מַה־יָּקָ֥ר חַסְדְּךָ֗ אֱלֹ֫הִ֥ים וּבְנֵ֥י אָדָ֑ם בְּצֵ֥ל כְּ֝נָפֶ֗יךָ יֶחֱסָיֽוּן׃
How precious is Your steadfast love, O God; and the sons of man take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.
| # | Hebrew | Transliteration | Literal Gloss | Morph Tag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | מַה־ | mah | “how” | Interrogative particle |
| 2 | יָּקָר | yaqar | “precious” | Adj(ms) |
| 3 | חַסְדְּךָ | ḥasdekha | “Your steadfast love” | N(ms) + suff 2ms |
| 4 | אֱלֹהִים | ʾelohim | “God” | N(mp/plural of majesty) |
| 5 | וּבְנֵי | u-venei | “and the sons of” | Conj + N(mp construct) |
| 6 | אָדָם | ʾadam | “man” | N(ms) |
| 7 | בְּצֵל | be-tsel | “in the shadow of” | Prep בְּ + N(ms construct) |
| 8 | כְּנָפֶיךָ | kenafekha | “Your wings” | N(fp) + suff 2ms |
| 9 | יֶחֱסָיוּן | yeḥesayun | “they take refuge” | Qal imperfect 3mp |
Morphology
- מַה־ (mah) – Root: מה (mah); Root Type: Particle (Strong); Form: Interrogative particle; Translation: “how”; Notes: Introduces an exclamatory question emphasizing value.
- יָּקָר (yaqar) – Root: יקר (y-q-r); Root Type: Strong; Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “precious”; Notes: Describes great worth.
- חַסְדְּךָ (ḥasdekha) – Root: חסד (ḥ-s-d); Root Type: Strong; Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “Your steadfast love”; Notes: Covenant loyalty and mercy.
- אֱלֹהִים (ʾelohim) – Root: אלה (ʾ-l-h); Root Type: I-Aleph (weak); Form: Noun masculine plural (plural of majesty); Translation: “God”; Notes: Refers to the true God.
- וּבְנֵי (u-venei) – Root: בן (b-n); Root Type: I-Nun (weak); Form: Conjunction וּ + noun masculine plural construct (state: construct); Translation: “and the sons of”; Notes: Introduces the subject “sons of man.”
- אָדָם (ʾadam) – Root: אדם (ʾ-d-m); Root Type: I-Aleph (weak); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “man”; Notes: Represents humanity collectively.
- בְּצֵל (be-tsel) – Root: צל (ṣ-l); Root Type: Strong; Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular construct (state: construct); Translation: “in the shadow of”; Notes: Indicates protective covering.
- כְּנָפֶיךָ (kenafekha) – Root: כנף (k-n-p); Root Type: Strong; Form: Noun feminine plural + suffix 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “Your wings”; Notes: Metaphor for divine protection.
- יֶחֱסָיוּן (yeḥesayun) – Root: חסה (ḥ-s-h); Root Type: III-He; Binyan: Qal; Form: Imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they take refuge”; Notes: Describes seeking protection under God’s care.