כָּל־הַגֹּויִ֖ם כְּאַ֣יִן נֶגְדֹּ֑ו מֵאֶ֥פֶס וָתֹ֖הוּ נֶחְשְׁבוּ־לֹֽו׃
All the nations are as nothing before Him; from nothingness and emptiness they are reckoned to Him.
Morphology
- כָּל־ (kol) – Root: כלל; Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “all of”; Notes: Introduces the totality of the following noun.
- הַגֹּויִ֖ם (ha-goyim) – Root: גוי; Form: Definite article + noun masculine plural; Translation: “the nations”; Notes: Refers to Gentile nations collectively.
- כְּאַ֣יִן (ke-ayin) – Root: אין; Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “as nothing”; Notes: Comparative form emphasizing their insignificance.
- נֶגְדֹּ֑ו (negdo) – Root: נגד; Form: Preposition + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “before Him”; Notes: Spatial or relational position.
- מֵאֶ֥פֶס (me-efes) – Root: אפס; Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “from nothingness”; Notes: Indicates origin or essence as lacking.
- וָתֹ֖הוּ (va-tohu) – Root: תהו; Form: Conjunction + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and emptiness”; Notes: Describes chaos or formless void, often found in creation contexts.
- נֶחְשְׁבוּ־ (neḥshevu) – Root: חשב; Form: Nifal perfect 3rd person plural; Translation: “they were reckoned”; Notes: Passive voice; emphasizes external judgment or assessment.
- לֹֽו (lo) – Root: ל; Form: Preposition + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “to Him”; Notes: Indicates the one doing the reckoning.