הַבֵּ֤ט מִשָּׁמַ֨יִם֙ וּרְאֵ֔ה מִזְּבֻ֥ל קָדְשְׁךָ֖ וְתִפְאַרְתֶּ֑ךָ אַיֵּ֤ה קִנְאָֽתְךָ֙ וּגְב֣וּרֹתֶ֔ךָ הֲמֹ֥ון מֵעֶ֛יךָ וְֽרַחֲמֶ֖יךָ אֵלַ֥י הִתְאַפָּֽקוּ׃
Look down from heaven and see, from the habitation of Your holiness and Your glory. Where are Your zeal and Your mighty deeds? The yearning of Your inner parts and Your compassions are restrained from me.
Morphology
- הַבֵּ֤ט (habbeṭ) – Root: נבט (nabat); Form: Hifil imperative masculine singular; Translation: “Look down”; Notes: A plea for YHWH to turn His attention toward the speaker.
- מִשָּׁמַ֨יִם (mi-shamayim) – Root: שׁמים (shamayim); Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine plural; Translation: “from heaven”; Notes: Indicates divine dwelling place above.
- וּרְאֵ֔ה (u-reʾeh) – Root: ראה (raʾah); Form: Qal imperative masculine singular with conjunction; Translation: “and see”; Notes: Parallel imperative—intensifies the request for divine attention.
- מִזְּבֻ֥ל (mizzevul) – Root: זבל (zevul); Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine singular; Translation: “from the habitation”; Notes: Poetic term for heavenly dwelling or temple.
- קָדְשְׁךָ֖ (qodshkha) – Root: קדשׁ (qodesh); Form: Noun masculine singular + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “Your holiness”; Notes: Location of YHWH’s sacred presence.
- וְתִפְאַרְתֶּ֑ךָ (ve-tifʾartekha) – Root: פאר (paʾar); Form: Noun feminine singular + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “Your glory”; Notes: Refers to divine majesty and splendor.
- אַיֵּ֤ה (ʾayyeh) – Form: Interrogative particle; Translation: “Where is…?”; Notes: Expresses lament or confusion about apparent absence.
- קִנְאָֽתְךָ֙ (qinʾatkha) – Root: קנא (qanaʾ); Form: Noun feminine singular + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “Your zeal”; Notes: Jealous passion or fervent concern of YHWH for His people.
- וּגְב֣וּרֹתֶ֔ךָ (u-gevurotekha) – Root: גבר (gavar); Form: Conjunction + noun feminine plural + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “and Your mighty deeds”; Notes: Refers to past acts of power, e.g., during the Exodus.
- הֲמֹ֥ון (hamon) – Root: הום (hamon); Form: Noun masculine singular (possibly abstract/collective); Translation: “the multitude” or “abundance”; Notes: Used here with the sense of intense inward feeling or tumult.
- מֵעֶ֛יךָ (me-ʿeykha) – Root: עיה (ʿe); Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine plural + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “from your inward parts”; Notes: Seat of emotion and compassion in Hebrew thought.
- וְֽרַחֲמֶ֖יךָ (ve-raḥamekha) – Root: רחם (raḥam); Form: Conjunction + noun masculine plural + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “and Your compassions”; Notes: Expresses YHWH’s mercy and tender care.
- אֵלַ֥י (elai) – Root: אל (ʾel); Form: Preposition + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “toward me”; Notes: Emphasizes the personal appeal of the speaker.
- הִתְאַפָּֽקוּ (hitʾappaqu) – Root: אפק (ʾapak); Form: Hitpael perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they are restrained”; Notes: Describes divine compassion as being withheld or held back.