לַ֭מְנַצֵּחַ עַל־אַיֶּ֥לֶת הַשַּׁ֗חַר מִזְמֹ֥ור לְדָוִֽד׃
For the Chief musician, upon the hind of the dawn, a psalm of Dawid.
| # | Hebrew | Transliteration | Literal Gloss | Morph Tag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | לַמְנַצֵּחַ | la-mnatsseaḥ | “for the chief musician” | לְ + Def. art. הַ + Piel participle ms |
| 2 | עַל־אַיֶּלֶת | ʿal-ʾayyelet | “upon the hind” | Prep עַל + noun fs |
| 3 | הַשַּׁחַר | ha-shaḥar | “the dawn” | Def. art. הַ + noun ms |
| 4 | מִזְמֹור | mizmor | “a psalm” | Noun ms |
| 5 | לְדָוִד | le-Dawid | “of Dawid” | Prep לְ + proper noun |
Morphology
- לַמְנַצֵּחַ (la-mnatsseaḥ) – Root: נצח (n-ts-ḥ); Root Type: Strong; Binyan: Piel; Form: Preposition לְ + definite article הַ + Piel participle masculine singular; Translation: “for the Chief musician”; Notes: Literally “for the one directing or supervising.” In the Psalter it refers to the musical director responsible for temple performance.
- עַל־אַיֶּלֶת (ʿal-ʾayyelet) – Root: איל (ʾ-y-l); Root Type: I-Guttural (א) weak; Form: Preposition עַל + noun feminine singular; Translation: “upon the hind”; Notes: Likely referring to a melody or musical setting called “Hind of the dawn,” a known tune associated with this psalm.
- הַשַּׁחַר (ha-shaḥar) – Root: שׁחר (sh-ḥ-r); Root Type: II-Guttural (ח) weak; Form: Definite article הַ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “the dawn”; Notes: Refers to daybreak. Together with the previous term it forms the expression “hind of the dawn,” possibly a poetic or musical title.
- מִזְמֹור (mizmor) – Root: זמר (z-m-r); Root Type: Strong; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “a psalm”; Notes: A technical term for a song accompanied by musical instruments, especially within temple worship.
- לְדָוִד (le-Dawid) – Root: דוד (d-w-d); Root Type: II-Waw weak; Form: Preposition לְ + proper noun masculine singular; Translation: “of Dawid”; Notes: Indicates authorship, dedication, or association with King Dawid in the superscription of the psalm.