יְהִי־דָן֙ נָחָ֣שׁ עֲלֵי־דֶ֔רֶךְ שְׁפִיפֹ֖ן עֲלֵי־אֹ֑רַח הַנֹּשֵׁךְ֙ עִקְּבֵי־ס֔וּס וַיִּפֹּ֥ל רֹכְבֹ֖ו אָחֹֽור׃
Dan shall be a serpent by the road, a viper along the path, that bites the horse’s heels so that its rider falls backward.
Morphology
- יְהִי־דָן֙ (yehi-Dan) – Root: היה (hayah), דן (Dan); Form: Verb, Qal, Jussive, 3ms with Proper noun; Translation: “Dan shall be”; Notes: Expresses a wish or declaration regarding Dan.
- נָחָ֣שׁ (naḥash) – Root: נחש (naḥash); Form: Noun, masculine singular; Translation: “a serpent”; Notes: Symbolizes stealth, danger, or cunning.
- עֲלֵי־דֶ֔רֶךְ (ʿalei-derekh) – Root: דרך (derekh); Form: Preposition with noun, masculine singular construct; Translation: “by the road”; Notes: Indicates position or location.
- שְׁפִיפֹ֖ן (shefifon) – Root: שפף (shafaf); Form: Noun, masculine singular; Translation: “a viper”; Notes: A type of venomous snake, emphasizing danger.
- עֲלֵי־אֹ֑רַח (ʿalei-orakh) – Root: ארח (orakh); Form: Preposition with noun, masculine singular construct; Translation: “along the path”; Notes: Refers to a smaller or less-traveled way.
- הַנֹּשֵׁךְ֙ (ha-noshekh) – Root: נשך (nashakh); Form: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular with definite article; Translation: “that bites”; Notes: Describes the action of the serpent.
- עִקְּבֵי־ס֔וּס (ʿiqvei-sus) – Root: עקב (ʿakev), סוס (sus); Form: Noun, masculine plural construct with noun; Translation: “the horse’s heels”; Notes: Refers to the rear part of the horse’s feet.
- וַיִּפֹּ֥ל (vayyipol) – Root: נפל (nafal); Form: Verb, Qal, Consecutive Imperfect, 3ms; Translation: “and he falls”; Notes: Indicates the consequence of the serpent’s bite.
- רֹכְבֹ֖ו (rokhvo) – Root: רכב (rakhav); Form: Noun, masculine singular construct with 3ms suffix; Translation: “its rider”; Notes: Refers to the person riding the horse.
- אָחֹֽור (aḥor) – Root: אחור (aḥor); Form: Adverb; Translation: “backward”; Notes: Describes the direction of the fall.