כִּ֤י אֵ֪ין בְּפִ֡יהוּ נְכֹונָה֮ קִרְבָּ֪ם הַ֫וֹּ֥ות קֶֽבֶר־פָּת֥וּחַ גְּרֹונָ֑ם לְ֝שֹׁונָ֗ם יַחֲלִֽיקוּן׃
For there is not in his mouth what is firm; their inward part is ruin; an open grave is their throat; their tongue they make smooth.
| # | Hebrew | Transliteration | Literal Gloss | Morph Tag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | כִּי | ki | “for” | Conjunction |
| 2 | אֵין | ʾein | “there is not” | Negative existential particle |
| 3 | בְּפִיהוּ | be-fihu | “in his mouth” | Prep בְּ + N(ms) + suff 3ms |
| 4 | נְכֹונָה | nekhonah | “firm / established” | Adj(fs) |
| 5 | קִרְבָּם | qirbam | “their inward part” | N(ms) + suff 3mp |
| 6 | הַוֹּות | havvot | “ruins / destruction” | N(fp) |
| 7 | קֶבֶר־פָּת֥וּחַ | qever-patuach | “an open grave” | N(ms) + Adj(ms) |
| 8 | גְּרֹונָם | geronam | “their throat” | N(ms) + suff 3mp |
| 9 | לְשֹׁונָם | le-shonam | “their tongue” | Prep לְ + N(fs) + suff 3mp |
| 10 | יַחֲלִיקוּן | yaḥaliqun | “they make smooth” | Hiphil imperfect 3mp |
Morphology
- כִּי (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Root Type: Particle; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “For”; Notes: Introduces the reason or explanation for the preceding statement.
- אֵין (ʾein) – Root: אין (ʾ-y-n); Root Type: Weak (III-Nun); Form: Negative existential particle; Translation: “there is not”; Notes: Expresses non-existence rather than simple negation.
- בְּפִיהוּ (be-fihu) – Root: פה (peh); Root Type: III-He; Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “in his mouth”; Notes: Locative sense indicating the sphere of speech.
- נְכֹונָה (nekhonah) – Root: כון (kun); Root Type: Hollow (II-Waw); Binyan: Nifal (participle/adjectival usage); Form: Feminine singular adjective; Translation: “firm” or “established”; Notes: Agrees conceptually with an implied feminine noun such as “faithfulness” or “truth.”
- קִרְבָּם (qirbam) – Root: קרב (qarav); Root Type: Strong; Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “their inward part”; Notes: Refers metaphorically to the inner being or heart.
- הַוֹּות (havvot) – Root: הוה (hawah); Root Type: III-He; Form: Noun feminine plural; Translation: “destructions” or “ruin”; Notes: Plural of intensity indicating complete corruption.
- קֶבֶר־פָּתוּחַ (qever-patuach) – Root: קבר (qavar) / פתח (pataḥ); Root Type: Strong / I-Guttural; Binyan: Qal (passive participle for פָּתוּחַ); Form: Noun masculine singular + adjective masculine singular; Translation: “an open grave”; Notes: Metaphor for deadly speech.
- גְּרֹונָם (geronam) – Root: גרן (geron); Root Type: Strong; Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “their throat”; Notes: Organ of speech depicted as a source of corruption.
- לְשֹׁונָם (le-shonam) – Root: לשׁן (lashon); Root Type: I-Lamed; Form: Preposition לְ + noun feminine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “their tongue”; Notes: Instrument of speech emphasized by prepositional usage.
- יַחֲלִיקוּן (yaḥaliqun) – Root: חלק (ḥalaq); Root Type: Strong; Binyan: Hiphil; Form: Imperfect 3rd person masculine plural (with paragogic nun); Translation: “they make smooth”; Notes: Hiphil causative sense indicating deliberate flattery or smooth speech.