יֵשֵׁ֤ב בְּמַאְרַ֬ב חֲצֵרִ֗ים בַּֽ֭מִּסְתָּרִים יַהֲרֹ֣ג נָקִ֑י עֵ֝ינָ֗יו לְֽחֵלְכָ֥ה יִצְפֹּֽנוּ׃
He sits in the ambush of villages. In the hidden places he kills the innocent. His eyes for the helpless lie in wait.
| # | Hebrew | Transliteration | Literal Gloss | Morph Tag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | יֵשֵׁב | yeshev | “he sits” | Qal imperfect 3ms |
| 2 | בְּמַאְרַב | be-maʾrav | “in ambush” | Prep בְּ + N(ms) |
| 3 | חֲצֵרִים | ḥatserim | “villages” | N(mp) |
| 4 | בַּמִּסְתָּרִים | ba-mistarim | “in the hidden places” | Prep בְּ + Def. art. הַ + N(mp) |
| 5 | יַהֲרֹג | yaharog | “he kills” | Qal imperfect 3ms |
| 6 | נָקִי | naqi | “innocent one” | Adj(ms) |
| 7 | עֵינָיו | ʿenav | “his eyes” | N(fd) + suff 3ms |
| 8 | לְחֵלְכָה | le-ḥelkah | “for the helpless” | Prep לְ + N(fs) |
| 9 | יִצְפֹּנוּ | yitspōnu | “they lie in wait” | Qal imperfect 3mp |
Morphology
- יֵשֵׁב (yeshev) – Root: ישׁב (yashav); Root Type: I-Yod (weak); Binyan: Qal; Form: Imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he sits”; Notes: Describes the habitual posture of the wicked as he remains poised in concealment.
- בְּמַאְרַב (be-maʾrav) – Root: ארב (ʾarav); Root Type: I-Aleph (weak); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “in ambush”; Notes: Refers to a place of lurking or lying in wait for an unsuspecting victim.
- חֲצֵרִים (ḥatserim) – Root: חצר (ḥatser); Root Type: Strong; Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “villages”; Notes: Refers to rural settlements or open habitations especially vulnerable to attack.
- בַּמִּסְתָּרִים (ba-mistarim) – Root: סתר (satar); Root Type: Strong; Form: Preposition בְּ + definite article הַ + noun masculine plural; Translation: “in the hidden places”; Notes: Emphasizes concealment and secrecy from which the wicked strikes.
- יַהֲרֹג (yaharog) – Root: הרג (harag); Root Type: I-He (weak); Binyan: Qal; Form: Imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he kills”; Notes: Portrays the repeated violent action of the wicked against defenseless people.
- נָקִי (naqi) – Root: נקה (naqah); Root Type: III-He (weak); Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “innocent one”; Notes: Refers to one free of guilt and thus an unjust victim.
- עֵינָיו (ʿenav) – Root: עין (ʿayin); Root Type: I-Guttural (weak); Form: Noun feminine dual + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “his eyes”; Notes: The dual form is natural for bodily eyes and highlights watchful predation.
- לְחֵלְכָה (le-ḥelkah) – Root: חלק (ḥalaq); Root Type: Strong; Form: Preposition לְ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “for the helpless”; Notes: Refers to the weak vulnerable or unfortunate person who becomes the object of the ambush.
- יִצְפֹּנוּ (yitspōnu) – Root: צפן (tsafan); Root Type: Strong; Binyan: Qal; Form: Imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they lie in wait”; Notes: The plural verb likely refers back to “his eyes” as a poetic plural image of watchful lurking.