קָרֹוב֙ מַצְדִּיקִ֔י מִֽי־יָרִ֥יב אִתִּ֖י נַ֣עַמְדָה יָּ֑חַד מִֽי־בַ֥עַל מִשְׁפָּטִ֖י יִגַּ֥שׁ אֵלָֽי׃
Near is the one who justifies me; who will contend with me? Let us stand together. Who is my adversary in judgment? Let him draw near to me.
Morphology
- קָרֹוב (qarov) – Root: קרב (qarav); Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “near”; Notes: Refers to the immediacy or presence of the justifier, likely YHWH.
- מַצְדִּיקִי (matzdiqi) – Root: צדק (tsadaq); Form: Hifil participle masculine singular with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “the one who justifies me”; Notes: Hifil form conveys causative action—“causes me to be righteous.”
- מִֽי (mi) – Root: Interrogative particle; Translation: “who”; Notes: Introduces a rhetorical question.
- יָרִיב (yariv) – Root: ריב (riv); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “will contend”; Notes: Legal or adversarial context; implies courtroom imagery.
- אִתִּי (itti) – Root: את (ʾet); Form: Preposition with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “with me”; Notes: Indicates personal involvement in the legal dispute.
- נַעַמְדָה (naʿamda) – Root: עמד (ʿamad); Form: Qal cohortative 1st person plural; Translation: “let us stand”; Notes: Invitation to mutual examination or confrontation.
- יָּ֑חַד (yaḥad) – Root: יחד (yaḥad); Form: Adverb; Translation: “together”; Notes: Emphasizes unity or mutual presence in judgment.
- מִֽי (mi) – Root: Interrogative particle; Translation: “who”; Notes: Parallel rhetorical question.
- בַ֥עַל (baʿal) – Root: בעל (baʿal); Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “possessor of” or “master of”; Notes: In construct with “judgment,” refers to a legal opponent or accuser.
- מִשְׁפָּטִי (mishpati) – Root: שׁפט (shafat); Form: Noun masculine singular with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “my judgment” or “my legal case”; Notes: Refers to a legal claim or accusation involving the speaker.
- יִגַּשׁ (yiggash) – Root: נגשׁ (nagesh); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “let him draw near”; Notes: A challenge or invitation to present one’s case.
- אֵלָי (elai) – Root: אל (ʾel); Form: Preposition אֶל + first person singular suffix; Translation: “to me”; Notes: Indicates personal confrontation or engagement.