הֲיִתְפָּאֵר֙ הַגַּרְזֶ֔ן עַ֖ל הַחֹצֵ֣ב בֹּ֑ו אִם־יִתְגַּדֵּ֤ל הַמַּשֹּׂור֙ עַל־מְנִיפֹ֔ו כְּהָנִ֥יף שֵׁ֨בֶט֙ וְאֶת־מְרִימָ֔יו כְּהָרִ֥ים מַטֶּ֖ה לֹא־עֵֽץ׃
Shall the axe boast itself against him who hews with it? Or shall the saw magnify itself against him who wields it? As if a rod were wielding those who lift it, or as if a staff were lifting him who is not wood!
Morphology
- הֲיִתְפָּאֵר (ha-yitpaʾer) – Root: פאר (paʾar); Form: Hitpael imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “Shall [it] boast itself”; Notes: Reflexive stem expressing self-glorification.
- הַגַּרְזֶן (ha-garzen) – Root: גרזן (garzen); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the axe”; Notes: Represents the tool, metaphor for Ashshur.
- עַל (ʿal) – Root: על; Form: Preposition; Translation: “against”; Notes: Indicates opposition or comparison.
- הַחֹצֵב (ha-ḥotsev) – Root: חצב (ḥatsav); Form: Definite article + Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “the one who hews”; Notes: Refers to the one wielding the tool—God.
- בֹּו (bo) – Root: ב; Form: Preposition + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “with it”; Notes: Refers to the axe.
- אִם (im) – Root: אם; Form: Conditional particle; Translation: “or”; Notes: Introduces the next rhetorical comparison.
- יִתְגַּדֵּל (yitgaddel) – Root: גדל (gadal); Form: Hitpael imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “shall magnify itself”; Notes: Another reflexive form indicating self-exaltation.
- הַמַּשֹּׂור (ha-massor) – Root: מסר; Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the saw”; Notes: Another metaphorical tool.
- עַל־מְנִיפֹו (ʿal-menifo) – Root: נוף (nuf); Form: Preposition + Qal participle with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “against him who wields it”; Notes: The subject (God) as wielder.
- כְּהָנִיף (ke-hanif) – Root: נוף (nuf); Form: Preposition + Hifil infinitive construct; Translation: “as if one were wielding”; Notes: Introduces simile.
- שֵׁבֶט (shevet) – Root: שבט (shevet); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “a rod”; Notes: Instrument of discipline or power.
- וְאֶת־מְרִימָיו (ve-et-merimav) – Root: רים (rum); Form: Conjunction + direct object marker + participle/noun with 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “those who lift it”; Notes: Refers to the wielder being absurdly lifted by the tool.
- כְּהָרִים (ke-harim) – Root: רים (rum); Form: Preposition + Hifil infinitive construct; Translation: “as if one were lifting”; Notes: Continues the ironic imagery.
- מַטֶּה (matteh) – Root: נטה (natah); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “a staff”; Notes: Common instrument of authority or guidance.
- לֹא־עֵץ (lo-ʿets) – Root: עץ (ʿets); Form: Negative particle + noun masculine singular; Translation: “not wood”; Notes: Ironic conclusion—the staff claims superiority over its material nature.