וַתִּשְׁכַּ֞ח יְהוָ֣ה עֹשֶׂ֗ךָ נֹוטֶ֣ה שָׁמַיִם֮ וְיֹסֵ֣ד אָרֶץ֒ וַתְּפַחֵ֨ד תָּמִ֜יד כָּל־הַיֹּ֗ום מִפְּנֵי֙ חֲמַ֣ת הַמֵּצִ֔יק כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר כֹּונֵ֖ן לְהַשְׁחִ֑ית וְאַיֵּ֖ה חֲמַ֥ת הַמֵּצִֽיק׃
Yet you have forgotten YHWH your Maker, who stretches out the heavens and lays the foundation of the earth, and you are in constant dread all the day because of the fury of the oppressor as he prepares to destroy. But where is the fury of the oppressor?
Morphology
- וַתִּשְׁכַּ֞ח (va-tishkaḥ) – Root: שכח (shakhaḥ); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “and you forgot”; Notes: Reproof directed to the people for forgetting YHWH.
- יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The subject, forgotten by the addressed party.
- עֹשֶׂ֗ךָ (ʿosekha) – Root: עשה (ʿasah); Form: Qal active participle masculine singular + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “your Maker”; Notes: Construct participle indicating ongoing relationship.
- נֹוטֶ֣ה (noteh) – Root: נטה (natah); Form: Qal active participle masculine singular; Translation: “who stretches out”; Notes: Describes YHWH’s creative action.
- שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) – Root: שׁמים (shamayim); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “the heavens”; Notes: Object of the participle “who stretches out.”
- וְיֹסֵ֣ד (ve-yosed) – Root: יסד (yasad); Form: Conjunction + Qal active participle masculine singular; Translation: “and who lays the foundation”; Notes: Describes YHWH as Creator of the earth.
- אָרֶץ (ʾaretz) – Root: ארץ (ʾerets); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “earth”; Notes: Parallel with “heavens.”
- וַתְּפַחֵ֨ד (va-tefaḥed) – Root: פחד (pāḥad); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “and you are afraid”; Notes: Reproach for misplaced fear.
- תָּמִ֜יד (tamid) – Root: תמיד (tamid); Form: Adverb; Translation: “continually”; Notes: Describes the duration of fear.
- כָּל־הַיֹּ֗ום (kol-ha-yom) – Root: כל (kol) / יום (yom); Form: Noun construct + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “all the day”; Notes: Time expression modifying “fear.”
- מִפְּנֵי֙ (mi-penei) – Root: פנים (panim); Form: Preposition + construct plural noun; Translation: “because of”; Notes: Indicates cause or source.
- חֲמַ֣ת (ḥamat) – Root: חמה (ḥēmah); Form: Noun feminine singular construct; Translation: “the fury of”; Notes: Construct with “the oppressor.”
- הַמֵּצִ֔יק (ha-metsiq) – Root: צוק (tsuq); Form: Definite article + Qal active participle masculine singular; Translation: “the oppressor”; Notes: One who causes distress.
- כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר (ka-ʾasher) – Root: אשר (ʾasher); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “as” / “when”; Notes: Introduces subordinate clause.
- כֹּונֵ֖ן (konen) – Root: כון (kun); Form: Piel participle masculine singular; Translation: “he prepares”; Notes: Describes deliberate action of the oppressor.
- לְהַשְׁחִ֑ית (le-hashḥit) – Root: שׁחת (shakhat); Form: Preposition + Hifil infinitive construct; Translation: “to destroy”; Notes: Purpose clause following “he prepares.”
- וְאַיֵּ֖ה (ve-ʾayyeh) – Root: אי (ʾay); Form: Conjunction + interrogative particle; Translation: “and where is”; Notes: Rhetorical—questioning the threat’s reality.
- חֲמַ֥ת (ḥamat) – Root: חמה (ḥēmah); Form: Noun feminine singular construct; Translation: “the fury of”; Notes: Repeated from earlier phrase for effect.
- הַמֵּצִֽיק (ha-metsiq) – Root: צוק (tsuq); Form: Definite article + Qal active participle masculine singular; Translation: “the oppressor”; Notes: Ending rhetorical question—he is absent or ineffective.