שָׁמַ֧ע מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֛ל אֶת־שִׁמְעָ֖ם וְרָפ֣וּ יָדָ֑יו צָרָה֙ הֶחֱזִיקַ֔תְהוּ חִ֖יל כַּיֹּולֵדָֽה׃
The king of Bavel heard their report, and his hands grew feeble; distress seized him, anguish like a woman giving birth.
Morphology
- שָׁמַע (shamaʿ) – Root: שׁמע; Form: Qal perfect 3rd masculine singular; Translation: “he heard”; Notes: Refers to the act of perceiving news or report.
- מֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶל (melekh-Bavel) – Root: מלך + בבל; Form: Noun masculine singular construct + proper noun; Translation: “king of Bavel”; Notes: Refers specifically to the Babylonian ruler.
- אֶת־שִׁמְעָם (et-shimʿam) – Root: שׁמע; Form: Direct object marker + noun masculine singular with 3rd masculine plural suffix; Translation: “their report”; Notes: The news concerning invading forces.
- וְרָפוּ (ve-rafu) – Root: רפה; Form: Qal perfect 3rd common plural with vav-consecutive; Translation: “and grew weak”; Notes: Refers to the collapse of courage.
- יָדָיו (yadav) – Root: יד; Form: Noun feminine dual + 3rd masculine singular suffix; Translation: “his hands”; Notes: Idiom for strength or ability.
- צָרָה (tsarah) – Root: צרר; Form: Noun feminine singular absolute; Translation: “distress/trouble”; Notes: Represents calamity or dire straits.
- הֶחֱזִיקַתְהוּ (heḥeziqat-hu) – Root: חזק; Form: Hifil perfect 3rd feminine singular + 3rd masculine singular suffix; Translation: “seized him”; Notes: Personified “distress” as the subject gripping him.
- חִיל (ḥil) – Root: חיל; Form: Noun masculine singular absolute; Translation: “anguish”; Notes: Often refers to labor pains, trembling, or convulsions.
- כַּיֹּולֵדָה (ka-yoladah) – Root: ילד; Form: Preposition כְּ + Qal participle feminine singular; Translation: “like a woman giving birth”; Notes: Common prophetic simile for extreme fear and agony.