נֶהֱמֶ֤ה כַדֻּבִּים֙ כֻּלָּ֔נוּ וְכַיֹּונִ֖ים הָגֹ֣ה נֶהְגֶּ֑ה נְקַוֶּ֤ה לַמִּשְׁפָּט֙ וָאַ֔יִן לִֽישׁוּעָ֖ה רָחֲקָ֥ה מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃
We growl like bears, all of us, and like doves we moan continually; we hope for justice, but there is none, for salvation, but it is far from us.
Morphology
- נֶהֱמֶה (nehemeh) – Root: המה (hamah); Form: Nifal imperfect 1st person plural; Translation: “we growl”; Notes: Expresses inarticulate groaning, like the sound of a bear.
- כַדֻּבִּים (ka-dubbim) – Root: דּוב (dov); Form: Preposition + noun masculine plural; Translation: “like bears”; Notes: Simile emphasizing low, guttural groaning.
- כֻּלָּנוּ (kullanu) – Root: כל (kol); Form: Noun with 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “all of us”; Notes: Universal identification with the lament.
- וְכַיֹּונִים (ve-ka-yonim) – Root: יונה (yonah); Form: Conjunction + preposition + noun masculine plural; Translation: “and like doves”; Notes: Doves are known for soft, mournful cooing.
- הָגֹה (hagogeh) – Root: הגה (hagah); Form: Qal infinitive absolute; Translation: “moaning” / “murmuring”; Notes: Emphasizes continual sound or meditation.
- נֶהְגֶּה (nehgeh) – Root: הגה (hagah); Form: Qal imperfect 1st person plural; Translation: “we moan”; Notes: Echoes the infinitive absolute for intensification.
- נְקַוֶּה (neqavveh) – Root: קוה (qavah); Form: Piel imperfect 1st person plural; Translation: “we hope”; Notes: Expresses longing and expectation.
- לַמִּשְׁפָּט (la-mishpat) – Root: שׁפט (shafat); Form: Preposition + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “for justice”; Notes: Justice as divine or legal intervention.
- וָאַיִן (va-ayin) – Root: אין (ʾein); Form: Conjunction + negative existential; Translation: “but there is none”; Notes: Highlights absence of hoped-for justice.
- לִישׁוּעָה (li-yeshuʿah) – Root: ישע (yashaʿ); Form: Preposition + noun feminine singular; Translation: “for salvation”; Notes: Can imply rescue, deliverance, or help.
- רָחֲקָה (raḥaqah) – Root: רחק (raḥaq); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “it is far”; Notes: Describes the remoteness of salvation.
- מִמֶּנּוּ (mimmennu) – Root: מן (min); Form: Preposition + 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “from us”; Notes: The object of alienation is the speaker’s group.