Psalm 37:14

חֶ֤רֶב פָּֽתְח֣וּ רְשָׁעִים֮ וְדָרְכ֪וּ קַ֫שְׁתָּ֥ם לְ֭הַפִּיל עָנִ֣י וְאֶבְיֹ֑ון לִ֝טְבֹ֗וחַ יִשְׁרֵי־דָֽרֶךְ׃

A sword they have opened, the wicked, and they have bent their bow, to cause to fall the poor and the needy, to slaughter the upright of way.

 

# Hebrew Transliteration Literal Gloss Morph Tag
1 חֶרֶב ḥerev “a sword” N(fs)
2 פָּתְחוּ patḥu “they have opened” Qal perfect 3mp
3 רְשָׁעִים reshaʿim “wicked ones” N(mp)
4 וְדָרְכוּ ve-darkhu “and they have bent” Qal perfect 3mp
5 קַשְׁתָּם qashtam “their bow” N(fs) + suff 3mp
6 לְהַפִּיל le-happil “to cause to fall” Hiphil infinitive construct
7 עָנִי ʿani “poor” Adj(ms)
8 וְאֶבְיֹון ve-evyon “and needy” Conj + N(ms)
9 לִטְבֹחַ li-tboach “to slaughter” Qal infinitive construct
10 יִשְׁרֵי־דָרֶךְ yishrei-darekh “upright of way” Adj(mp) construct + N(fs)

 

Morphology

  1. חֶרֶב (ḥerev) – Root: חרב (ḥ-r-b); Root Type: Strong; Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “a sword”; Notes: Instrument of violence, foregrounded for emphasis.
  2. פָּתְחוּ (patḥu) – Root: פתח (p-t-ḥ); Root Type: Strong; Binyan: Qal; Form: Perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they have opened”; Notes: Refers to drawing or unsheathing the sword.
  3. רְשָׁעִים (reshaʿim) – Root: רשע (r-š-ʿ); Root Type: III-Guttural (ע); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “wicked ones”; Notes: The agents of violence in the verse.
  4. וְדָרְכוּ (ve-darkhu) – Root: דרך (d-r-kh); Root Type: Strong; Binyan: Qal; Form: Conjunction וְ + perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they have bent”; Notes: Used of treading or bending a bow in preparation to shoot.
  5. קַשְׁתָּם (qashtam) – Root: קשת (q-š-t); Root Type: Strong; Form: Noun feminine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “their bow”; Notes: Weapon paired with the sword, indicating readiness for attack.
  6. לְהַפִּיל (le-happil) – Root: נפל (n-p-l); Root Type: I-Nun; Binyan: Hiphil; Form: Preposition לְ + infinitive construct; Translation: “to cause to fall”; Notes: Expresses purpose, indicating intent to bring down victims.
  7. עָנִי (ʿani) – Root: ענה (ʿ-n-h); Root Type: III-He; Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “poor”; Notes: Describes one who is afflicted or oppressed.
  8. וְאֶבְיֹון (ve-evyon) – Root: אביון (ʾ-b-y-n); Root Type: I-Guttural (א); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and needy”; Notes: Reinforces the vulnerability of the victims.
  9. לִטְבֹחַ (li-tboach) – Root: טבח (ṭ-b-ḥ); Root Type: Strong; Binyan: Qal; Form: Preposition לְ + infinitive construct; Translation: “to slaughter”; Notes: Strong verb emphasizing violent intent.
  10. יִשְׁרֵי־דָרֶךְ (yishrei-darekh) – Root: ישׁר (y-š-r) / דרך (d-r-kh); Root Type: Strong; Form: Adjective masculine plural construct (state: construct) + noun feminine singular; Translation: “upright of way”; Notes: Refers to those who walk in integrity.

 

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