Ezekiel 32:21

יְדַבְּרוּ־לֹ֞ו אֵלֵ֧י גִבֹּורִ֛ים מִתֹּ֥וךְ שְׁאֹ֖ול אֶת־עֹֽזְרָ֑יו יָֽרְד֛וּ שָׁכְב֥וּ הָעֲרֵלִ֖ים חַלְלֵי־חָֽרֶב׃

The mighty ones shall speak to him from the midst of Sheol, with his helpers; they have gone down, they lie, the uncircumcised, those slain by the sword.

Morphology

1. יְדַבְּרוּ־ (yedabberu) – Root: דבר (davar); Form: Piel imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they shall speak”; Notes: The intensive Piel emphasizes deliberate speech or declaration; introduces dialogue from the realm of the dead.
2. לֹו (lo) – Root: ל (l); Form: Preposition לְ + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “to him”; Notes: Refers to Pharaoh, who is being addressed by other fallen mighty ones in Sheol.
3. אֵלֵי (ʾelei) – Root: אל (ʾel); Form: Preposition אֶל + plural construct form; Translation: “to”; Notes: Functions in close connection with the verb “they shall speak,” indicating direction of speech.
4. גִבֹּורִים (gibborim) – Root: גבר (gavar); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “mighty ones / warriors”; Notes: Refers to dead warriors or rulers already in Sheol, often used of powerful men now humbled by death.
5. מִתֹּוךְ (mitokh) – Root: תוך (tokh); Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine singular (“midst”); Translation: “from the midst of”; Notes: Denotes their position—speaking out from within Sheol, the realm of the dead.
6. שְׁאֹול (sheʾol) – Root: שׁאל (shaʾal); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “Sheol”; Notes: The underworld or abode of the dead; personified as a place where the mighty are gathered.
7. אֶת־ (ʾet) – Root: את (ʾet); Form: Direct object marker; Translation: “(marks the direct object)”; Notes: Introduces the object “his helpers.”
8. עֹזְרָיו (ʿozrav) – Root: עזר (ʿazar); Form: Qal participle masculine plural + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “his helpers”; Notes: Refers to Pharaoh’s allies or subordinate rulers who followed him into death.
9. יָרְדוּ (yardu) – Root: ירד (yarad); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they have gone down”; Notes: Describes descent into Sheol—imagery for death and burial common in Ezekiel’s oracles against nations.
10. שָׁכְבוּ (shakhvu) – Root: שׁכב (shakav); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they lie”; Notes: Refers to resting in death, lying down among the dead; continuation of the Sheol motif.
11. הָעֲרֵלִים (ha-ʿarelim) – Root: ערל (ʿarel); Form: Definite noun masculine plural with article הַ; Translation: “the uncircumcised”; Notes: Symbolic of the pagan nations excluded from covenantal purity and favor.
12. חַלְלֵי־ (ḥalalei) – Root: חלל (ḥalal); Form: Noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “slain of”; Notes: Denotes those killed violently, typically in battle.
13. חָרֶב (ḥarev) – Root: חרב (ḥerev); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “sword”; Notes: Completes the construct chain “those slain by the sword,” a standard prophetic expression of judgment.