וַֽיהוָ֤ה צְבָאֹות֙ שֹׁפֵ֣ט צֶ֔דֶק בֹּחֵ֥ן כְּלָיֹ֖ות וָלֵ֑ב אֶרְאֶ֤ה נִקְמָֽתְךָ֙ מֵהֶ֔ם כִּ֥י אֵלֶ֖יךָ גִּלִּ֥יתִי אֶת־רִיבִֽי׃ ס
But YHWH of Hosts judges righteously, tests kidneys and heart. Let me see Your vengeance upon them, for to You I have revealed my case.
Morphology
- וַֽיהוָ֤ה (va-YHWH) – Root: היה; Form: Conjunction + proper noun; Translation: “But YHWH”; Notes: Marks transition or continuation of speech directed to YHWH.
- צְבָאֹות (tsevaʾot) – Root: צבא; Form: Noun masculine plural in construct; Translation: “of hosts”; Notes: Often paired with YHWH as a divine title.
- שֹׁפֵט (shofet) – Root: שפט; Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “judges”; Notes: Describes ongoing divine role or attribute.
- צֶדֶק (tsedeq) – Root: צדק; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “righteousness” or “justly”; Notes: Can be understood adverbially: “righteously.”
- בֹּחֵן (boḥen) – Root: בחן; Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “tests”; Notes: Indicates divine examination or scrutiny.
- כְּלָיֹות (kelayot) – Root: כליה; Form: Noun feminine plural; Translation: “kidneys”; Notes: Metaphorical for inner thoughts or conscience.
- וָלֵב (va-lev) – Root: לב; Form: Conjunction + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and heart”; Notes: Paired with “kidneys” to emphasize inner being.
- אֶרְאֶה (erʾeh) – Root: ראה; Form: Qal imperfect 1st person singular; Translation: “Let me see”; Notes: Expresses desire or petition.
- נִקְמָתְךָ (niqmatekha) – Root: נקם; Form: Noun feminine singular construct + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “Your vengeance”; Notes: Refers to divine justice or retribution.
- מֵהֶם (mehem) – Root: מן; Form: Preposition + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “upon them” or “from them”; Notes: Indicates source or target of vengeance.
- כִּי (ki) – Root: כי; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces causal clause.
- אֵלֶיךָ (eleykha) – Root: אל; Form: Preposition + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “to You”; Notes: Marks recipient of the action.
- גִּלִּיתִי (gilliti) – Root: גלה; Form: Piel perfect 1st person singular; Translation: “I revealed”; Notes: Intensive form; emphasizing personal act of exposure.
- אֶת־רִיבִי (et-rivi) – Root: ריב; Form: Object marker + noun masculine singular with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “my case” or “my dispute”; Notes: Legal or forensic term.