Nahum 2:2 (Nahum 2:1)

עָלָ֥ה מֵפִ֛יץ עַל־פָּנַ֖יִךְ נָצֹ֣ור מְצֻרָ֑ה צַפֵּה־דֶ֨רֶךְ֙ חַזֵּ֣ק מָתְנַ֔יִם אַמֵּ֥ץ כֹּ֖חַ מְאֹֽד׃

One who scatters has come up against your face; guard the fortress, watch the way, strengthen the loins, fortify power greatly.

Morphology

1. עָלָה (ʿalah) – Root: עלה (ʿalah); Form: Qal perfect 3ms; Translation: “has come up”; Notes: Describes the advance of an enemy attacker.
2. מֵפִיץ (mefitz) – Root: פוץ (putz); Form: Participle masculine singular with preposition מִן functioning adverbially; Translation: “one who scatters”; Notes: Likely refers to an invading force or destroyer.
3. עַל (ʿal) – Root: על (ʿal); Form: Preposition; Translation: “against / upon”; Notes: Marks hostile direction.
4. פָּנַיִךְ (panayikh) – Root: פנה (panah); Form: Noun masculine plural + suffix 2fs; Translation: “your face”; Notes: Addressed to a feminine entity—typically Nineweh.
5. נָצֹור (natsor) – Root: נצר (natsar); Form: Qal imperative masculine singular; Translation: “guard”; Notes: Command to keep watch or defend.
6. מְצֻרָה (metzura) – Root: מצר (matsar); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “fortress”; Notes: Defensive structure or stronghold.
7. צַפֵּה־דֶרֶךְ (tappeh-derekh) – Root: צפה (tsafah); Form: Qal imperative masculine singular + noun masculine singular; Translation: “watch the way”; Notes: Command to be vigilant over the routes of approach.
8. חַזֵּק (ḥazzeq) – Root: חזק (ḥazaq); Form: Piel imperative masculine singular; Translation: “strengthen”; Notes: Piel intensifies—“make strong with exertion.”
9. מָתְנַיִם (motnayim) – Root: מתן (matan); Form: Noun dual; Translation: “loins”; Notes: Symbolic of readiness for action or combat.
10. אַמֵּץ (ammez) – Root: אמץ (amatz); Form: Piel imperative masculine singular; Translation: “fortify”; Notes: Strengthening with resolve and intensity.
11. כֹּחַ (koach) – Root: כח (koaḥ); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “power”; Notes: Denotes might, vigor, strength.
12. מְאֹד (meʾod) – Root: מאד (meʾod); Form: Adverb; Translation: “greatly”; Notes: Intensifier—emphasizes maximal effort.