אַחַ֤ת שָׁאַ֣לְתִּי מֵֽאֵת־יְהוָה֮ אֹותָ֪הּ אֲבַ֫קֵּ֥שׁ שִׁבְתִּ֣י בְּבֵית־֭יְהוָה כָּל־יְמֵ֣י חַיַּ֑י לַחֲזֹ֥ות בְּנֹֽעַם־֝יְהוָ֗ה וּלְבַקֵּ֥ר בְּהֵיכָלֹֽו׃
One thing I have asked from YHWH, that I seek: my dwelling in the house of YHWH all the days of my life, to behold in the pleasantness of YHWH, and to inquire in His temple.
| # | Hebrew | Transliteration | Literal Gloss | Morph Tag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | אַחַת | ʾaḥat | “one” | Numeral fs |
| 2 | שָׁאַלְתִּי | shaʾalti | “I have asked” | Qal perfect 1cs |
| 3 | מֵאֵת־ | meʾet | “from” | Prep מִן + אֵת |
| 4 | יְהוָה | YHWH | “YHWH” | Proper noun |
| 5 | אֹותָהּ | ʾotah | “it” | DO marker + suff 3fs |
| 6 | אֲבַקֵּשׁ | ʾavaqqesh | “I seek” | Piel imperfect 1cs |
| 7 | שִׁבְתִּי | shivti | “my dwelling” | Inf. construct + suff 1cs |
| 8 | בְּבֵית־ | be-veit | “in the house of” | Prep בְּ + N(ms) construct |
| 9 | יְהוָה | YHWH | “YHWH” | Proper noun |
| 10 | כָּל־ | kol | “all” | N(ms) construct |
| 11 | יְמֵי | yeme | “days of” | N(mp) construct |
| 12 | חַיַּי | ḥayyai | “my life” | N(mp)+suff 1cs |
| 13 | לַחֲזֹות | la-ḥazot | “to behold” | Prep לְ + Qal inf. const |
| 14 | בְּנֹעַם־ | be-noʿam | “in pleasantness of” | Prep בְּ + N(ms) construct |
| 15 | יְהוָה | YHWH | “YHWH” | Proper noun |
| 16 | וּלְבַקֵּר | u-levaqqer | “and to inquire” | Conj ו + Prep לְ + Piel inf. const |
| 17 | בְּהֵיכָלֹו | be-heikhalo | “in his temple” | Prep בְּ + N(ms) + suff 3ms |
Morphology
- אַחַת (ʾaḥat) – Root: אחד; Root Type: Strong; Form: Numeral feminine singular; Translation: “one”; Notes: Fronted for emphasis, indicating a singular focused desire.
- שָׁאַלְתִּי (shaʾalti) – Root: שׁאל; Root Type: I-Guttural (א); Binyan: Qal; Form: Perfect 1st person common singular; Translation: “I have asked”; Notes: Completed action expressing a resolved petition.
- מֵאֵת־ (meʾet) – Root: את; Root Type: Strong; Form: Preposition מִן + particle אֵת; Translation: “from”; Notes: Indicates the source of the request directed to YHWH.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: Proper name; Root Type: N/A; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenant name of the deity.
- אֹותָהּ (ʾotah) – Root: אות; Root Type: Strong; Form: Direct object marker + suffix 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “it”; Notes: Refers back to the singular request.
- אֲבַקֵּשׁ (ʾavaqqesh) – Root: בקשׁ; Root Type: Strong; Binyan: Piel; Form: Imperfect 1st person common singular; Translation: “I seek”; Notes: Ongoing, intensive pursuit of the request.
- שִׁבְתִּי (shivti) – Root: ישׁב; Root Type: I-Yod (weak); Form: Infinitive construct + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “my dwelling”; Notes: Expresses purpose or intended state of abiding.
- בְּבֵית־ (be-veit) – Root: בית; Root Type: Hollow; Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular construct (state: construct); Translation: “in the house of”; Notes: Introduces the location tied to YHWH.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: Proper name; Root Type: N/A; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Specifies the divine dwelling.
- כָּל־ (kol) – Root: כל; Root Type: Strong; Form: Noun masculine singular construct (state: construct); Translation: “all”; Notes: Governs the temporal phrase.
- יְמֵי (yeme) – Root: יום; Root Type: Hollow; Form: Noun masculine plural construct (state: construct); Translation: “days of”; Notes: Linked with the following noun.
- חַיַּי (ḥayyai) – Root: חיה; Root Type: III-He (weak); Form: Noun masculine plural + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “my life”; Notes: Idiomatic plural referring to lifespan.
- לַחֲזֹות (la-ḥazot) – Root: חזה; Root Type: III-He (weak); Binyan: Qal; Form: Preposition לְ + infinitive construct; Translation: “to behold”; Notes: Expresses purpose of dwelling.
- בְּנֹעַם־ (be-noʿam) – Root: נעם; Root Type: I-Nun (weak); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular construct (state: construct); Translation: “in the pleasantness of”; Notes: Denotes beauty or delight associated with YHWH.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: Proper name; Root Type: N/A; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Object of contemplation.
- וּלְבַקֵּר (u-levaqqer) – Root: בקר; Root Type: Strong; Binyan: Piel; Form: Conjunction וּ + preposition לְ + infinitive construct; Translation: “and to inquire”; Notes: Suggests attentive seeking or reflection.
- בְּהֵיכָלֹו (be-heikhalo) – Root: היכל; Root Type: Strong; Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “in his temple”; Notes: Refers to the sacred dwelling place of YHWH.