גַּם־בַּהֲמֹ֥ות שָׂדֶ֖ה תַּעֲרֹ֣וג אֵלֶ֑יךָ כִּ֤י יָֽבְשׁוּ֙ אֲפִ֣יקֵי מָ֔יִם וְאֵ֕שׁ אָכְלָ֖ה נְאֹ֥ות הַמִּדְבָּֽר׃ פ
Even the beasts of the field pant after You, for the channels of water are dried up, and fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness.
Morphology
- גַּם (gam) – Root: גם; Form: Adverb; Translation: “also,” “even”; Notes: Adds emphasis, including animals in the scene of universal lament and dependence on YHWH.
- בַּהֲמֹות (bahemot) – Root: בהם; Form: Preposition בְּ + noun feminine plural with article הַ (assimilated); Translation: “the beasts of”; Notes: Refers to domesticated or wild animals of the field, expressing creation’s suffering alongside humankind.
- שָׂדֶה (sadeh) – Root: שׂדה; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “field”; Notes: Represents open countryside or grazing land; the habitat of the beasts now scorched and barren.
- תַּעֲרֹוג (taʿarog) – Root: ערג; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “pants,” “longs for”; Notes: Feminine verb agreeing with “beasts” (a collective feminine noun); conveys deep yearning or thirst directed toward YHWH.
- אֵלֶיךָ (ʾeilekha) – Root: אל; Form: Preposition אֶל + suffix 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “to You”; Notes: Directs the longing or cry toward YHWH, emphasizing dependence on divine provision.
- כִּי (ki) – Root: כי; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for,” “because”; Notes: Introduces the cause of the beasts’ distress and their longing for relief.
- יָבְשׁוּ (yavshu) – Root: יבשׁ; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person common plural; Translation: “have dried up”; Notes: Describes the complete desiccation of natural water sources due to drought or divine judgment.
- אֲפִיקֵי (afikei) – Root: אפק; Form: Noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “channels of”; Notes: Refers to riverbeds, stream channels, or valleys that once carried water but are now dry.
- מָיִם (mayim) – Root: מים; Form: Noun masculine plural (dual form in meaning); Translation: “water”; Notes: Essential for life; its absence symbolizes divine judgment and natural catastrophe.
- וְאֵשׁ (ve-ʾesh) – Root: אשׁ; Form: Conjunction וְ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “and fire”; Notes: Connects the two causes of devastation—drought and fire—depicting total ruin of the land.
- אָכְלָה (ʾokhlah) – Root: אכל; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “has devoured”; Notes: Feminine verb with “fire” as subject, emphasizing the consuming nature of destruction.
- נְאֹות (neʾot) – Root: נוה; Form: Noun feminine plural; Translation: “pastures,” “habitations”; Notes: Refers to grassy dwellings of livestock or wilderness settlements now destroyed.
- הַמִּדְבָּר (ha-midbar) – Root: דבר; Form: Definite noun masculine singular with article הַ; Translation: “the wilderness”; Notes: The uninhabited or pastoral region; now left desolate by both drought and fire, concluding Joel’s first chapter of lament.