הֲלֹ֧וא אַתָּ֣ה מִקֶּ֗דֶם יְהוָ֧ה אֱלֹהַ֛י קְדֹשִׁ֖י לֹ֣א נָמ֑וּת יְהוָה֙ לְמִשְׁפָּ֣ט שַׂמְתֹּ֔ו וְצ֖וּר לְהֹוכִ֥יחַ יְסַדְתֹּֽו׃
Are You not from everlasting, O LORD my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O LORD, You have appointed him for judgment; O Rock, You have established him for correction.
Morphology
- הֲלֹוא (halo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Interrogative particle + negative particle; Translation: “are you not”; Notes: Introduces a rhetorical question expressing confidence in YHWH’s eternal nature.
- אַתָּה (attah) – Root: אתה (attah); Form: Independent pronoun masculine singular; Translation: “you”; Notes: Direct address to YHWH.
- מִקֶּדֶם (mi-qqedem) – Root: קדם (qadam); Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine singular; Translation: “from of old”; Notes: Describes eternal or ancient origin.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: הוה (havah); Form: Proper divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Covenant name of Israel’s God.
- אֱלֹהַי (elohai) – Root: אל (ʾel); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 1cs; Translation: “my God”; Notes: Expresses personal relationship.
- קְדֹשִׁי (qedoshi) – Root: קדשׁ (qadash); Form: Adjective masculine singular + suffix 1cs; Translation: “my Holy One”; Notes: Title emphasizing YHWH’s purity and covenant fidelity.
- לֹא (lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Negates the following verb.
- נָמ֑וּת (namut) – Root: מות (mut); Form: Qal imperfect 1cp; Translation: “we shall die”; Notes: Here negated to form a declaration of trust: “we shall not die.”
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: הוה (havah); Form: Proper divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Resumes address to God before the next clause.
- לְמִשְׁפָּט (le-mishpat) – Root: שׁפט (shafat); Form: Preposition לְ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “for judgment”; Notes: Indicates YHWH’s purpose in raising up the Kasdim.
- שַׂמְתּוֹ (samtto) – Root: שׂים (sim); Form: Qal perfect 2ms + suffix 3ms; Translation: “you set him”; Notes: Refers to YHWH appointing the Kasdim as an instrument of judgment.
- וְצוּר (ve-tzur) – Root: צור (tzur); Form: Conjunction + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and Rock”; Notes: A divine title emphasizing stability and strength.
- לְהוֹכִיחַ (le-hokhiah) – Root: יכח (yakhaḥ); Form: Preposition לְ + Hifil infinitive construct; Translation: “to reprove”; Notes: Indicates YHWH’s corrective purpose.
- יְסַדְתּוֹ (yesad’to) – Root: יסד (yasad); Form: Qal perfect 2ms + suffix 3ms; Translation: “you established him”; Notes: Parallels “you set him,” reinforcing YHWH’s sovereign appointment.