כַּבְּהֵמָה֙ בַּבִּקְעָ֣ה תֵרֵ֔ד ר֥וּחַ יְהוָ֖ה תְּנִיחֶ֑נּוּ כֵּ֚ן נִהַ֣גְתָּ עַמְּךָ֔ לַעֲשֹׂ֥ות לְךָ֖ שֵׁ֥ם תִּפְאָֽרֶת׃
Like the cattle that go down into the valley, the Spirit of YHWH gave them rest; so You led Your people, to make for Yourself a name of glory.
Morphology
- כַּבְּהֵמָה (ka-behemah) – Root: בהם (behemah); Form: Preposition כְּ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “like the cattle”; Notes: Introduces a simile; peaceful imagery of animals descending calmly to graze or rest.
- בַּבִּקְעָ֣ה (ba-biqʿah) – Root: בקע (biqʿah); Form: Preposition בְּ + definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “into the valley”; Notes: Suggests a tranquil and open space, symbolizing peaceful rest.
- תֵרֵד (tered) – Root: ירד (yarad); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “it goes down”; Notes: Refers to the cattle (a feminine noun) moving gently into the valley.
- ר֥וּחַ (ruaḥ) – Root: רוח (ruaḥ); Form: Noun feminine singular (subject of the next verb); Translation: “Spirit”; Notes: Refers to the Spirit of YHWH, the divine presence that leads and gives rest.
- יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) – Root: —; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Covenant name of the God of Yisraʾel.
- תְּנִיחֶ֑נּוּ (teniḥennu) – Root: נוח (nuaḥ); Form: Hifil imperfect 3rd person feminine singular + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “gave him rest”; Notes: Refers to YHWH’s Spirit granting rest to His people; verb in causative form.
- כֵּן (ken) – Root: —; Form: Adverb; Translation: “so” or “thus”; Notes: Signals a conclusion drawn from the simile, drawing comparison to divine guidance.
- נִהַ֣גְתָּ (nihagta) – Root: נהג (nahag); Form: Qal perfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “You led”; Notes: Describes YHWH’s past action of leading His people like a shepherd or guide.
- עַמְּךָ֔ (ʿammekha) – Root: עם (ʿam); Form: Noun masculine singular + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “Your people”; Notes: Refers to Yisraʾel as the people belonging to YHWH.
- לַעֲשֹׂ֥ות (laʿasot) – Root: עשה (ʿasah); Form: Preposition לְ + Qal infinitive construct; Translation: “to make”; Notes: Purpose clause explaining the goal of YHWH’s action.
- לְךָ֖ (lekha) – Root: —; Form: Preposition לְ + second person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “for Yourself”; Notes: YHWH is the one glorified by His redemptive acts.
- שֵׁ֥ם (shem) – Root: שם (shem); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “a name”; Notes: Refers to reputation, renown, or fame.
- תִּפְאָֽרֶת (tifʾaret) – Root: פאר (paʾar); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “glory” or “splendor”; Notes: The goal of divine guidance is to manifest YHWH’s glorious name in the world.