מַשָּׂ֖א בַּהֲמֹ֣ות נֶ֑גֶב בְּאֶרֶץ֩ צָרָ֨ה וְצוּקָ֜ה לָבִ֧יא וָלַ֣יִשׁ מֵהֶ֗ם אֶפְעֶה֙ וְשָׂרָ֣ף מְעֹופֵ֔ף יִשְׂאוּ֩ עַל־כֶּ֨תֶף עֲיָרִ֜ים חֵֽילֵהֶ֗ם וְעַל־דַּבֶּ֤שֶׁת גְּמַלִּים֙ אֹֽוצְרֹתָ֔ם עַל־עַ֖ם לֹ֥א יֹועִֽילוּ׃
Burden of the beasts of the Negev: Through a land of distress and hardship, lion and lioness, viper and flying serpent, they carry on the shoulder of young donkeys their wealth, and on the hump of camels their treasures, to a people who will not profit them.
Morphology
- מַשָּׂ֖א (massa) – Root: נשא; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “burden”; Notes: Often a prophetic oracle or weighty message.
- בַּהֲמֹ֣ות (bahamot) – Root: בהם; Form: Noun feminine plural with definite article; Translation: “beasts”; Notes: Refers here to pack animals.
- נֶ֑גֶב (Negev) – Root: נגב; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Negev”; Notes: Southern arid region of Yisraʾel.
- בְּאֶרֶץ֩ (beʾerets) – Root: ארץ; Form: Preposition + noun feminine singular; Translation: “in a land”; Notes: Introduces the geographical setting.
- צָרָ֨ה (tsarah) – Root: צרר; Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “distress”; Notes: Denotes affliction.
- וְצוּקָ֜ה (utsuqah) – Root: צוק; Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “hardship”; Notes: Reinforces severity of conditions.
- לָבִ֧יא (laviʾ) – Root: לבא; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “lion”; Notes: One of the predators listed.
- וָלַ֣יִשׁ (va-layish) – Root: ליש; Form: Conjunction + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and lioness”; Notes: Used poetically alongside lion.
- מֵהֶ֗ם (mehem) – Root: הם; Form: Preposition + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “from them”; Notes: Possibly connecting to danger.
- אֶפְעֶה֙ (ephʿeh) – Root: אפעה; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “viper”; Notes: Venomous desert serpent.
- וְשָׂרָ֣ף (vesaraf) – Root: שרף; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “seraph” / “fiery serpent”; Notes: Used here of flying serpent.
- מְעֹופֵ֔ף (meʿofef) – Root: עוף; Form: Piel participle masculine singular; Translation: “flying”; Notes: Modifies the previous noun.
- יִשְׂאוּ֩ (yisʾu) – Root: נשא; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they carry”; Notes: Refers to the beasts.
- עַל־כֶּ֨תֶף (ʿal-ketef) – Root: כתף; Form: Preposition + noun feminine singular; Translation: “on the shoulder”; Notes: Denotes burden-bearing.
- עֲיָרִ֜ים (ʿayyarim) – Root: ערה; Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “young donkeys”; Notes: Burden animals.
- חֵֽילֵהֶ֗ם (ḥeilehem) – Root: חיל; Form: Noun masculine singular construct + 3mp suffix; Translation: “their wealth”; Notes: What they transport.
- וְעַל־דַּבֶּ֤שֶׁת (veʿal-dabbeshet) – Root: דבשׁ; Form: Preposition + noun feminine singular; Translation: “and on the hump”; Notes: Camel’s back.
- גְּמַלִּים֙ (gemallim) – Root: גמל; Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “camels”; Notes: Beast of burden in desert transport.
- אֹֽוצְרֹתָ֔ם (ʾotzrotam) – Root: אצר; Form: Noun masculine plural construct + 3mp suffix; Translation: “their treasures”; Notes: Wealth stored for delivery.
- עַל־עַ֖ם (ʿal-ʿam) – Root: עם; Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “to a people”; Notes: Direction of delivery.
- לֹ֥א יֹועִֽילוּ (lo yoʿilu) – Root: יעל; Form: Qal imperfect 3mp + negation; Translation: “will not profit”; Notes: Emphasizes futility of effort.