibly “model of perfection.”
- מָלֵא (maleʾ) – Root: מלא (maleʾ); Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “full”; Notes: Denotes completeness or abundance — especially in wisdom.
- חָכְמָה (ḥokhmah) – Root: חכמה (ḥokhmah); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “wisdom”; Notes: Refers to skill, intelligence, or discernment, a central trait of the Tyrian king’s pride.
- וּכְלִיל (u-kelil) – Root: כלל (kalal); Form: Conjunction + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and perfect”; Notes: Literally “complete” or “entire,” describing aesthetic and moral excellence.
- יֹפִי (yofi) – Root: יפה (yafeh); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “beauty”; Notes: Symbolizes not only physical splendor but also prestige and glory, now ironically preceding downfall.