Isaiah 21:9

וְהִנֵּה־זֶ֥ה בָא֙ רֶ֣כֶב אִ֔ישׁ צֶ֖מֶד פָּֽרָשִׁ֑ים וַיַּ֣עַן וַיֹּ֗אמֶר נָפְלָ֤ה נָֽפְלָה֙ בָּבֶ֔ל וְכָל־פְּסִילֵ֥י אֱלֹהֶ֖יהָ שִׁבַּ֥ר לָאָֽרֶץ׃

And behold, this one comes, a chariot with a man, a pair of horsemen.” And he answered and said, “Fallen, fallen is Bavel! And all the idols of her gods he has shattered to the ground.”

Morphology

1. וְהִנֵּה־זֶ֥ה (ve-hinneh-zeh) – Root: הנה (hinneh) + זה (zeh); Form: Interjection + demonstrative pronoun masculine singular; Translation: “And behold, this one”; Notes: Draws attention to the arrival of a significant figure.
2. בָא֙ (ba) – Root: בוא (bo); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “comes”; Notes: Indicates the arrival of the chariot.
3. רֶ֣כֶב (rekhev) – Root: רכב (rakhav); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “a chariot”; Notes: Refers to the vehicle seen in the prophetic vision.
4. אִ֔ישׁ (ish) – Root: איש (ish); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “a man”; Notes: The chariot’s rider or representative figure.
5. צֶ֖מֶד (tsemed) – Root: צמד (tsamad); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “a pair”; Notes: Used here to describe a set or duo.
6. פָּֽרָשִׁ֑ים (parashim) – Root: פרשׁ (parash); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “horsemen”; Notes: Cavalry riders associated with the chariot.
7. וַיַּ֣עַן (va-yaʿan) – Root: ען (ʿanah); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he answered”; Notes: Marks the start of a reported speech or proclamation.
8. וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (va-yomer) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he said”; Notes: Parallel to “answered,” introducing the oracle.
9. נָפְלָ֤ה נָֽפְלָה֙ (nafelah nafelah) – Root: נפל (nafal); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person feminine singular, repeated; Translation: “Fallen, fallen”; Notes: Poetic repetition for emphasis—definitive announcement of collapse.
10. בָּבֶ֔ל (Bavel) – Root: בבל (Bavel); Form: Proper noun feminine singular; Translation: “Bavel”; Notes: Refers to Babylon, symbol of power and idolatry.
11. וְכָל־פְּסִילֵ֥י (ve-khol-pesilei) – Root: פסל (pasal); Form: Conjunction + noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “and all the idols of”; Notes: “Pesilim” are carved images or false gods.
12. אֱלֹהֶ֖יהָ (eloheha) – Root: אלה (ʾeloh); Form: Noun masculine plural with 3rd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “her gods”; Notes: Refers to the deities of Babylon.
13. שִׁבַּ֥ר (shibbar) – Root: שׁבר (shavar); Form: Piel perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he has shattered”; Notes: Intensive form—total destruction of the idols.
14. לָאָֽרֶץ (la-aretz) – Root: ארץ (ʾerets); Form: Preposition לְ + noun feminine singular definite; Translation: “to the ground”; Notes: Signifies a complete downfall and humiliation.