Isaiah 36:9

וְאֵ֣יךְ תָּשִׁ֗יב אֵ֠ת פְּנֵ֨י פַחַ֥ת אַחַ֛ד עַבְדֵ֥י אֲדֹנִ֖י הַקְטַנִּ֑ים וַתִּבְטַ֤ח לְךָ֙ עַל־מִצְרַ֔יִם לְרֶ֖כֶב וּלְפָרָשִֽׁים׃

And how will you turn back the face of one governor, the least of the servants of my lord, and you have trusted for yourself in Mitsrayim for chariots and for horsemen?

Morphology

1. וְאֵיךְ (veʾekh) – Root: איך; Form: Conjunction + interrogative adverb; Translation: “And how”; Notes: Introduces a rhetorical question expressing doubt or challenge.
2. תָּשִׁיב (tashiv) – Root: שׁוב; Form: Hifil imperfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “will you turn back”; Notes: Causative verb form expressing repelling or answering.
3. אֵת (et) – Root: Not applicable; Form: Direct object marker; Translation: [no direct English translation]; Notes: Marks the direct object “the face.”
4. פְּנֵי (penei) – Root: פנה; Form: Construct noun masculine plural; Translation: “the face of”; Notes: In idiomatic use, refers to confronting someone.
5. פַחַת (paḥat) – Root: פחת; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “governor”; Notes: A provincial or military official.
6. אַחַד (eḥad) – Root: אחד; Form: Numeral masculine singular; Translation: “one”; Notes: Modifies “governor,” implying a single individual.
7. עַבְדֵי (ʿavdei) – Root: עבד; Form: Construct plural + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “servants of”; Notes: Describes subordinates of the speaker’s master.
8. אֲדֹנִי (adoni) – Root: אדן; Form: Noun masculine singular with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “my lord”; Notes: Refers to the king of Ashshur.
9. הַקְטַנִּים (ha-qeṭannim) – Root: קטן; Form: Definite adjective masculine plural; Translation: “the least”; Notes: Emphasizes the insignificance of the official being referenced.
10. וַתִּבְטַח (va-tivtaḥ) – Root: בטח; Form: Qal wayyiqtol 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “and you have trusted”; Notes: Past narrative form continuing the speaker’s critique.
11. לְךָ (lekha) – Root: ל; Form: Preposition + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “for yourself”; Notes: Indicates personal reliance or benefit.
12. עַל־מִצְרַיִם (ʿal-Mitsrayim) – Root: מצר; Form: Preposition + proper noun; Translation: “upon Mitsrayim”; Notes: Expresses misplaced national trust.
13. לְרֶכֶב (le-rekhev) – Root: רכב; Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “for chariot”; Notes: Symbol of military power or strength.
14. וּלְפָרָשִׁים (u-le-farashim) – Root: פרשׁ; Form: Conjunction + preposition + noun masculine plural; Translation: “and for horsemen”; Notes: Paired with “chariot” to underscore military alliance.