בְּ֭חַנְפֵי לַעֲגֵ֣י מָעֹ֑וג חָרֹ֖ק עָלַ֣י שִׁנֵּֽימֹו׃
With profane mockers for cake, they gnash against me their teeth.
| # | Hebrew | Transliteration | Literal Gloss | Morph Tag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | בְּחַנְפֵי | be-ḥanfei | “with profane ones of” | Prep בְּ + N(mp construct) |
| 2 | לַעֲגֵי | laʿagei | “mockers of” | N(mp construct) |
| 3 | מָעֹוג | maʿog | “cake” | N(ms) |
| 4 | חָרֹק | ḥaroq | “they gnash” | Qal perfect 3mp |
| 5 | עָלַי | ʿalai | “against me” | Prep עַל + suff 1cs |
| 6 | שִׁנֵּימֹו | shinneimo | “their teeth” | N(md/pl) + suff 3mp |
Morphology
- בְּחַנְפֵי (be-ḥanfei) – Root: חנף (ḥanef); Root Type: Strong; Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine plural construct (state: construct); Translation: “with profane ones of”; Notes: Refers to godless or irreverent persons. In construct with the next word, it introduces a hostile class of mockers.
- לַעֲגֵי (laʿagei) – Root: לעג (laʿag); Root Type: III-Guttural (ע); Form: Noun masculine plural construct (state: construct); Translation: “mockers of”; Notes: Denotes scoffers or deriders. Together with the surrounding words, it describes contemptuous men whose mockery is base and degrading.
- מָעֹוג (maʿog) – Root: עוג (ʿug); Root Type: I-Guttural (ע); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “cake”; Notes: Literally “cake” or “round loaf.” The phrase likely suggests low, banquet-like buffoonery, that is, mockers who scoff for a morsel or feast-reward.
- חָרֹק (ḥaroq) – Root: חרק (ḥaraq); Root Type: Strong; Binyan: Qal; Form: Perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they gnash”; Notes: Describes hostile grinding or gnashing of teeth, a vivid sign of rage, scorn, or malicious aggression.
- עָלַי (ʿalai) – Root: —; Root Type: Particle (Strong); Form: Preposition עַל + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “against me”; Notes: Marks the speaker as the direct object of their hostility.
- שִׁנֵּימֹו (shinneimo) – Root: שׁן (shen); Root Type: Geminate; Form: Noun common plural with dual/plural form + suffix 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “their teeth”; Notes: The plural possessive form completes the image of violent mockery: they gnash their teeth against the speaker.