הָיִ֗ינוּ מֵֽעוֹלָם֙ לֹֽא־מָשַׁ֣לְתָּ בָּ֔ם לֹֽא־נִקְרָ֥א שִׁמְךָ֖ עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם לוּא־קָרַ֤עְתָּ שָׁמַ֨יִם֙ יָרַ֔דְתָּ מִפָּנֶ֖יךָ הָרִ֥ים נָזֹֽלּוּ׃
We have been as those over whom You have never ruled, upon whom Your name has not been called. Oh, that You would tear the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at Your presence!
Morphology
- הָיִ֗ינוּ (hayinu) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal perfect 1st person plural; Translation: “we have been”; Notes: Marks a past or continuing state of alienation or exclusion.
- מֵֽעוֹלָם֙ (me-ʿolam) – Root: עלם (ʿalam); Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine singular; Translation: “from of old” or “forever”; Notes: Temporal reference to longstanding condition.
- לֹֽא־מָשַׁ֣לְתָּ (lo mashalta) – Root: משל (mashal); Form: Qal perfect 2nd person masculine singular + negative particle; Translation: “You have not ruled”; Notes: Denotes absence of dominion or covenantal oversight.
- בָּ֔ם (bam) – Root: —; Form: Preposition בְּ + third person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “over them” or “among them”; Notes: Refers to those outside the covenant community.
- לֹֽא־נִקְרָ֥א (lo niqra) – Root: קרא (qara); Form: Nifal perfect 3rd person masculine singular + negative particle; Translation: “was not called”; Notes: Indicates lack of covenantal naming or ownership.
- שִׁמְךָ֖ (shimkha) – Root: שם (shem); Form: Noun masculine singular + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “Your name”; Notes: Represents divine identity and covenantal claim.
- עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם (ʿaleihem) – Root: על (ʿal); Form: Preposition + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “upon them”; Notes: Concludes the phrase about those outside YHWH’s possession.
- לוּא־קָרַ֤עְתָּ (luʾ qaraʿta) – Root: קרע (qaraʿ); Form: Qal perfect 2nd person masculine singular with optative לוּא; Translation: “Oh, that You would tear”; Notes: Expresses longing or a wishful plea.
- שָׁמַ֨יִם (shamayim) – Root: שׁמים (shamayim); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “the heavens”; Notes: Realm of God’s dwelling, now hoped to be opened.
- יָרַ֔דְתָּ (yaradta) – Root: ירד (yarad); Form: Qal perfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “You came down”; Notes: Theophanic image of divine intervention on earth.
- מִפָּנֶ֖יךָ (mi-panekha) – Root: פנים (panim); Form: Preposition מִן + noun plural with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “from before You”; Notes: Refers to divine presence as the cause of shaking or awe.
- הָרִ֥ים (harim) – Root: הר (har); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “mountains”; Notes: Symbol of stability, now moved by YHWH’s coming.
- נָזֹֽלּוּ (nazollu) – Root: נזל (nazal); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “flowed” or “melted”; Notes: Poetic depiction of mountains trembling or dissolving in God’s presence.