יִֽהְי֗וּ כְּמֹ֥ץ לִפְנֵי־ר֑וּחַ וּמַלְאַ֖ךְ יְהוָ֣ה דֹּוחֶֽה׃
May they be like chaff before wind, and a messenger of YHWH driving them.
| # | Hebrew | Transliteration | Literal Gloss | Morph Tag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | יִהְיוּ | yihyu | “may they be” | Qal imperfect 3mp (jussive) |
| 2 | כְּמֹץ | kemoṣ | “like chaff” | Prep כְּ + N(ms) |
| 3 | לִפְנֵי־רוחַ | lifnei-ruaḥ | “before wind” | Prep לְ + N(mp construct) + N(fs) |
| 4 | וּמַלְאַךְ | u-malʾakh | “and messenger” | Conj + N(ms) |
| 5 | יְהוָה | YHWH | “YHWH” | Proper N(ms) |
| 6 | דֹּוחֶה | doḥeh | “driving away” | Qal participle ms |
Morphology
- יִהְיוּ (yihyu) – Root: היה (h-y-h); Root Type: III-He (weak); Binyan: Qal; Form: Imperfect 3rd person masculine plural (jussive sense); Translation: “may they be”; Notes: Expresses a wish or imprecation concerning the enemies’ condition.
- כְּמֹץ (kemoṣ) – Root: מוץ (m-w-ṣ); Root Type: Hollow (II-Waw); Form: Preposition כְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “like chaff”; Notes: Chaff symbolizes lightness and instability, easily blown away.
- לִפְנֵי־רוחַ (lifnei-ruaḥ) – Root: פנה (p-n-h); Root Type: III-He (weak); Form: Preposition לְ + noun masculine plural construct (state: construct) + noun feminine singular; Translation: “before wind”; Notes: The construct phrase indicates being driven ahead of or before the wind.
- וּמַלְאַךְ (u-malʾakh) – Root: מלאך (m-l-ʾ-k); Root Type: III-Aleph (weak); Form: Conjunction וּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and messenger”; Notes: Refers to an agent of YHWH, often understood as an angel executing divine judgment.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: היה (h-y-h, traditional association); Root Type: III-He (weak); Form: Proper noun masculine singular; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The divine name identifying the source of authority behind the action.
- דֹּוחֶה (doḥeh) – Root: דחה (d-ḥ-h); Root Type: III-He (weak); Binyan: Qal; Form: Participle masculine singular; Translation: “driving away”; Notes: Depicts continuous action, the messenger actively pushing or driving the enemies away.