וּנְטַשְׁתִּ֣יךָ בָאָ֔רֶץ עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה אֲטִילֶ֑ךָ וְהִשְׁכַּנְתִּ֤י עָלֶ֨יךָ֙ כָּל־עֹ֣וף הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וְהִשְׂבַּעְתִּ֥י מִמְּךָ֖ חַיַּ֥ת כָּל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃
And I will cast you upon the land; on the face of the field I will throw you, and I will cause all the birds of the heavens to dwell upon you, and I will satisfy from you every beast of the earth.
Morphology
- וּנְטַשְׁתִּיךָ (u-netashtikha) – Root: נטשׁ (natash); Form: Qal perfect 1st person singular + suffix 2nd person masculine singular + conjunction וּ; Translation: “and I will cast you”; Notes: The verb conveys abandonment or violent casting away, here portraying YHWH’s rejection and exposure of Pharaoh.
- בָאָרֶץ (ba-ʾaretz) – Root: ארץ (ʾerets); Form: Preposition בְ + definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “upon the land”; Notes: Locative phrase showing Pharaoh’s humiliation — exposed on dry ground rather than ruling the waters.
- עַל־פְּנֵי (ʿal-penei) – Root: על / פנים; Form: Preposition + construct plural noun; Translation: “on the face of”; Notes: Common idiom meaning “in the open field,” symbolizing vulnerability and disgrace.
- הַשָּׂדֶה (ha-sadeh) – Root: שׂדה (sadeh); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the field”; Notes: Represents openness, contrast to Pharaoh’s watery realm (Nile), now lying exposed on land.
- אֲטִילֶךָ (a-tillekha) – Root: טול (tul); Form: Hiphil imperfect 1st person singular + suffix 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “I will throw you”; Notes: Hiphil form intensifies the action — a deliberate, forceful act of divine judgment.
- וְהִשְׁכַּנְתִּי (ve-hishkanti) – Root: שׁכן (shakan); Form: Hiphil perfect 1st person singular + conjunction וְ; Translation: “and I will cause to dwell”; Notes: Causative stem indicates YHWH will summon carrion birds to settle upon Pharaoh’s fallen body — a poetic image of total defeat.
- עָלֶיךָ (ʿalekha) – Root: על (ʿal); Form: Preposition + suffix 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “upon you”; Notes: Direct object of the preceding verb, emphasizing Pharaoh as the object of divine contempt.
- כָּל־עֹוף (kol-ʿof) – Root: עוף (ʿof); Form: Construct + noun masculine singular; Translation: “all the birds”; Notes: Birds symbolize scavengers gathering to consume the dead — a common motif of divine retribution.
- הַשָּׁמַיִם (ha-shamayim) – Root: שׁמים (shamayim); Form: Definite noun masculine plural (dual in form); Translation: “of the heavens”; Notes: Genitive complement describing the domain of the birds that will descend upon Pharaoh.
- וְהִשְׂבַּעְתִּי (ve-hisbaʿti) – Root: שׂבע (savaʿ); Form: Hiphil perfect 1st person singular + conjunction וְ; Translation: “and I will satisfy”; Notes: Hiphil denotes causative satisfaction — YHWH ensures even wild beasts are fed by Pharaoh’s downfall.
- מִמְּךָ (mimmekha) – Root: מן (min); Form: Preposition מִן + suffix 2nd person masculine singular with assimilation of nun; Translation: “from you”; Notes: Indicates the source of satiation — Pharaoh’s body becomes the feast.
- חַיַּת (ḥayyat) – Root: חיה (ḥayah); Form: Noun feminine singular construct; Translation: “the beast of”; Notes: Refers collectively to land animals, contrasting with birds above.
- כָּל־הָאָרֶץ (kol-haʾaretz) – Root: ארץ (ʾerets); Form: Construct + definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “of the whole earth”; Notes: Hyperbolic for “all the land,” portraying cosmic scope of divine justice and Pharaoh’s total disgrace.