עַל־מֶ֤ה נִאֵ֖ץ רָשָׁ֥ע אֱלֹהִ֑ים אָמַ֥ר בְּ֝לִבֹּ֗ו לֹ֣א תִּדְרֹֽשׁ׃
Why does the wicked despise God? He says in his heart “You will not seek.”
| # | Hebrew | Transliteration | Literal Gloss | Morph Tag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | עַל | ʿal | “because of / why” | Prep עַל |
| 2 | מֶה | meh | “what / why” | Interrogative particle |
| 3 | נִאֵץ | niʾets | “does despise” | Piel perfect 3ms |
| 4 | רָשָׁע | rashaʿ | “wicked one” | N(ms) |
| 5 | אֱלֹהִים | ʾelohim | “God” | N(mp) used as singular |
| 6 | אָמַר | ʾamar | “he says” | Qal perfect 3ms |
| 7 | בְּלִבּוֹ | be-libbo | “in his heart” | Prep בְּ + N(ms) + suff 3ms |
| 8 | לֹא | lo | “not” | Negative particle |
| 9 | תִּדְרֹשׁ | tidrosh | “you seek / inquire” | Qal imperfect 2ms |
Morphology
- עַל (ʿal) – Root: — ; Root Type: Particle; Form: Preposition עַל; Translation: “because of / why”; Notes: Introduces the interrogative phrase.
- מֶה (meh) – Root: — ; Root Type: Particle; Form: Interrogative particle; Translation: “what / why”; Notes: Used rhetorically to question the wicked attitude.
- נִאֵץ (niʾets) – Root: נאץ (n-ʾ-ṣ); Root Type: II-Aleph (weak); Binyan: Piel; Form: Perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “despises”; Notes: Expresses contempt toward God.
- רָשָׁע (rashaʿ) – Root: רשע (r-š-ʿ); Root Type: III-Guttural; Binyan: — ; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “wicked one”; Notes: Describes a morally guilty or unjust person.
- אֱלֹהִים (ʾelohim) – Root: אלה (ʾ-l-h); Root Type: I-Aleph (weak); Binyan: — ; Form: Noun masculine plural used as singular; Translation: “God”; Notes: The plural form functions here as a singular divine title.
- אָמַר (ʾamar) – Root: אמר (ʾ-m-r); Root Type: Strong; Binyan: Qal; Form: Perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he says”; Notes: Introduces the inner reasoning of the wicked.
- בְּלִבּוֹ (be-libbo) – Root: לבב (l-b-b); Root Type: Geminate; Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “in his heart”; Notes: Indicates internal thought or intention.
- לֹא (lo) – Root: — ; Root Type: Particle; Binyan: — ; Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Negates the following verb.
- תִּדְרֹשׁ (tidrosh) – Root: דרשׁ (d-r-š); Root Type: Strong; Binyan: Qal; Form: Imperfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “you will seek / inquire”; Notes: The wicked assumes God will not investigate or require accountability.