אֲפָפ֥וּנִי חֶבְלֵי־מָ֑וֶת וְֽנַחֲלֵ֖י בְלִיַּ֣עַל יְבַֽעֲתֽוּנִי׃
The cords of death surrounded me, and the torrents of Beliyyaʿal terrified me.
| # | Hebrew | Transliteration | Literal Gloss | Morph Tag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | אֲפָפוּנִי | ʾafafuni | “they surrounded me” | Qal perfect 3cp + suffix 1cs |
| 2 | חֶבְלֵי־ | ḥevlei | “cords of” | Noun mp construct |
| 3 | מָוֶת | mavet | “death” | Noun ms |
| 4 | וְנַחֲלֵי | ve-naḥalei | “and torrents of” | Conj וְ + noun mp construct |
| 5 | בְלִיַּעַל | beliyyaʿal | “Beliyyaʿal / worthlessness” | Noun ms (proper / abstract) |
| 6 | יְבַעֲתוּנִי | yevaʿatuni | “they terrified me” | Piel imperfect 3mp + suffix 1cs |
Morphology
- אֲפָפוּנִי (ʾafafuni) – Root: אפף; Root Type: Geminate (II=III); Binyan: Qal; Form: Perfect 3rd person common plural + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “they surrounded me”; Notes: Describes the psalmist being encircled by danger.
- חֶבְלֵי־ (ḥevlei) – Root: חבל; Root Type: I-Guttural; Form: Noun masculine plural construct (state: construct); Translation: “cords of”; Notes: Metaphor for entangling forces associated with death.
- מָוֶת (mavet) – Root: מות; Root Type: Hollow; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “death”; Notes: Represents mortal danger threatening life.
- וְנַחֲלֵי (ve-naḥalei) – Root: נחל; Root Type: I-Nun; Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine plural construct (state: construct); Translation: “and torrents of”; Notes: Imagery of overwhelming flood-like forces.
- בְלִיַּעַל (beliyyaʿal) – Root: בלע / compound tradition; Root Type: Compound / lexicalized form; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “Beliyyaʿal / worthlessness”; Notes: Often denotes destructive wickedness or forces of ruin.
- יְבַעֲתוּנִי (yevaʿatuni) – Root: בעת; Root Type: III-Guttural; Binyan: Piel; Form: Imperfect 3rd person masculine plural + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “they terrified me”; Notes: Expresses sudden overwhelming dread.