הַחֲזֵ֣ק מָגֵ֣ן וְצִנָּ֑ה וְ֝ק֗וּמָה בְּעֶזְרָתִֽי׃
Take hold of buckler and shield, and arise in my help.
| # | Hebrew | Transliteration | Literal Gloss | Morph Tag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | הַחֲזֵק | haḥazeq | “take hold!” | Hiphil imperative 2ms |
| 2 | מָגֵן | magen | “shield” | N(ms) |
| 3 | וְצִנָּה | ve-ṣinnah | “and large shield” | Conj + N(fs) |
| 4 | וְקוּמָה | ve-qumah | “and arise!” | Conj + Qal imperative 2ms |
| 5 | בְּעֶזְרָתִי | be-ʿezrati | “in my help” | Prep בְּ + N(fs) + suff 1cs |
Morphology
- הַחֲזֵק (haḥazeq) – Root: חזק (ḥazaq); Root Type: Strong; Binyan: Hiphil; Form: Imperative 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “take hold!”; Notes: A direct imperative calling YHWH to actively grasp defensive equipment in preparation for intervention.
- מָגֵן (magen) – Root: מגן (m-g-n); Root Type: Strong; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “shield”; Notes: Likely denotes a smaller, handheld shield. In traditional English, this is sometimes paired with “buckler,” where a buckler is a small round shield used for parrying; however, מָגֵן is a broader term and not limited to that specific type.
- וְצִנָּה (ve-ṣinnah) – Root: צנן (ṣ-n-n); Root Type: Geminate; Form: Conjunction וְ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “and large shield”; Notes: Refers to a large protective shield, often covering much of the body. Unlike the English “buckler,” which is small, צִנָּה represents a heavier, full-body defense; hence the traditional phrase “shield and buckler” can be misleading in English.
- וְקוּמָה (ve-qumah) – Root: קום (qum); Root Type: Hollow (II-Waw); Binyan: Qal; Form: Conjunction וְ + imperative 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “and arise!”; Notes: Calls for immediate action, shifting from preparation to intervention.
- בְּעֶזְרָתִי (be-ʿezrati) – Root: עזר (ʿazar); Root Type: I-Guttural (ע); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun feminine singular construct (state: construct) + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “in my help”; Notes: Expresses the psalmist’s appeal for personal assistance. The construct form links the help directly to the speaker as its recipient.