Ezekiel 30:4

וּבָאָ֥ה חֶ֨רֶב֙ בְּמִצְרַ֔יִם וְהָיְתָ֤ה חַלְחָלָה֙ בְּכ֔וּשׁ בִּנְפֹ֥ל חָלָ֖ל בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם וְלָקְח֣וּ הֲמֹונָ֔הּ וְנֶהֶרְס֖וּ יְסֹודֹתֶֽיהָ׃

And a sword shall come into Mitsrayim, and trembling shall be in Kush, when the slain shall fall in Mitsrayim, and they shall take away her multitude, and her foundations shall be destroyed.

Morphology

1. וּבָאָה (u-vaʾah) – Root: בוא (boʾ); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person feminine singular with conjunction וּ; Translation: “and shall come”; Notes: Refers to the approach or arrival of the sword (feminine noun), symbolizing invasion or divine judgment.
2. חֶרֶב (ḥerev) – Root: חרב (ḥerev); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “sword”; Notes: Symbol of war, destruction, and divine retribution in prophetic imagery.
3. בְּמִצְרַיִם (be-Mitsrayim) – Root: מצרים (Mitsrayim); Form: Preposition בְּ + proper noun; Translation: “in Mitsrayim (Egypt)”; Notes: Identifies the location of the impending invasion and judgment.
4. וְהָיְתָה (ve-hayetah) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person feminine singular with conjunction וְ; Translation: “and shall be”; Notes: Predictive use—introduces the resulting state following the sword’s arrival.
5. חַלְחָלָה (ḥalḥalah) – Root: חלל (ḥalal); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “trembling” or “anguish”; Notes: Denotes panic or dread—often a physical reaction to terror in prophetic language.
6. בְּכוּשׁ (be-Kush) – Root: כושׁ (Kush); Form: Preposition בְּ + proper noun; Translation: “in Kush (Cush)”; Notes: Refers to the southern neighbor of Mitsrayim (modern Sudan/Ethiopia), affected by the collapse of Egypt’s power.
7. בִּנְפֹל (bi-nefol) – Root: נפל (nafal); Form: Preposition בְּ + infinitive construct; Translation: “when the falling” or “at the fall”; Notes: Temporal clause introducing the event causing fear in Kush.
8. חָלָל (ḥalal) – Root: חלל (ḥalal); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “slain”; Notes: Refers to those killed in battle—symbolic of large-scale defeat.
9. בְּמִצְרָיִם (be-Mitsrayim) – Root: מצרים (Mitsrayim); Form: Preposition בְּ + proper noun; Translation: “in Mitsrayim”; Notes: Repetition emphasizes Egypt as the locus of judgment and death.
10. וְלָקְחוּ (ve-laqḥu) – Root: לקח (laqach); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person plural with conjunction וְ; Translation: “and they shall take”; Notes: Likely refers to conquerors seizing the wealth or population of Egypt.
11. הֲמֹונָהּ (hamonah) – Root: המון (hamon); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “her multitude”; Notes: Represents the populace or military force of Egypt taken captive or destroyed.
12. וְנֶהֶרְסוּ (ve-nehersu) – Root: הרס (haras); Form: Niphal perfect 3rd person plural with conjunction וְ; Translation: “and shall be destroyed”; Notes: Passive form emphasizing divine causation—the devastation of Egypt’s structures or institutions.
13. יְסֹדֹתֶיהָ (yesodoteha) – Root: יסד (yasad); Form: Noun masculine plural + suffix 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “her foundations”; Notes: Can refer metaphorically to the state’s stability or literally to its physical buildings—complete collapse of Egypt’s base of power.