וַֽיהוָ֤ה אֹותִי֙ כְּגִבֹּ֣ור עָרִ֔יץ עַל־כֵּ֛ן רֹדְפַ֥י יִכָּשְׁל֖וּ וְלֹ֣א יֻכָ֑לוּ בֹּ֤שׁוּ מְאֹד֙ כִּֽי־לֹ֣א הִשְׂכִּ֔ילוּ כְּלִמַּ֥ת עֹולָ֖ם לֹ֥א תִשָּׁכֵֽחַ׃
But YHWH is with me as a mighty warrior; therefore my pursuers shall stumble and shall not prevail. They shall be greatly ashamed, for they have not acted wisely, an everlasting disgrace that shall not be forgotten.
Morphology
- וַֽיהוָ֤ה (va-YHWH) – Root: היה; Form: Conjunction + proper noun; Translation: “But YHWH”; Notes: The conjunction וַ marks contrast, and YHWH is the covenantal name of God.
- אֹותִי֙ (oti) – Root: את; Form: Direct object marker + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “me”; Notes: Marks the object of the following clause.
- כְּגִבֹּ֣ור (ke-gibbor) – Root: גבר; Form: Preposition + noun, masculine singular; Translation: “as a warrior”; Notes: Indicates comparison; “gibbor” often implies a heroic or strong man.
- עָרִ֔יץ (ʿarits) – Root: ערץ; Form: Adjective, masculine singular; Translation: “mighty,” “formidable”; Notes: Implies overwhelming force or terror.
- עַל־כֵּ֛ן (ʿal-ken) – Root: כן; Form: Preposition + adverbial phrase; Translation: “therefore”; Notes: Marks logical consequence.
- רֹדְפַ֥י (rodfai) – Root: רדף; Form: Qal participle masculine plural construct + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “my pursuers”; Notes: Continuous aspect implied.
- יִכָּשְׁל֖וּ (yikkashelu) – Root: כשׁל; Form: Nifal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “shall stumble”; Notes: Passive or reflexive form indicating failure or defeat.
- וְלֹ֣א (ve-lo) – Root: לא; Form: Conjunction + negative particle; Translation: “and not”; Notes: Negates the following verb.
- יֻכָ֑לוּ (yukhalu) – Root: יכל; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural passive; Translation: “shall prevail,” “shall be able”; Notes: In context, inability to overcome.
- בֹּ֤שׁוּ (boshu) – Root: בושׁ; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person plural; Translation: “they were ashamed”; Notes: Past action with present implications.
- מְאֹד֙ (me’od) – Root: מאד; Form: Adverb; Translation: “greatly,” “exceedingly”; Notes: Intensifies the shame.
- כִּֽי־לֹ֣א (ki-lo) – Root: כי, לא; Form: Conjunction + negative particle; Translation: “for not”; Notes: Introduces the reason for shame.
- הִשְׂכִּ֔ילוּ (hiskilu) – Root: שׂכל; Form: Hifil perfect 3rd person plural; Translation: “they acted wisely,” “they considered”; Notes: Hifil implies deliberate understanding or insight.
- כְּלִמַּ֥ת (kelimmat) – Root: כלם; Form: Noun, feminine singular construct; Translation: “the disgrace of”; Notes: Construct relationship with “ʿolam.”
- עֹולָ֖ם (ʿolam) – Root: עולם; Form: Noun, masculine singular absolute; Translation: “eternity,” “everlasting”; Notes: Used to express duration without end.
- לֹ֥א (lo) – Root: לא; Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Negates the following verb.
- תִשָּׁכֵֽחַ (tishakheach) – Root: שׁכח; Form: Nifal imperfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “shall be forgotten”; Notes: Nifal passive; refers to the disgrace remaining in memory.