הָעָם֙ הַהֹלְכִ֣ים בַּחֹ֔שֶׁךְ רָא֖וּ אֹ֣ור גָּדֹ֑ול יֹשְׁבֵי֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ צַלְמָ֔וֶת אֹ֖ור נָגַ֥הּ עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; those dwelling in the land of the shadow of death, light has shone upon them.
Morphology
- הָעָם (ha-ʿam) – Root: עם (ʿam); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “The people”; Notes: Refers generally to the nation of Yisraʾel, specifically those in distress.
- הַהֹלְכִים (ha-holekhim) – Root: הלך (halakh); Form: Definite article + Qal participle masculine plural; Translation: “walking”; Notes: Continuous action of living or existing in darkness.
- בַּחֹשֶׁךְ (ba-ḥoshekh) – Root: חשך (ḥashakh); Form: Preposition + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “in darkness”; Notes: Symbolizes ignorance, exile, or spiritual oppression.
- רָאוּ (raʾu) – Root: ראה (raʾah); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “have seen”; Notes: Marks a sudden or dramatic shift—vision or revelation.
- אֹור (ʾor) – Root: אור (ʾor); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “light”; Notes: Represents hope, salvation, or divine presence.
- גָּדֹול (gadol) – Root: גדל (gadal); Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “great”; Notes: Emphasizes the magnitude or impact of the light.
- יֹשְׁבֵי (yoshevei) – Root: ישׁב (yashav); Form: Qal participle masculine plural construct; Translation: “those dwelling”; Notes: Refers to the population residing in a specific land.
- בְּאֶרֶץ (be-ʾerets) – Root: ארץ (ʾerets); Form: Preposition + noun feminine singular; Translation: “in the land of”; Notes: Introduces the location of the dwellers.
- צַלְמָוֶת (tsal-mavet) – Root: צל (tsel) + מות (mavet); Form: Construct compound noun; Translation: “shadow of death”; Notes: Poetic term for deepest darkness or mortal danger.
- אֹור (ʾor) – Root: אור (ʾor); Form: Noun masculine singular (repeated); Translation: “light”; Notes: Reiteration strengthens the image of illumination.
- נָגַהּ (nagah) – Root: נגה (nagah); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “has shone”; Notes: Conveys sudden illumination or revelation.
- עֲלֵיהֶם (ʿaleihem) – Root: על (ʿal); Form: Preposition + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “upon them”; Notes: Final phrase indicating recipients of the light.