כִּקְדֹ֧חַ אֵ֣שׁ הֲמָסִ֗ים מַ֚יִם תִּבְעֶה־אֵ֔שׁ לְהֹודִ֥יעַ שִׁמְךָ֖ לְצָרֶ֑יךָ מִפָּנֶ֖יךָ גֹּויִ֥ם יִרְגָּֽזוּ׃
As when fire kindles brushwood and fire makes water boil—so make known Your name to Your adversaries, that nations may tremble at Your presence.
Morphology
- כִּקְדֹ֧חַ (kiqdoaḥ) – Root: קדח (qadaḥ); Form: Preposition כְּ + Qal infinitive construct; Translation: “as kindling”; Notes: Begins a simile comparing divine action to the ignition of fire.
- אֵ֣שׁ (ʾesh) – Root: אשׁ (ʾesh); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “fire”; Notes: Subject of the simile, agent of destructive and purifying power.
- הֲמָסִ֗ים (hamasim) – Root: מסס (masas); Form: Qal active participle masculine plural; Translation: “that causes to melt”; Notes: Describes materials being consumed or broken down, probably referring to brushwood or similar combustibles.
- מַ֚יִם (mayim) – Root: מים (mayim); Form: Noun masculine dual (plural in form); Translation: “water”; Notes: Now the object of the next fire-related verb.
- תִּבְעֶה־אֵ֔שׁ (tivʿeh-ʾesh) – Root: בעה (baʿah); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person feminine singular + noun feminine singular; Translation: “fire causes to boil”; Notes: Continuation of the simile—fire boiling water as divine power shaking nations.
- לְהֹודִ֥יעַ (le-hodiaʿ) – Root: ידע (yadaʿ); Form: Hifil infinitive construct with preposition; Translation: “to make known”; Notes: Purpose clause—reason for divine display.
- שִׁמְךָ֖ (shimkha) – Root: שם (shem); Form: Noun masculine singular + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “Your name”; Notes: Symbol of identity, reputation, and authority.
- לְצָרֶ֑יךָ (le-tsarekha) – Root: צרר (tsarar); Form: Preposition + noun masculine plural + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “to Your adversaries”; Notes: Objects of divine demonstration.
- מִפָּנֶ֖יךָ (mi-panekha) – Root: פנים (panim); Form: Preposition מִן + plural noun + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “from before You”; Notes: Describes the effect of divine presence.
- גֹּויִ֥ם (goyim) – Root: גוי (goy); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “nations”; Notes: Foreign peoples subject to YHWH’s power.
- יִרְגָּֽזוּ (yirgazu) – Root: רגז (ragaz); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they tremble”; Notes: A reaction of fear or awe before divine self-revelation.