וַיִּקְרָ֥א שִׁמְשֹׁ֛ון אֶל־יְהוָ֖ה וַיֹּאמַ֑ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֡ה זָכְרֵ֣נִי נָא֩ וְחַזְּקֵ֨נִי נָ֜א אַ֣ךְ הַפַּ֤עַם הַזֶּה֙ הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים וְאִנָּקְמָ֧ה נְקַם־אַחַ֛ת מִשְּׁתֵ֥י עֵינַ֖י מִפְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃
And Shimshon called to YHWH and said, “Lord YHWH, remember me, I pray You, and strengthen me, I pray You, only this once, O God, that I may be avenged with one vengeance for my two eyes on the Pelishtim.”
Morphology
- וַיִּקְרָ֥א (vayyiqra) – Root: קרא (qaraʾ); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (consecutive imperfect) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And he called”; Notes: Introduces Shimshon’s plea.
- שִׁמְשֹׁ֛ון (Shimshon) – Root: שמש (shemesh); Form: Proper noun, masculine singular; Translation: “Shimshon”; Notes: Subject of the verb.
- אֶל־יְהוָ֖ה (el-YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “to YHWH”; Notes: Denotes the addressee of the prayer.
- וַיֹּאמַ֑ר (vayyoʾmar) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (consecutive imperfect) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he said”; Notes: Introduces direct speech.
- אֲדֹנָ֣י (ʾAdonai) – Root: אדן (ʾadon); Form: Noun, masculine plural construct; Translation: “Lord”; Notes: Refers to God as Master.
- יֱהֹוִ֡ה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The sacred name of God.
- זָכְרֵ֣נִי (zokhreini) – Root: זכר (zakhar); Form: Qal imperative masculine singular with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “remember me”; Notes: A plea for divine recognition.
- נָא֩ (na) – Root: נא (na); Form: Particle of entreaty; Translation: “I pray You”; Notes: Adds urgency to the request.
- וְחַזְּקֵ֨נִי (ve-ḥazzeqeini) – Root: חזק (ḥazaq); Form: Piel imperative masculine singular with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “and strengthen me”; Notes: A request for physical power.
- נָ֜א (na) – Root: נא (na); Form: Particle of entreaty; Translation: “I pray You”; Notes: Repeats the urgent plea.
- אַ֣ךְ (ʾakh) – Root: אך (ʾakh); Form: Adverb; Translation: “only”; Notes: Limits the request.
- הַפַּ֤עַם הַזֶּה֙ (ha-paʿam ha-zeh) – Root: פעם (paʿam) + זה (zeh); Form: Noun, feminine singular absolute + demonstrative pronoun; Translation: “this once”; Notes: Specifies the plea as a one-time event.
- הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים (ha-ʾelohim) – Root: אל (ʾel); Form: Noun, masculine plural with definite article; Translation: “O God”; Notes: Invocation of divine power.
- וְאִנָּקְמָ֧ה (ve-innāqemah) – Root: נקם (naqam); Form: Nifal cohortative 1st person singular; Translation: “that I may be avenged”; Notes: Expresses a wish for revenge.
- נְקַם־אַחַ֛ת (neqam-aḥat) – Root: נקם (naqam) + אחד (ʾeḥad); Form: Noun, masculine singular construct + numeral; Translation: “one vengeance”; Notes: Emphasizes a singular act of retribution.
- מִשְּׁתֵ֥י (mi-shtei) – Root: שנים (shenayim); Form: Noun, feminine dual construct; Translation: “for my two”; Notes: Indicates the reason for vengeance.
- עֵינַ֖י (ʿeinai) – Root: עין (ʿayin); Form: Noun, feminine dual with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “eyes”; Notes: The cause of his grievance.
- מִפְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃ (mi-Pelištim) – Root: פלשתים (Pelištim); Form: Proper noun, plural with preposition; Translation: “on the Pelishtim”; Notes: Identifies the object of vengeance.