מֵפֵר֙ אֹתֹ֣ות בַּדִּ֔ים וְקֹסְמִ֖ים יְהֹולֵ֑ל מֵשִׁ֧יב חֲכָמִ֛ים אָחֹ֖ור וְדַעְתָּ֥ם יְשַׂכֵּֽל׃
Frustrating the signs of the liars and He makes diviners mad; turning the wise backward and their knowledge He makes foolish.
Morphology
- מֵפֵר֙ (mefer) – Root: פרר; Form: Hifil participle masculine singular; Translation: “frustrating”; Notes: Causative stem indicating making void or nullifying.
- אֹתֹ֣ות (ʾotot) – Root: אות; Form: Noun, feminine plural; Translation: “signs”; Notes: Refers to miraculous or prophetic signs.
- בַּדִּ֔ים (baddim) – Root: בדד; Form: Noun, masculine plural; Translation: “liars”; Notes: Often denotes those who speak falsely or deceitfully.
- וְקֹסְמִ֖ים (ve-qosmim) – Root: קסם; Form: Noun, masculine plural; Translation: “and diviners”; Notes: Those who practice occult prediction or magic.
- יְהֹולֵ֑ל (yeholel) – Root: הול; Form: Piel imperfect 3rd masculine singular; Translation: “He makes mad”; Notes: Intensive stem; used to denote frenzy or madness.
- מֵשִׁ֧יב (meshiv) – Root: שוב; Form: Hifil participle masculine singular; Translation: “turning back”; Notes: Causative of returning or turning someone/something around.
- חֲכָמִ֛ים (ḥakhamim) – Root: חכם; Form: Noun, masculine plural; Translation: “wise men”; Notes: Refers to sages or people esteemed for insight.
- אָחֹ֖ור (aḥor) – Root: אחר; Form: Adverb; Translation: “backward”; Notes: Describes reversal or regression.
- וְדַעְתָּ֥ם (ve-daʿtam) – Root: ידע; Form: Noun, feminine singular construct + 3mp suffix; Translation: “and their knowledge”; Notes: Refers to intellectual understanding or wisdom.
- יְשַׂכֵּֽל (yesakkel) – Root: שכל; Form: Piel imperfect 3rd masculine singular; Translation: “He makes foolish”; Notes: Intensive stem indicating rendering something void of wisdom.