מִי־אֵ֖לֶּה כָּעָ֣ב תְּעוּפֶ֑ינָה וְכַיֹּונִ֖ים אֶל־אֲרֻבֹּתֵיהֶֽם׃
Who are these that fly like a cloud, and like doves to their windows?
Morphology
- מִי (mi) – Root: מי; Form: Interrogative pronoun; Translation: “Who?”; Notes: Introduces a rhetorical or inquisitive question.
- אֵלֶּה (ʾelleh) – Root: זה; Form: Demonstrative pronoun masculine plural; Translation: “these”; Notes: Refers to a group observed approaching or arriving.
- כָּעָב (ka-ʿav) – Root: עב; Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “like a cloud”; Notes: Simile emphasizing lightness, multitude, or swiftness.
- תְּעוּפֶינָה (teʿufenah) – Root: עוף; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person feminine plural; Translation: “they fly”; Notes: Feminine plural verb agreeing with implied feminine noun (perhaps daughters or returning ones).
- וְכַיֹּונִים (ve-ka-yonim) – Root: יון; Form: Conjunction + preposition + noun masculine plural; Translation: “and like doves”; Notes: Simile reinforcing imagery of gentle and swift return.
- אֶל (el) – Root: אל; Form: Preposition; Translation: “to”; Notes: Indicates direction or destination.
- אֲרֻבֹּתֵיהֶם (aruboteihem) – Root: ארב; Form: Noun feminine plural construct + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “their windows”; Notes: Often upper openings in homes; symbolizes return to a safe or familiar place.