לִכְרָת־לֹ֣ו אֲרָזִ֔ים וַיִּקַּ֤ח תִּרְזָה֙ וְאַלֹּ֔ון וַיְאַמֶּץ־לֹ֖ו בַּעֲצֵי־יָ֑עַר נָטַ֥ע אֹ֖רֶן וְגֶ֥שֶׁם יְגַדֵּֽל׃
To cut down cedars for himself, and he takes a cypress and an oak, and he strengthens himself among the trees of the forest. He plants a fir, and the rain makes it grow.
Morphology
- לִכְרָת־לֹו (likhrot-lo) – Root: כרת; Form: Infinitive construct with preposition לְ + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “to cut down for himself”; Notes: Purpose infinitive describing intent to gather wood.
- אֲרָזִים (ʾarazim) – Root: ארז; Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “cedars”; Notes: Cedars are valued for their strength and durability.
- וַיִּקַּח (va-yiqqaḥ) – Root: לקח; Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he takes”; Notes: Sequential narrative action.
- תִּרְזָה (tirzah) – Root: תרזה; Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “cypress”; Notes: Another type of strong wood.
- וְאַלֹּון (ve-allon) – Root: אלון; Form: Conjunction + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and an oak”; Notes: A hardwood tree common in ancient Israel.
- וַיְאַמֶּץ־לֹו (va-yeʾammetz-lo) – Root: אמץ; Form: Piel wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine singular + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “and he strengthens himself”; Notes: Possibly means “he chooses,” “secures,” or “fortifies himself” with strong trees.
- בַּעֲצֵי־יָעַר (baʿatsei-yaʿar) – Root: עץ, יער; Form: Preposition + plural construct “trees” + noun masculine singular “forest”; Translation: “among the trees of the forest”; Notes: Refers to wild, natural growth selected for woodwork or idol-making.
- נָטַע (nataʿ) – Root: נטע; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he planted”; Notes: Introduces new action related to cultivation.
- אֹרֶן (ʾoren) – Root: ארן; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “fir”; Notes: Refers to another species of tree useful for building or carving.
- וְגֶשֶׁם (ve-geshem) – Root: גשׁם; Form: Conjunction + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and rain”; Notes: Natural element that causes growth.
- יְגַדֵּל (yegaddel) – Root: גדל; Form: Piel imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “makes it grow”; Notes: Piel intensifies the act—growth caused or nurtured.