כְּס֤וּס עָגוּר֙ כֵּ֣ן אֲצַפְצֵ֔ף אֶהְגֶּ֖ה כַּיֹּונָ֑ה דַּלּ֤וּ עֵינַי֙ לַמָּרֹ֔ום אֲדֹנָ֖י עָֽשְׁקָה־לִּ֥י עָרְבֵֽנִי׃
Like a swift or a crane, so I chirp; I moan like the dove. My eyes are weakened toward the height. Lord, I am oppressed—be my pledge.
Morphology
- כְּס֤וּס (ke-sus) – Root: סוס (sus); Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “like a swift” (type of bird); Notes: Introduces a simile describing vocal lament.
- עָגוּר֙ (agur) – Root: עגר (ʿagar); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “a crane”; Notes: Paired with “swift” to intensify the image of frail, mournful sound.
- כֵּ֣ן (ken) – Root: Demonstrative; Form: Adverb; Translation: “so”; Notes: Signals comparison in the simile.
- אֲצַפְצֵ֔ף (atsaftsef) – Root: צפצף (tsafatsaf); Form: Piel imperfect 1st person singular; Translation: “I chirp” / “I twitter”; Notes: Poetic depiction of weak or plaintive sound.
- אֶהְגֶּ֖ה (ehgeh) – Root: הגה (hagah); Form: Qal imperfect 1st person singular; Translation: “I moan” / “I murmur”; Notes: Expresses low groaning, often linked to sorrow or mourning.
- כַּיֹּונָ֑ה (ka-yonah) – Root: יונה (yonah); Form: Preposition + noun feminine singular; Translation: “like the dove”; Notes: Reinforces theme of quiet, mournful lamentation.
- דַּלּ֤וּ (dallu) – Root: דלה (dalal); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person plural; Translation: “are weakened”; Notes: Plural subject referring to “eyes,” conveying exhaustion or faintness.
- עֵינַי֙ (einai) – Root: עין (ʿayin); Form: Noun feminine dual + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “my eyes”; Notes: Subject of the preceding verb.
- לַמָּרֹ֔ום (la-marom) – Root: רום (rum); Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “toward the height”; Notes: Refers to heaven, often symbolic of appeal to YHWH.
- אֲדֹנָ֖י (Adonai) – Root: אדן (ʾadon); Form: Proper noun, divine title; Translation: “Lord”; Notes: Used in direct address to God.
- עָֽשְׁקָה־לִּ֥י (ʿashqah-li) – Root: עשק (ʿashaq); Form: Qal passive/infinitive noun + preposition + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “I am oppressed”; Notes: Indicates suffering or injustice.
- עָרְבֵֽנִי (ʿorveni) – Root: ערב (ʿarav); Form: Hifil imperative 2nd person masculine singular + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “be my pledge” / “guarantee me”; Notes: A legal-metaphorical plea for divine security or intervention.