עֶרְיָ֤ה תֵעֹור֙ קַשְׁתֶּ֔ךָ שְׁבֻעֹ֥ות מַטֹּ֖ות אֹ֣מֶר סֶ֑לָה נְהָרֹ֖ות תְּבַקַּע־אָֽרֶץ׃
Your bow is laid bare; sworn rods are the decree. Sela. Rivers you split open the land.
Morphology
- עֶרְיָה (ʿeryah) – Root: ערה (ʿarah); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “bareness”; Notes: Describes the bow as exposed or drawn out.
- תֵעֹור (teʿor) – Root: ערה (ʿarah); Form: Qal imperfect 2ms; Translation: “You uncover”; Notes: YHWH actively exposes His bow in preparation for battle.
- קַשְׁתֶּךָ (qashtékha) – Root: קשת (qeshet); Form: Noun feminine singular + suffix 2ms; Translation: “Your bow”; Notes: The divine battle weapon symbolizing power and judgment.
- שְׁבֻעֹות (shevuʿot) – Root: שׁבע (shavaʿ); Form: Noun feminine plural; Translation: “oaths”; Notes: May refer to sworn divine promises or covenantal assurances.
- מַטֹּות (matot) – Root: מטה (matteh); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “rods”; Notes: Could denote rods used in warfare or symbolic instruments of authority.
- אֹמֶר (omer) – Root: אמר (amar); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “decree”; Notes: Functions as a concise statement confirming the preceding image.
- סֶלָה (selah) – Root: סלה (selah); Form: Liturgical marker; Translation: “Selah”; Notes: Indicates a pause or emphasis within the poetic structure.
- נְהָרֹות (neharot) – Root: נהר (nahar); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “rivers”; Notes: Element of cosmic disturbance in the divine theophany.
- תְּבַקַּע (tevaqqaʿ) – Root: בקע (baqaʿ); Form: Piel imperfect 2ms; Translation: “You split open”; Notes: Intensifies the action, portraying dramatic divine intervention.
- אָֽרֶץ (arets) – Root: ארץ (erets); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “the land”; Notes: The earth itself reacts to YHWH’s presence and deeds.