מִן־הַמַּמְלָכֹות֙ תִּהְיֶ֣ה שְׁפָלָ֔ה וְלֹֽא־תִתְנַשֵּׂ֥א עֹ֖וד עַל־הַגֹּויִ֑ם וְהִ֨מְעַטְתִּ֔ים לְבִלְתִּ֖י רְדֹ֥ות בַּגֹּויִֽם׃
From among the kingdoms it shall be the lowliest, and it shall not again exalt itself above the nations; and I will make them few, so that they shall not rule over the nations anymore.
Morphology
- מִן־הַמַּמְלָכוֹת (min-ha-mamlakhot) – Root: מלך (melek); Form: Preposition מִן + definite noun feminine plural; Translation: “from among the kingdoms”; Notes: Indicates comparative context, setting Egypt’s future status below other kingdoms.
- תִּהְיֶה (tihyeh) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “it shall be”; Notes: Refers to Egypt (feminine), foretelling her humbled condition among the nations.
- שְׁפָלָה (shefalah) – Root: שׁפל (shafal); Form: Adjective feminine singular; Translation: “lowly”; Notes: Describes the diminished status of Egypt; a reversal of former pride and power.
- וְלֹא (ve-lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Conjunction וְ + negative particle; Translation: “and not”; Notes: Introduces prohibition or negation concerning future exaltation.
- תִתְנַשֵּׂא (titnasse) – Root: נשא (nasaʾ); Form: Hitpael imperfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “it shall exalt itself”; Notes: Reflexive stem denotes self-exaltation or pride; negated here as divine prevention of renewed arrogance.
- עוֹד (ʿod) – Root: —; Form: Adverb; Translation: “again”; Notes: Expresses cessation of repetition—Egypt will not again rise to power.
- עַל־הַגּוֹיִם (ʿal-ha-goyim) – Root: על (ʿal), גוי (goy); Form: Preposition עַל + definite noun masculine plural; Translation: “above the nations”; Notes: Indicates political or military domination that Egypt will no longer exercise.
- וְהִמְעַטְתִּים (ve-himʿattim) – Root: מעט (maʿat); Form: Conjunction וְ + Hifil perfect 1st person common singular + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “and I will make them few”; Notes: Causative form stresses divine reduction in number or power.
- לְבִלְתִּי (le-vilti) – Root: בל (bal); Form: Preposition לְ + infinitive construct negator; Translation: “so that not”; Notes: Introduces purpose clause indicating divine intent behind Egypt’s reduction.
- רְדֹות (redot) – Root: רדה (radah); Form: Qal infinitive construct; Translation: “to rule”; Notes: Denotes exercise of dominion or control, negated here by preceding “לְבִלְתִּי.”
- בַּגּוֹיִם (ba-goyim) – Root: גוי (goy); Form: Preposition בְּ + definite noun masculine plural; Translation: “among the nations”; Notes: Refers to the geopolitical sphere where Egypt once exercised influence; now rendered powerless.