כְּאַיָּ֗ל תַּעֲרֹ֥ג עַל־אֲפִֽיקֵי־מָ֑יִם כֵּ֤ן נַפְשִׁ֨י תַעֲרֹ֖ג אֵלֶ֣יךָ אֱלֹהִֽים׃
As a deer pants upon streams of water, so my soul pants toward You, O God.
| # | Hebrew | Transliteration | Literal Gloss | Morph Tag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | כְּאַיָּל | ke-ʾayyal | “as a deer” | Prep כְּ + N(ms) |
| 2 | תַּעֲרֹג | taʿarog | “she pants” | Qal imperfect 3fs |
| 3 | עַל־אֲפִיקֵי־מָיִם | ʿal-ʾafiqei-mayim | “upon streams of water” | Prep עַל + N(mp construct) + N(mp) |
| 4 | כֵּן | ken | “so” | Adverb |
| 5 | נַפְשִׁי | nafshi | “my soul” | N(fs) + suff 1cs |
| 6 | תַעֲרֹג | taʿarog | “pants” | Qal imperfect 3fs |
| 7 | אֵלֶיךָ | ʾeleykha | “toward You” | Prep אֶל + suff 2ms |
| 8 | אֱלֹהִים | ʾElohim | “God” | N(mp) |
Morphology
- כְּאַיָּל (ke-ʾayyal) – Root: איל (ʾ-y-l); Root Type: I-Guttural (א) (weak); Form: Preposition כְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “as a deer”; Notes: Introduces a simile, comparing longing to the thirst of a deer.
- תַּעֲרֹג (taʿarog) – Root: ערג (ʿ-r-g); Root Type: I-Guttural (ע) (weak); Binyan: Qal; Form: Imperfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “she pants”; Notes: The feminine form agrees with אַיָּל, expressing intense longing or thirst.
- עַל־אֲפִיקֵי־מָיִם (ʿal-ʾafiqei-mayim) – Root: אפק (ʾ-p-q); Root Type: I-Guttural (א) (weak); Form: Preposition עַל + noun masculine plural construct (state: construct) + noun masculine plural; Translation: “upon streams of water”; Notes: The construct phrase links “streams” with “water,” emphasizing flowing sources.
- כֵּן (ken) – Root: כן (k-n); Root Type: Strong; Form: Adverb; Translation: “so”; Notes: Marks the comparison between the deer and the psalmist’s soul.
- נַפְשִׁי (nafshi) – Root: נפשׁ (n-p-sh); Root Type: I-Nun (weak); Form: Noun feminine singular + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “my soul”; Notes: Refers to the inner self, the seat of desire and life.
- תַעֲרֹג (taʿarog) – Root: ערג (ʿ-r-g); Root Type: I-Guttural (ע) (weak); Binyan: Qal; Form: Imperfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “pants”; Notes: Repetition intensifies the longing, now applied to the speaker’s soul.
- אֵלֶיךָ (ʾeleykha) – Root: אל (ʾ-l); Root Type: I-Guttural (א) (weak); Form: Preposition אֶל + suffix 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “toward You”; Notes: Indicates directed longing toward the divine.
- אֱלֹהִים (ʾElohim) – Root: אלה (ʾ-l-h); Root Type: I-Guttural (א) (weak); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “God”; Notes: Though morphologically plural, it refers here to the singular deity, emphasizing majesty.