כֹּ֣ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֗ה אַל־יִתְהַלֵּ֤ל חָכָם֙ בְּחָכְמָתֹ֔ו וְאַל־יִתְהַלֵּ֥ל הַגִּבֹּ֖ור בִּגְבֽוּרָתֹ֑ו אַל־יִתְהַלֵּ֥ל עָשִׁ֖יר בְּעָשְׁרֹֽו׃
Thus said YHWH: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches.
Morphology
- כֹּה (koh) – Root: כה (koh); Form: Demonstrative adverb; Translation: “Thus”; Notes: Introductory formula for divine speech.
- אָמַר (ʾamar) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “said”; Notes: Refers to YHWH as speaker of the oracle.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: Divine name; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenantal name of the God of Yisraʾel.
- אַל (ʾal) – Root: אל (ʾal); Form: Negative particle for jussive/imperfect; Translation: “Let not”; Notes: Introduces prohibitions.
- יִתְהַלֵּל (yithallel) – Root: הלל (halal); Form: Hitpael imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “boast”; Notes: Reflexive, emphasizing self-glorification.
- חָכָם (ḥakham) – Root: חכם (ḥakham); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “wise man”; Notes: The first type of person cautioned against boasting.
- בְּחָכְמָתוֹ (be-ḥokhmato) – Root: חכמה (ḥokhmah); Form: Preposition + noun feminine singular + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “in his wisdom”; Notes: The object of forbidden boasting.
- וְאַל (ve-ʾal) – Root: אל (ʾal); Form: Conjunction + negative particle; Translation: “and let not”; Notes: Connects to the next prohibition.
- הַגִּבּוֹר (ha-gibbor) – Root: גבר (gavar); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the mighty man”; Notes: Second type of person addressed.
- בִּגְבוּרָתוֹ (bi-gevurato) – Root: גבור (gevurah); Form: Preposition + noun feminine singular + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “in his might”; Notes: Object of this second form of boasting.
- עָשִׁיר (ʿashir) – Root: עשׁר (ʿashar); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “rich man”; Notes: Third person prohibited from boasting.
- בְּעָשְׁרוֹ (be-ʿashro) – Root: עשׁר (ʿosher); Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “in his riches”; Notes: Final object in the list of misguided boasting.