אָכְל֬וּ וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוּ֨וּ כָּֽל־דִּשְׁנֵי־אֶ֗רֶץ לְפָנָ֣יו יִ֭כְרְעוּ כָּל־יֹורְדֵ֣י עָפָ֑ר וְ֝נַפְשֹׁ֗ו לֹ֣א חִיָּֽה׃
They ate and they bowed themselves down, all the fat ones of the earth. Before Him shall bow, all the ones going down to the dust, and his soul He did not keep alive.
| # | Hebrew | Transliteration | Literal Gloss | Morph Tag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | אָכְלוּ | ʾakhlu | “they ate” | Qal qatal 3cp |
| 2 | וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוּוּ | va-yishtaḥavu | “and they bowed themselves down” | Hishtaphel wayyiqtol 3mp |
| 3 | כָּל־ | kol | “all” | Noun ms construct |
| 4 | דִּשְׁנֵי־ | dishnei | “fat ones of” | Noun mp construct |
| 5 | אֶרֶץ | ʾerets | “earth” | Noun fs absolute |
| 6 | לְפָנָיו | lefanav | “before Him” | Prep לְ + Noun mp + suff 3ms |
| 7 | יִכְרְעוּ | yikhreʿu | “they shall bow” | Qal yiqtol 3mp |
| 8 | כָּל־ | kol | “all” | Noun ms construct |
| 9 | יֹורְדֵי | yordei | “those going down of” | Qal participle mp construct |
| 10 | עָפָר | ʿafar | “dust” | Noun ms absolute |
| 11 | וְנַפְשֹׁו | ve-nafsho | “and his soul” | Conj וְ + Noun fs + suff 3ms |
| 12 | לֹא | lo | “not” | Negative particle |
| 13 | חִיָּה | ḥiyyah | “he kept alive” | Piel qatal 3ms |
Morphology
- אָכְלוּ (ʾakhlu) – Root: אכל (ʾ-k-l); Root Type: Strong; Binyan: Qal; Form: Perfect (qatal) 3rd person common plural; Translation: “They ate”; Notes: Indicates completed action, describing the prosperous ones participating in a feast or act of homage.
- וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוּוּ (va-yishtaḥavu) – Root: שׁחה (š-ḥ-h); Root Type: III-He (weak); Binyan: Hishtaphel; Form: Conjunction וַ + wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “And they bowed themselves down”; Notes: Reflexive form indicating prostration or worship before the sovereign figure.
- כָּל־ (kol) – Root: כל (k-l); Root Type: Strong; Form: Noun masculine singular construct (state: construct); Translation: “All of”; Notes: Functions as a collective quantifier governing the following noun phrase.
- דִּשְׁנֵי־ (dishnei) – Root: דשׁן (d-š-n); Root Type: Strong; Form: Noun masculine plural construct (state: construct); Translation: “The fat ones of”; Notes: Figuratively refers to the wealthy or prosperous inhabitants of the earth.
- אֶרֶץ (ʾerets) – Root: ארץ (ʾ-r-ṣ); Root Type: I-Guttural (א); Form: Noun feminine singular absolute; Translation: “Earth”; Notes: Represents the world or land, here signifying the realm of humanity.
- לְפָנָיו (lefanav) – Root: פנה (p-n-h); Root Type: III-He (weak); Form: Preposition לְ + noun masculine plural construct + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “Before Him”; Notes: The suffix refers to the sovereign figure being honored.
- יִכְרְעוּ (yikhreʿu) – Root: כרע (k-r-ʿ); Root Type: III-Guttural (ע); Binyan: Qal; Form: Imperfect (yiqtol) 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “They shall bow”; Notes: Expresses the act of kneeling or submission before authority.
- כָּל־ (kol) – Root: כל (k-l); Root Type: Strong; Form: Noun masculine singular construct (state: construct); Translation: “All of”; Notes: Again functioning as a collective quantifier introducing the next group.
- יֹורְדֵי (yordei) – Root: ירד (y-r-d); Root Type: I-Yod (weak); Binyan: Qal; Form: Active participle masculine plural construct (state: construct); Translation: “The ones going down of”; Notes: Refers metaphorically to those descending to the grave or to dust.
- עָפָר (ʿafar) – Root: עפר (ʿ-p-r); Root Type: I-Guttural (ע); Form: Noun masculine singular absolute; Translation: “Dust”; Notes: A common biblical metaphor for death and mortality.
- וְנַפְשֹׁו (ve-nafsho) – Root: נפשׁ (n-p-š); Root Type: I-Nun (weak); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun feminine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And his soul”; Notes: Refers to the life or living self of the individual.
- לֹא (lo) – Root: לא; Root Type: Particle; Form: Negative particle; Translation: “Not”; Notes: Negates the following verb.
- חִיָּה (ḥiyyah) – Root: חיה (ḥ-y-h); Root Type: III-He (weak); Binyan: Piel; Form: Perfect (qatal) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “He kept alive”; Notes: Indicates preservation of life; here negated to emphasize human mortality.