וְהָרְשָׁעִ֖ים כַּיָּ֣ם נִגְרָ֑שׁ כִּ֤י הַשְׁקֵט֙ לֹ֣א יוּכָ֔ל וַיִּגְרְשׁ֥וּ מֵימָ֖יו רֶ֥פֶשׁ וָטִֽיט׃
But the wicked are like the sea that is driven, for it cannot be quiet, and its waters cast up mire and mud.
Morphology
- וְהָרְשָׁעִים (ve-hareshaʿim) – Root: רשע (rashaʿ); Form: Conjunction + definite article + masculine plural noun; Translation: “but the wicked”; Notes: Refers to those who oppose or reject righteousness.
- כַּיָּם (ka-yam) – Root: ים (yam); Form: Preposition כְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “like the sea”; Notes: Sea as a metaphor for restlessness and chaos.
- נִגְרָשׁ (nigrash) – Root: גרשׁ (garash); Form: Nifal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “is driven” or “is cast up”; Notes: Passive voice emphasizes turbulence, possibly divine judgment.
- כִּי (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Explains the preceding metaphor.
- הַשְׁקֵט (hashqet) – Root: שׁקט (shaqat); Form: Hiphil infinitive construct or noun; Translation: “to be quiet” or “rest”; Notes: Refers to calm or peace, which the sea (wicked) cannot attain.
- לֹא (lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Negates the verb that follows.
- יוּכָל (yukhal) – Root: יכל (yakhol); Form: Qal imperfect passive 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “it can”; Notes: Refers to inability—no capacity for rest.
- וַיִּגְרְשׁוּ (va-yigreshu) – Root: גרשׁ (garash); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they cast up”; Notes: Subject is “its waters” later in the sentence.
- מֵימָיו (meimav) – Root: מים (mayim); Form: Noun masculine dual with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “its waters”; Notes: Refers to the sea’s churning, representing the turmoil of the wicked.
- רֶפֶשׁ (refesh) – Root: רפשׁ (refesh); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “mire” or “filth”; Notes: Symbol of moral impurity or chaos.
- וָטִיט (va-tiṭ) – Root: טיט (ṭit); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and mud”; Notes: Reinforces the image of pollution and lack of peace.