תְּחַטְּאֵ֣נִי בְאֵזֹ֣וב וְאֶטְהָ֑ר תְּ֝כַבְּסֵ֗נִי וּמִשֶּׁ֥לֶג אַלְבִּֽין׃
You will purify me with hyssop and I shall be clean; You will wash me and from snow I shall be made white.
| # | Hebrew | Transliteration | Literal Gloss | Morph Tag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | תְּחַטְּאֵנִי | teḥatteʾeni | “you will purify me” | Piel imperfect 2ms + suff 1cs |
| 2 | בְאֵזֹוב | be-ʾezov | “with hyssop” | Prep בְּ + N(ms) |
| 3 | וְאֶטְהָר | ve-ʾetahar | “and I shall be clean” | Conj וְ + Qal imperfect 1cs |
| 4 | תְּכַבְּסֵנִי | tekabbeseni | “You will wash me” | Piel imperfect 2ms + suff 1cs |
| 5 | וּמִשֶּׁלֶג | u-mi-sheleg | “and from snow” | Conj וְ + Prep מִן + N(ms) |
| 6 | אַלְבִּין | ʾalbin | “I shall be made white” | Hiphil imperfect 1cs |
Morphology
- תְּחַטְּאֵנִי (teḥatteʾeni) – Root: חטא (ḥ-ṭ-ʾ); Root Type: III-Aleph (weak); Binyan: Piel; Form: Imperfect 2nd person masculine singular + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “You will purify me”; Notes: Refers to ritual purification, especially associated with cleansing from impurity. The root is חטא (sin). In the Piel stem, this verb often functions “privatively”—meaning it describes the removal of the noun’s substance. It literally means “You will un-sin me.” “You will purify me” is a strong, accurate rendering. It correctly identifies that the action is the removal of the condition of sin.
- בְאֵזֹוב (be-ʾezov) – Root: אזוב (ʾ-z-w-b); Root Type: I-Guttural (א) (weak); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “with hyssop”; Notes: Hyssop was used in purification rites, symbolizing cleansing. By retaining “hyssop,” the text preserves its connection to Levitical law—specifically the cleansing of lepers and the Passover. Hyssop was the physical instrument of sprinkling, and its mention shifts the Psalm from a generic plea into the realm of formal, ritual restoration.
- וְאֶטְהָר (ve-ʾetahar) – Root: טהר (ṭ-h-r); Root Type: II-Guttural (ה) (weak); Binyan: Qal; Form: Conjunction וְ + imperfect 1st person common singular; Translation: “and I shall be clean”; Notes: Expresses the resulting state after purification. This is a Qal imperfect 1cs. God performs the action in the Piel, and the speaker experiences the state in the Qal.
- תְּכַבְּסֵנִי (tekabbeseni) – Root: כבס (k-b-s); Root Type: Strong; Binyan: Piel; Form: Imperfect 2nd person masculine singular + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “You will wash me”; Notes: Indicates thorough cleansing, often used for garments metaphorically applied to the person.
- וּמִשֶּׁלֶג (u-mi-sheleg) – Root: שלג (š-l-g); Root Type: Strong; Form: Conjunction וְ + preposition מִן + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and from snow”; Notes: Snow serves as a metaphor for purity and whiteness. The phrase “From snow” (מִשֶּׁלֶג) illustrates the dual force of the preposition מִ (mi), which can mean “from” in the sense of source or “more than” in the sense of comparison. The standard rendering is “Whiter than snow,” yet the literal choice “From snow I shall be made white” suggests both the standard of whiteness and the source of purity.
- אַלְבִּין (ʾalbin) – Root: לבן (l-b-n); Root Type: Strong; Binyan: Hiphil; Form: Imperfect 1st person common singular; Translation: “I shall be made white”; Notes: Indicates transformation into a state of purity. The verb אַלְבִּין is a Hiphil imperfect 1cs from the root לבן (“white”). The Hiphil stem is usually causative, meaning “I will make white,” but when applied to colors it can be intransitive or stative, meaning “to become white” or “to show whiteness.” The rendering “I shall be made white” captures the passive result of God’s washing with precision.