מִקְוֵה֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מֹֽושִׁיעֹ֖ו בְּעֵ֣ת צָרָ֑ה לָ֤מָּה תִֽהְיֶה֙ כְּגֵ֣ר בָּאָ֔רֶץ וּכְאֹרֵ֖חַ נָטָ֥ה לָלֽוּן׃
Hope of Yisraʾel, his Savior in time of distress, why should You be like a stranger in the land, and like a traveler who stretches out to lodge?
Morphology
- מִקְוֵה (miqveh) – Root: קוה; Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “hope”; Notes: Expresses confident expectation or trust, here directed toward YHWH.
- יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisraʾel) – Root: ישראל; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yisraʾel”; Notes: The covenant people of YHWH.
- מֹושִׁיעֹו (moshiʿo) – Root: ישע; Form: Hifil participle masculine singular with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “his Savior”; Notes: Describes YHWH as deliverer; suffix refers back to Yisraʾel.
- בְּעֵת (be-ʿet) – Root: עת; Form: Preposition + noun feminine singular; Translation: “in time of”; Notes: Introduces temporal setting.
- צָרָה (tsarah) – Root: צרר; Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “distress”; Notes: Refers to trouble, affliction, or danger.
- לָמָּה (lammah) – Root: מה; Form: Interrogative particle with prefixed ל; Translation: “why”; Notes: Introduces a rhetorical or pleading question.
- תִֽהְיֶה (tiheyeh) – Root: היה; Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “should You be”; Notes: Addressed directly to YHWH; expresses present or potential state.
- כְּגֵר (ke-ger) – Root: גור; Form: Preposition כְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “like a stranger”; Notes: A foreigner residing temporarily without full rights or belonging.
- בָּאָרֶץ (ba-ʾaretz) – Root: ארץ; Form: Preposition בְּ + definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “in the land”; Notes: Possibly referring to the land of Yisraʾel or the speaker’s location.
- וּכְאֹרֵחַ (u-kheʾoreʿaḥ) – Root: ארח; Form: Conjunction + preposition כְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and like a traveler”; Notes: A passing guest, someone transient and noncommittal.
- נָטָה (natah) – Root: נטה; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “who stretched out”; Notes: Refers to pitching a tent or turning aside.
- לָלוּן (lalun) – Root: לון; Form: Infinitive construct; Translation: “to lodge”; Notes: Indicates overnight stay—short-term presence, not lasting involvement.