קֶ֣שֶׁת וְכִידֹ֞ן יַחֲזִ֗יקוּ אַכְזָרִ֥י הֵ֨מָּה֙ וְלֹ֣א יְרַחֵ֔מוּ קֹולָם֙ כַּיָּ֣ם יֶהֱמֶ֔ה וְעַל־סוּסִ֖ים יִרְכָּ֑בוּ עָר֗וּךְ כְּאִישׁ֙ לַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה עָלַ֖יִךְ בַּת־בָּבֶֽל׃
Bow and spear they hold; cruel are they and they do not show mercy. Their voice roars like the sea, and upon horses they ride, arrayed as a man for battle against you, O daughter of Bavel.
Morphology
- קֶשֶׁת (qeshet) – Root: קשׁת; Form: Noun feminine singular absolute; Translation: “bow”; Notes: Weapon of war.
- וְכִידֹן (ve-khidon) – Root: כיד; Form: Conjunction + noun masculine singular absolute; Translation: “and spear”; Notes: Paired with bow as common military weapon.
- יַחֲזִיקוּ (yaḥaziqu) – Root: חזק; Form: Hifil imperfect 3rd masculine plural; Translation: “they hold/take up”; Notes: Describes preparation for battle.
- אַכְזָרִי (akhzari) – Root: אכזר; Form: Adjective masculine plural (collective); Translation: “cruel”; Notes: Describes the invaders’ merciless character.
- הֵמָּה (hema) – Root: —; Form: Independent pronoun masculine plural; Translation: “they”; Notes: Reinforces the subject of cruelty.
- וְלֹא (ve-lo) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction + negative particle; Translation: “and not”; Notes: Introduces negation of mercy.
- יְרַחֵמוּ (yeraḥemu) – Root: רחם; Form: Piel imperfect 3rd masculine plural; Translation: “they show mercy”; Notes: Intensified in Piel: to have compassion, here negated.
- קֹולָם (qolam) – Root: קול; Form: Noun masculine singular + 3rd masculine plural suffix; Translation: “their voice”; Notes: Refers to battle cry or tumult of invasion.
- כַּיָּם (ka-yam) – Root: ים; Form: Preposition כְּ + noun masculine singular absolute; Translation: “like the sea”; Notes: Metaphor for roaring sound of multitude.
- יֶהֱמֶה (yehemeh) – Root: המה; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular; Translation: “it roars”; Notes: Used of thunderous or tumultuous noise.
- וְעַל־סוּסִים (ve-ʿal-susim) – Root: סוס; Form: Conjunction + preposition + noun masculine plural; Translation: “and upon horses”; Notes: Indicates cavalry force.
- יִרְכָּבוּ (yirkavu) – Root: רכב; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd masculine plural; Translation: “they ride”; Notes: Describes cavalry in motion.
- עָרוּךְ (ʿarukh) – Root: ערך; Form: Qal passive participle masculine singular; Translation: “arrayed/arranged”; Notes: Refers to being set in battle order.
- כְּאִישׁ (ke-ish) – Root: אישׁ; Form: Preposition כְּ + noun masculine singular absolute; Translation: “as a man”; Notes: Suggests unity and discipline in battle formation.
- לַמִּלְחָמָה (la-milḥamah) – Root: לחם; Form: Preposition לְ + noun feminine singular definite; Translation: “for battle”; Notes: Denotes the purpose of the military array.
- עָלַיִךְ (ʿalayikh) – Root: על; Form: Preposition + 2nd feminine singular suffix; Translation: “against you”; Notes: Direct address to Babylon personified as female.
- בַּת־בָּבֶל (bat-Bavel) – Root: בת + בבל; Form: Construct chain; Translation: “daughter of Bavel”; Notes: Poetic personification of the city of Babylon.