Psalm 15:4

נִבְזֶ֤ה בְּֽעֵ֘ינָ֤יו נִמְאָ֗ס וְאֶת־יִרְאֵ֣י יְהוָ֣ה יְכַבֵּ֑ד נִשְׁבַּ֥ע לְ֝הָרַ֗ע וְלֹ֣א יָמִֽר׃

A despised one is rejected in his eyes, but the ones fearing YHWH he honors. He has sworn to his own harm and he does not change.

 

# Hebrew Transliteration Literal Gloss Morph Tag
1 נִבְזֶה nivzeh “despised” Nifal participle ms
2 בְּעֵינָיו be-ʿeinav “in his eyes” Prep ב + N(fp) + suff 3ms
3 נִמְאָס nimʾas “rejected” Nifal perfect 3ms
4 וְאֶת־יִרְאֵי ve-ʾet-yirʾe “but the ones fearing” Conj ו + Obj marker אֵת + Qal participle mp construct
5 יְהוָה YHWH “YHWH” Proper noun
6 יְכַבֵּד yekhabbed “he honors” Piel imperfect 3ms
7 נִשְׁבַּע nishbaʿ “he swore” Nifal perfect 3ms
8 לְהָרַע le-haraʿ “to harm” Prep לְ + Hifil infinitive construct
9 וְלֹא ve-lo “and not” Conj ו + Neg particle
10 יָמִר yamir “he changes” Hifil imperfect 3ms

 

Morphology

  1. נִבְזֶה (nivzeh) – Root: בזה (bazah); Root Type: III-He (weak); Binyan: Nifal; Form: Nifal passive participle masculine singular; Translation: “despised”; Notes: Refers to a person who is morally contemptible and therefore rejected by the righteous person.
  2. בְּעֵינָיו (be-ʿeinav) – Root: עין (ʿayin); Root Type: I-Guttural (ע); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun feminine plural + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “in his eyes”; Notes: An idiom meaning “in his judgment” or “according to his evaluation.”
  3. נִמְאָס (nimʾas) – Root: מאס (maʾas); Root Type: I-Guttural (א); Binyan: Nifal; Form: Nifal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “is rejected”; Notes: Expresses moral rejection or refusal to esteem someone who acts wickedly.
  4. וְאֶת־יִרְאֵי (ve-ʾet-yirʾe) – Root: ירא (yareʾ); Root Type: III-He (weak); Binyan: Qal; Form: Conjunction וְ + object marker אֵת + Qal active participle masculine plural construct; Translation: “but the ones fearing”; Notes: Refers to those who reverently fear YHWH.
  5. יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: Proper divine name; Root Type: Proper noun; Form: Proper noun masculine singular; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenant name of the God of Yisraʾel.
  6. יְכַבֵּד (yekhabbed) – Root: כבד (kaved); Root Type: Strong; Binyan: Piel; Form: Piel imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he honors”; Notes: The Piel intensifies the meaning, indicating active respect or giving honor.
  7. נִשְׁבַּע (nishbaʿ) – Root: שׁבע (shavaʿ); Root Type: I-Guttural (שׁ) / III-Guttural (ע); Binyan: Nifal; Form: Nifal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he swore”; Notes: Indicates taking an oath, often invoking YHWH as witness.
  8. לְהָרַע (le-haraʿ) – Root: רעע (raʿa); Root Type: Geminate (weak); Binyan: Hifil; Form: Preposition לְ + Hifil infinitive construct; Translation: “to harm” or “to his own harm”; Notes: The phrase means keeping an oath even when it results in personal loss.
  9. וְלֹא (ve-lo) – Root: לא (lo); Root Type: Particle; Form: Conjunction וְ + negative particle; Translation: “and not”; Notes: Continues the ethical description of the righteous person.
  10. יָמִר (yamir) – Root: מור (mur); Root Type: Hollow (weak); Binyan: Hifil; Form: Hifil imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he changes”; Notes: Refers to altering or breaking an oath, which the righteous person refuses to do.

 

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