הִ֠נֵּה כְּאַרְיֵ֞ה יַעֲלֶ֨ה מִגְּאֹ֣ון הַיַּרְדֵּן֮ אֶל־נְוֵ֣ה אֵיתָן֒ כִּֽי־אַרְגִּ֤עָה אֲרוּצֵם מֵֽעָלֶ֔יהָ וּמִ֥י בָח֖וּר אֵלֶ֣יהָ אֶפְקֹ֑ד כִּ֣י מִ֤י כָמֹ֨ונִי֙ וּמִ֣י יֹועִדֶ֔נִּי וּמִֽי־זֶ֣ה רֹעֶ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר יַעֲמֹ֖ד לְפָנָֽי׃
“Behold, like a lion he shall come up from the pride of the Yarden to a secure pasture; for in a moment I will make them 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 shall stand before Me?”
Morphology
- הִנֵּה (hinneh) – Root: —; Form: Interjection; Translation: “Behold”; Notes: Calls attention to a dramatic image.
- כְּאַרְיֵה (ke-aryeh) – Root: אריה; Form: Preposition כְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “like a lion”; Notes: Symbol of power and ferocity.
- יַעֲלֶה (yaʿaleh) – Root: עלה; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular; Translation: “he shall come up”; Notes: Describes the lion rising to attack.
- מִגְּאוֹן (mi-geʾon) – Root: גאון; Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “from the pride of”; Notes: Refers to luxuriant, thick growth, metaphorically “pride.”
- הַיַּרְדֵּן (ha-Yarden) – Root: ירדן; Form: Proper noun with article; Translation: “the Yarden”; Notes: Refers to the Jordan River region.
- אֶל־נְוֵה (el-neveh) – Root: נוה; Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “to the pasture of”; Notes: Refers to a dwelling or habitation.
- אֵיתָן (ʾetan) – Root: איתן; Form: Adjective masculine singular absolute; Translation: “secure/everlasting”; Notes: Describes the stability of the pasture.
- כִּי־אַרְגִּעָה (ki-ʾargiaʿah) – Root: רגע; Form: Conjunction + Hifil imperfect cohortative 1st person singular; Translation: “for I will make quiet”; Notes: YHWH speaking, indicating displacement.
- אֲרוּצֵם (ʾarutzem) – Root: רוץ; Form: Qal imperfect 1st person singular + 3rd masculine plural suffix; Translation: “I will make them run”; Notes: Refers to scattering of Babylon’s inhabitants.
- מֵעָלֶיהָ (meʿaleha) – Root: על; Form: Preposition מִן + עַל + third feminine singular suffix; Translation: “from her”; Notes: Refers to Babylon, feminine.
- וּמִי (u-mi) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction + interrogative pronoun; Translation: “and who”; Notes: Rhetorical question emphasizing YHWH’s supremacy.
- בָחוּר (baḥur) – Root: בחר; Form: Noun masculine singular absolute; Translation: “chosen one/young man”; Notes: Here meaning a chosen leader or warrior.
- אֵלֶיהָ (eleha) – Root: —; Form: Preposition + 3rd feminine singular suffix; Translation: “over her”; Notes: Refers to Babylon.
- אֶפְקֹד (efqod) – Root: פקד; Form: Qal imperfect 1st person singular; Translation: “I may appoint”; Notes: Used in the sense of appointing a ruler.
- כִּי (ki) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces the rhetorical series.
- מִי (mi) – Root: —; Form: Interrogative pronoun; Translation: “who”; Notes: Emphasizes uniqueness of YHWH.
- כָּמוֹנִי (kamoni) – Root: כמו; Form: Preposition כְּ + first person singular suffix; Translation: “like Me”; Notes: Absolute claim of incomparability.
- וּמִי (u-mi) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction + interrogative pronoun; Translation: “and who”; Notes: Continuation of rhetorical questions.
- יֹועִדֶנִּי (yoʿideni) – Root: יעד; Form: Hifil imperfect 3rd masculine singular + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “will summon me/appoint against me”; Notes: Conveys legal or judicial challenge.
- וּמִי־זֶה (u-mi-zeh) – Root: —; Form: Interrogative phrase; Translation: “and who is this”; Notes: Heightens the rhetorical force.
- רֹעֶה (roʿeh) – Root: רעה; Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “shepherd”; Notes: Figurative term for ruler or leader.
- אֲשֶׁר (ʾasher) – Root: —; Form: Relative pronoun; Translation: “who/that”; Notes: Introduces relative clause.
- יַעֲמֹד (yaʿamod) – Root: עמד; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular; Translation: “shall stand”; Notes: Implies endurance or ability to oppose.
- לְפָנָי (lefanai) – Root: פנה; Form: Preposition לְ + noun masculine plural construct + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “before Me”; Notes: Expresses divine authority and supremacy.