גֵּוִי֙ נָתַ֣תִּי לְמַכִּ֔ים וּלְחָיַ֖י לְמֹֽרְטִ֑ים פָּנַי֙ לֹ֣א הִסְתַּ֔רְתִּי מִכְּלִמֹּ֖ות וָרֹֽק׃
My back I gave to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pluck; my face I did not hide from insult and spittle.
Morphology
- גֵּוִי (gevi) – Root: גֵּו (gev); Form: Noun masculine singular with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “my back”; Notes: The speaker presents himself as vulnerable, exposed to violence.
- נָתַ֣תִּי (natati) – Root: נתן (natan); Form: Qal perfect 1st person singular; Translation: “I gave”; Notes: Volitional act of submission to suffering.
- לְמַכִּ֔ים (le-makkim) – Root: נכה (nakah); Form: Preposition לְ + participle masculine plural; Translation: “to those who strike”; Notes: Describes the oppressors or abusers.
- וּלְחָיַ֖י (u-le-ḥayay) – Root: לחי (laḥi); Form: Conjunction וּ + preposition לְ + noun dual with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “and my cheeks”; Notes: The cheeks as targets of humiliation, often associated with being struck or shamed.
- לְמֹֽרְטִ֑ים (le-mortim) – Root: מרט (marat); Form: Preposition לְ + participle masculine plural; Translation: “to those who pluck”; Notes: Likely refers to the pulling of hair or beard—an act of shame or abuse.
- פָּנַי (panai) – Root: פנים (panim); Form: Noun plural with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “my face”; Notes: The face represents identity and dignity, making its exposure to shame more poignant.
- לֹ֣א (lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Denies the following action.
- הִסְתַּ֔רְתִּי (histarti) – Root: סתר (satar); Form: Hifil perfect 1st person singular; Translation: “I hid”; Notes: Denotes active concealment; here, the speaker affirms endurance rather than retreat.
- מִכְּלִמֹּ֖ות (mi-kelimot) – Root: כלם (kalam); Form: Preposition מִן + noun feminine plural; Translation: “from insults”; Notes: Plural term encompassing disgrace, shame, or humiliation.
- וָרֹֽק (va-roq) – Root: רוק (roq); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and spittle”; Notes: A degrading act; paired with “insults” as emblematic of public humiliation.