חָרַ֤שׁ בַּרְזֶל֙ מַֽעֲצָ֔ד וּפָעַל֙ בַּפֶּחָ֔ם וּבַמַּקָּבֹ֖ות יִצְּרֵ֑הוּ וַיִּפְעָלֵ֨הוּ֙ בִּזְרֹ֣ועַ כֹּחֹ֔ו גַּם־רָעֵב֙ וְאֵ֣ין כֹּ֔חַ לֹא־שָׁ֥תָה מַ֖יִם וַיִּיעָֽף׃
The ironworker molds with a chisel and works it with coals, and with hammers he shapes it, and he works it with the strength of his arm. Also he is hungry and has no strength, he has not drunk water, and he is faint.
Morphology
- חָרַשׁ (ḥarash) – Root: חרשׁ; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “has fashioned” or “worked”; Notes: Refers to the activity of a metalworker or craftsman.
- בַּרְזֶל (barzel) – Root: ברזל; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “iron”; Notes: The material being shaped.
- מַעֲצָד (maʿatsad) – Root: עצד; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “chisel”; Notes: A tool used for engraving or cutting metal.
- וּפָעַל (u-faʿal) – Root: פעל; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular with conjunction; Translation: “and he worked”; Notes: Describes his continued effort.
- בַּפֶּחָם (ba-peḥam) – Root: פחם; Form: Preposition + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “with the coals”; Notes: Refers to the fire used to heat the metal.
- וּבַמַּקָּבֹות (u-va-maqqavot) – Root: נקע (possibly); Form: Conjunction + preposition + noun feminine plural; Translation: “and with hammers”; Notes: Tools for shaping molten metal.
- יִצְּרֵהוּ (yitserēhu) – Root: יצר; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “he shapes it”; Notes: Refers to the act of forming the idol.
- וַיִּפְעָלֵהוּ (va-yifʿalehu) – Root: פעל; Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine singular + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “and he works it”; Notes: Repetition emphasizing physical exertion.
- בִּזְרֹועַ כֹּחֹו (bizroaʿ koḥo) – Root: זרע, כח; Form: Preposition + noun feminine singular + noun masculine singular with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “with the strength of his arm”; Notes: Emphasizes human strength.
- גַּם (gam) – Root: גם; Form: Adverb; Translation: “also”; Notes: Marks addition or intensification.
- רָעֵב (raʿev) – Root: רעב; Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “hungry”; Notes: Describes the craftsman’s weakened state.
- וְאֵין כֹּחַ (ve-ein koaḥ) – Root: אין, כח; Form: Negative existential particle + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and there is no strength”; Notes: Describes exhaustion.
- לֹא־שָׁתָה (lo-shatah) – Root: שׁתה; Form: Negative particle + Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he has not drunk”; Notes: Adds to the image of deprivation.
- מַיִם (mayim) – Root: מים; Form: Noun masculine dual; Translation: “water”; Notes: Essential sustenance absent from his labor.
- וַיִּיעָף (va-yiyaʿef) – Root: יעף; Form: Nifal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he became faint”; Notes: Conveys physical exhaustion and futility.