הִ֠נֵּה כְּאַרְיֵ֞ה יַעֲלֶ֨ה מִגְּאֹ֣ון הַיַּרְדֵּן֮ אֶל־נְוֵ֣ה אֵיתָן֒ כִּֽי־אַרְגִּ֤יעָה אֲרִיצֶ֨נּוּ מֵֽעָלֶ֔יהָ וּמִ֥י בָח֖וּר אֵלֶ֣יהָ אֶפְקֹ֑ד כִּ֣י מִ֤י כָמֹ֨ונִי֙ וּמִ֣י יֹעִידֶ֔נִּי וּמִי־זֶ֣ה רֹעֶ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר יַעֲמֹ֖ד לְפָנָֽי׃ ס
Behold, like a lion he shall come up from the pride of the Yarden to the enduring habitation, for suddenly I will make him run from her. And who is a chosen one that I may appoint over her? For who is like Me, and who will summon Me, and who is this shepherd who will stand before Me?”
Morphology
- הִנֵּה (hinneh) – Root: הנה; Form: Particle; Translation: “Behold”; Notes: Calls attention to the dramatic image to follow.
- כְּאַרְיֵה (ke-ʾaryeh) – Root: ארי; Form: Preposition כְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “like a lion”; Notes: Compares the invader to a lion.
- יַעֲלֶה (yaʿaleh) – Root: עלה; Form: Qal imperfect 3ms; Translation: “he shall come up”; Notes: Describes sudden movement of attack.
- מִגְּאֹון (mi-geʾon) – Root: גאון; Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine singular; Translation: “from the pride”; Notes: Pride here denotes majesty or swelling banks of the Yarden.
- הַיַּרְדֵּן (ha-Yarden) – Root: ירד; Form: Proper noun, masculine singular, with article; Translation: “the Yarden”; Notes: Refers to the Jordan River.
- אֶל־נְוֵה (ʾel-neveh) – Root: נוה; Form: Preposition אֶל + noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “to the habitation of”; Notes: Denotes a dwelling place, pasture, or settlement.
- אֵיתָן (ʾetan) – Root: איתן; Form: Adjective/noun masculine singular absolute; Translation: “enduring, strong”; Notes: Describes the firmness of the habitation.
- כִּי־אַרְגִּיעָה (ki-argiʿah) – Root: רגע; Form: Conjunction כִּי + Hiphil imperfect 1cs cohortative; Translation: “for I will suddenly”; Notes: Expresses YHWH’s decisive intervention.
- אֲרִיצֶנּוּ (ʾaritsennu) – Root: רוץ; Form: Hiphil imperfect 1cs + 3ms suffix; Translation: “I will make him run”; Notes: Causative action; driving him away.
- מֵעָלֶיהָ (me-ʿaleha) – Root: על; Form: Preposition מִן + עַל + third fs suffix; Translation: “from her”; Notes: Refers to the habitation as feminine.
- וּמִי (u-mi) – Root: מי; Form: Conjunction + interrogative pronoun; Translation: “and who”; Notes: Introduces rhetorical questions.
- בָחוּר (baḥur) – Root: בחר; Form: Qal passive participle masculine singular; Translation: “a chosen one”; Notes: Refers to a mighty man or ruler appointed.
- אֵלֶיהָ (ʾeleha) – Root: אל; Form: Preposition אֶל + third fs suffix; Translation: “to her”; Notes: Refers to the habitation.
- אֶפְקֹד (efqod) – Root: פקד; Form: Qal imperfect 1cs; Translation: “I may appoint”; Notes: Has nuance of appointing, setting in charge.
- כִּי (ki) – Root: כי; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces rhetorical divine challenge.
- מִי (mi) – Root: מי; Form: Interrogative pronoun; Translation: “who”; Notes: Used in rhetorical question about divine uniqueness.
- כָּמֹונִי (kamoni) – Root: כמו; Form: Preposition כְּ + first cs suffix; Translation: “like Me”; Notes: Expresses incomparability of YHWH.
- וּמִי (u-mi) – Root: מי; Form: Conjunction + interrogative pronoun; Translation: “and who”; Notes: Continues rhetorical series.
- יֹעִידֶנִּי (yoʿideni) – Root: עוד; Form: Hiphil imperfect 3ms + 1cs suffix; Translation: “will summon Me / appoint a witness against Me”; Notes: Suggests legal challenge in a court metaphor.
- וּמִי־זֶה (u-mi-zeh) – Root: מי + זה; Form: Conjunction + interrogative pronoun + demonstrative; Translation: “and who is this”; Notes: Intensifies the challenge.
- רֹעֶה (roʿeh) – Root: רעה; Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “shepherd”; Notes: Here metaphor for ruler or leader.
- אֲשֶׁר (ʾasher) – Root: אשׁר; Form: Relative pronoun; Translation: “who”; Notes: Introduces a relative clause.
- יַעֲמֹד (yaʿamod) – Root: עמד; Form: Qal imperfect 3ms; Translation: “shall stand”; Notes: Denotes taking a position of defiance or defense.
- לְפָנַי (le-fanay) – Root: פנה; Form: Preposition לְ + noun with 1cs suffix; Translation: “before Me”; Notes: Indicates presence or opposition before YHWH.