שִֽׁפְעַ֨ת גְּמַלִּ֜ים תְּכַסֵּ֗ךְ בִּכְרֵ֤י מִדְיָן֙ וְעֵיפָ֔ה כֻּלָּ֖ם מִשְּׁבָ֣א יָבֹ֑אוּ זָהָ֤ב וּלְבֹונָה֙ יִשָּׂ֔אוּ וּתְהִלֹּ֥ת יְהוָ֖ה יְבַשֵּֽׂרוּ׃
An abundance of camels shall cover you, young camels of Midyan and ʿEfah; all of them shall come from Sheva; gold and frankincense they shall bear, and the praises of YHWH they shall proclaim.
Morphology
- שִׁפְעַת (shifʿat) – Root: שׁפע; Form: Noun feminine singular construct; Translation: “abundance of”; Notes: Introduces a great multitude or wealth of animals.
- גְּמַלִּים (gemallim) – Root: גמל; Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “camels”; Notes: Valuable animals, symbolic of trade and wealth.
- תְּכַסֵּךְ (tekhassekh) – Root: כסה; Form: Piel imperfect 3rd person feminine singular + 2nd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “shall cover you”; Notes: Addressed to feminine Tsiyon.
- בִּכְרֵי (bikhrei) – Root: בכר; Form: Noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “young camels of”; Notes: Refers to firstborn or youthful camels, often the choicest for trade.
- מִדְיָן (Midyan) – Root: Proper noun; Form: Place name; Translation: “Midyan”; Notes: A region east of Yisraʾel, known for trading caravans.
- וְעֵיפָה (ve-ʿEfah) – Root: Proper noun; Form: Conjunction + proper noun; Translation: “and ʿEfah”; Notes: Clan of Midyan (see Genesis 25:4); part of the caravan origin.
- כֻּלָּם (kullam) – Root: כל; Form: Noun masculine plural + 3rd person plural suffix; Translation: “all of them”; Notes: Emphasizes total participation.
- מִשְּׁבָא (mi-Sheva) – Root: Proper noun; Form: Preposition + proper noun; Translation: “from Sheva”; Notes: Ancient Arabian kingdom associated with wealth and spices.
- יָבֹאוּ (yavoʾu) – Root: בוא; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they shall come”; Notes: Future arrival of nations bearing tribute.
- זָהָב (zahav) – Root: זהב; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “gold”; Notes: Symbol of wealth and tribute.
- וּלְבֹונָה (u-levonah) – Root: לבנ; Form: Conjunction + noun feminine singular; Translation: “and frankincense”; Notes: Precious aromatic resin used in offerings and worship.
- יִשָּׂאוּ (yissaʾu) – Root: נשא; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they shall bear”; Notes: Physical bearing of tribute or gifts.
- וּתְהִלֹּות (u-tehillot) – Root: הלל; Form: Conjunction + noun feminine plural; Translation: “and praises”; Notes: Songs or proclamations of glory.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: Divine Name; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The one being praised.
- יְבַשֵּׂרוּ (yevassru) – Root: בשׂר; Form: Piel imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they shall proclaim good news”; Notes: Proclamation of YHWH’s glory and reign.