Ezekiel 31:4

מַ֣יִם גִּדְּל֔וּהוּ תְּהֹ֖ום רֹֽמְמָ֑תְהוּ אֶת־נַהֲרֹתֶ֗יהָ הֹלֵךְ֙ סְבִיבֹ֣ות מַטָּעָ֔הּ וְאֶת־תְּעָלֹתֶ֣יהָ שִׁלְחָ֔ה אֶ֖ל כָּל־עֲצֵ֥י הַשָּׂדֶֽה׃

Waters made it grow; the deep set it on high, its rivers going around its plantation, and it sent out its channels to all the trees of the field.

Morphology

1. מַיִם (mayim) – Root: מים (mayim); Form: Noun masculine plural (dual form in meaning); Translation: “waters”; Notes: Represents life-giving abundance; the source of the cedar’s growth, metaphorically divine provision or prosperity.
2. גִּדְּל֔וּהוּ (giddeluhu) – Root: גדל (gadal); Form: Piel perfect 3rd person masculine plural + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “made it grow”; Notes: Piel expresses causative intensification—waters actively nurtured and enlarged the cedar (Assyria).
3. תְּהֹום (tehom) – Root: תהום (tehom); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “the deep”; Notes: Symbolic of subterranean waters—cosmic imagery of creation and abundance sustaining life.
4. רֹמְמָתְהוּ (romemathu) – Root: רומ (rum); Form: Piel perfect 3rd person feminine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “set it on high”; Notes: The “deep” personified as exalting the cedar—indicating divine elevation or prosperity.
5. אֶת־נַהֲרֹתֶיהָ (ʾet-naharoteha) – Root: נהר (nahar); Form: Direct object marker + noun masculine plural + suffix 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “its rivers”; Notes: Channels of nourishment; represent sources of continual sustenance flowing around its roots.
6. הֹלֵךְ (holekh) – Root: הלך (halakh); Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “going”; Notes: Describes ongoing action—rivers continually circulate around the tree’s planting.
7. סְבִיבֹות (sevivot) – Root: סבב (savav); Form: Noun feminine plural; Translation: “around”; Notes: Expresses encircling motion; rivers surrounding the plantation, ensuring complete irrigation.
8. מַטָּעָהּ (mattaʿah) – Root: נטע (nataʿ); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “its plantation”; Notes: Refers to the area of cultivation or the place where the cedar (Assyria) was established—symbol of empire and prosperity.
9. וְאֶת־תְּעָלֹתֶיהָ (ve-ʾet-teʿaloteha) – Root: תעלה (teʿalah); Form: Conjunction וְ + direct object marker + noun feminine plural + suffix 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “and its channels”; Notes: Refers to irrigation canals—extensions of abundance flowing outward.
10. שִׁלְחָה (shilkha) – Root: שלח (shalach); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “she sent out”; Notes: The “deep” or the waters are personified as sending forth life-giving streams—continuing the nurturing imagery.
11. אֶל (ʾel) – Root: —; Form: Preposition; Translation: “to”; Notes: Indicates direction toward the objects receiving the flow—here, the other trees.
12. כָּל־עֲצֵי (kol-ʿatsei) – Root: עץ (ʿets); Form: Noun masculine plural construct preceded by כָּל (“all”); Translation: “all the trees of”; Notes: Represents the nations or rulers nourished indirectly by Assyria’s abundance.
13. הַשָּׂדֶה (ha-sadeh) – Root: שׂדה (sadeh); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the field”; Notes: Symbolizes the world of nations or creation at large; Assyria’s prosperity extended to others within its sphere.