צָמְאָ֬ה נַפְשִׁ֨י לֵאלֹהִים֮ לְאֵ֪ל חָ֥י מָתַ֥י אָבֹ֑וא וְ֝אֵרָאֶ֗ה פְּנֵ֣י אֱלֹהִֽים׃
My soul has thirsted for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before the face of God?
| # | Hebrew | Transliteration | Literal Gloss | Morph Tag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | צָמְאָה | tsamʾah | “has thirsted” | Qal perfect 3fs |
| 2 | נַפְשִׁי | nafshi | “my soul” | N(fs) + suff 1cs |
| 3 | לֵאלֹהִים | le-ʾElohim | “for God” | Prep לְ + N(mp) |
| 4 | לְאֵל | le-ʾEl | “for God” | Prep לְ + N(ms) |
| 5 | חָי | ḥai | “living” | Adj(ms) |
| 6 | מָתַי | matai | “when” | Interrogative adv |
| 7 | אָבֹוא | ʾavo | “shall I come” | Qal imperfect 1cs |
| 8 | וְאֵרָאֶה | ve-ʾeraʾeh | “and appear” | Nifal imperfect 1cs |
| 9 | פְּנֵי | penei | “face of” | N(mp construct) |
| 10 | אֱלֹהִים | ʾElohim | “God” | N(mp) |
Morphology
- צָמְאָה (tsamʾah) – Root: צמא (ṣ-m-ʾ); Root Type: III-Aleph (weak); Binyan: Qal; Form: Perfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “has thirsted”; Notes: Describes an intense, completed state of longing attributed to the 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: The inner self is personified as thirsting.
- לֵאלֹהִים (le-ʾElohim) – Root: אלה (ʾ-l-h); Root Type: I-Guttural (א) (weak); Form: Preposition לְ + noun masculine plural; Translation: “for God”; Notes: Indicates the direction of longing toward the divine.
- לְאֵל (le-ʾEl) – Root: אל (ʾ-l); Root Type: I-Guttural (א) (weak); Form: Preposition לְ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “for God”; Notes: Repetition intensifies the focus, specifying the deity as the living God.
- חָי (ḥai) – Root: חיה (ḥ-y-h); Root Type: III-He (weak); Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “living”; Notes: Emphasizes the vitality and active presence of God.
- מָתַי (matai) – Root: —; Root Type: Particle (Strong); Form: Interrogative adverb; Translation: “when”; Notes: Expresses longing through a temporal question.
- אָבֹוא (ʾavo) – Root: בוא (b-w-ʾ); Root Type: I-Waw (weak); Binyan: Qal; Form: Imperfect 1st person common singular; Translation: “shall I come”; Notes: Expresses anticipated movement toward God.
- וְאֵרָאֶה (ve-ʾeraʾeh) – Root: ראה (r-ʾ-h); Root Type: III-He (weak); Binyan: Nifal; Form: Conjunction וְ + imperfect 1st person common singular; Translation: “and appear”; Notes: Passive-reflexive nuance, appearing before the divine presence.
- פְּנֵי (penei) – Root: פנה (p-n-h); Root Type: III-He (weak); Form: Noun masculine plural construct (state: construct); Translation: “face of”; Notes: Construct form linking to God, indicating presence or countenance.
- אֱלֹהִים (ʾElohim) – Root: אלה (ʾ-l-h); Root Type: I-Guttural (א) (weak); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “God”; Notes: Though plural in form, it refers to the singular God of Yisraʾel, emphasizing majesty.