יֹומָ֤ם יְצַוֶּ֬ה יְהוָ֨ה חַסְדֹּ֗ו וּ֭בַלַּיְלָה שֶׂירה עִמִּ֑י תְּ֝פִלָּ֗ה לְאֵ֣ל חַיָּֽי׃
By day YHWH commands His covenant-loyalty, and by night His song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.
| # | Hebrew | Transliteration | Literal Gloss | Morph Tag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | יֹומָם | yomam | “by day” | Noun used adverbially |
| 2 | יְצַוֶּה | yetsaveh | “He commands” | Piel imperfect 3ms |
| 3 | יְהוָה | YHWH | “YHWH” | Proper noun |
| 4 | חַסְדֹּו | ḥasdo | “His covenant-loyalty” | N(ms) + suff 3ms |
| 5 | וּבַלַּיְלָה | u-va-laylah | “and by night” | Conj וְ + Prep בְּ + Def. art. הַ + N(ms) |
| 6 | שִׂירֹה | siroh | “His song” | N(ms) + suff 3ms |
| 7 | עִמִּי | ʿimmi | “with me” | Prep עִם + suff 1cs |
| 8 | תְּפִלָּה | tefillah | “prayer” | N(fs) |
| 9 | לְאֵל | le-ʾEl | “to God” | Prep לְ + N(ms) |
| 10 | חַיָּי | ḥayyay | “of my life” | N(mp) + suff 1cs |
Morphology
- יֹומָם (yomam) – Root: יום (y-w-m); Root Type: Hollow (weak); Form: Noun used adverbially; Translation: “by day”; Notes: Indicates time during the day when YHWH acts.
- יְצַוֶּה (yetsaveh) – Root: צוה (ṣ-w-h); Root Type: III-He (weak); Binyan: Piel; Form: Imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “He commands”; Notes: Expresses active direction or appointment of חסד.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: —; Root Type: Proper Noun (Strong); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenant name of the God of Yisraʾel.
- חַסְדֹּו (ḥasdo) – Root: חסד (ḥ-s-d); Root Type: Strong; Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “His covenant-loyalty”; Notes: Refers to steadfast love or loyal kindness. The word חַסְדּוֹ (ḥasdo) is composed of two parts:
חֶסֶד (ḥesed): This is one of the most significant words in the Hebrew Bible. While often translated simply as “kindness,” “mercy,” or “love,” it specifically refers to a covenantal kind of love. It implies a sense of duty, loyalty, and enduring commitment within a relationship (like the bond between God and His people).
וֹ (-o): This is the third-person masculine singular pronominal suffix, meaning “his.”While common translations use “steadfast love” or “lovingkindness,” “covenant-loyalty” is preferred by many modern scholars and theologians because:
- It captures the legal/relational aspect of the word (the covenant).
- It emphasizes the faithfulness and reliability of the person showing it.
- It moves beyond a mere “feeling” of love to an “action” of loyalty.
- וּבַלַּיְלָה (u-va-laylah) – Root: ליל (l-y-l); Root Type: Geminate (weak); Form: Conjunction וְ + preposition בְּ + definite article הַ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and by night”; Notes: Complements “by day,” indicating continual experience.
- שִׂירֹה (siroh) – Root: שׁיר (sh-y-r); Root Type: Hollow (weak); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “His song”; Notes: The divine song accompanies the psalmist at night.
- עִמִּי (ʿimmi) – Root: עם (ʿ-m); Root Type: I-Guttural (ע) (weak); Form: Preposition עִם + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “with me”; Notes: Indicates personal presence and companionship.
- תְּפִלָּה (tefillah) – Root: פלל (p-l-l); Root Type: Geminate (weak); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “prayer”; Notes: Represents the psalmist’s response in devotion.
- לְאֵל (le-ʾEl) – Root: אל (ʾ-l); Root Type: I-Guttural (א) (weak); Form: Preposition לְ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “to God”; Notes: Indicates direction of the prayer.
- חַיָּי (ḥayyay) – Root: חיה (ḥ-y-h); Root Type: III-He (weak); Form: Noun masculine plural + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “of my life”; Notes: Expresses that God is the source and sustainer of the psalmist’s life.