מֵ֤י מָצֹור֙ שַֽׁאֲבִי־לָ֔ךְ חַזְּקִ֖י מִבְצָרָ֑יִךְ בֹּ֧אִי בַטִּ֛יט וְרִמְסִ֥י בַחֹ֖מֶר הַחֲזִ֥יקִי מַלְבֵּֽן׃
Draw for yourself the waters of the siege. Strengthen your fortresses. Come into the mud and trample the clay. Hold firm the brick mold.
Morphology
- מֵי (mei) — Root: מים (mayim); Form: Noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “waters of”; Notes: Construct form linking the waters with their strategic purpose.
- מָצֹור (matsor) — Root: צור (tsor); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “siege”; Notes: Refers to the imminent military encirclement.
- שַׁאֲבִי (shaʾavi) — Root: שׁאב (shaʾav); Form: Qal imperative 2fs; Translation: “draw”; Notes: Direct command to prepare emergency water during siege.
- לָךְ (lakh) — Root: ל (lamed); Form: Preposition לְ + suffix 2fs; Translation: “for yourself”; Notes: Reflexive emphasis on self-preparation.
- חַזְּקִי (ḥazzeqi) — Root: חזק (ḥazak); Form: Piel imperative 2fs; Translation: “strengthen”; Notes: Intensified command for fortification efforts.
- מִבְצָרָיִךְ (mivtsarayikh) — Root: בצר (batsar); Form: Noun masculine plural + suffix 2fs; Translation: “your fortresses”; Notes: Refers to city defenses.
- בֹּאִי (boʾi) — Root: בוא (bo); Form: Qal imperative 2fs; Translation: “come”; Notes: Continues the chain of commands for preparation.
- בַּטִּיט (ba-ṭit) — Root: טיט (ṭit); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “into the mud”; Notes: Brick-making imagery under duress.
- וְרִמְסִי (ve-rimsi) — Root: רמס (ramas); Form: Qal imperative 2fs; Translation: “and trample”; Notes: Continues the portrayal of laborious preparation.
- בַּחֹמֶר (ba-ḥomer) — Root: חמר (ḥamar); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “the clay”; Notes: Refers to clay needed for brick production.
- הַחֲזִיקִי (haḥaziki) — Root: חזק (ḥazak); Form: Hiphil imperative 2fs; Translation: “hold firm”; Notes: Causative form meaning “make firm, reinforce.”
- מַלְבֵּן (malben) — Root: לבן (lavan); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “the brick mold”; Notes: Wooden frame for shaping bricks, used metaphorically for desperate attempts at fortification.