בְּבֹ֣וא הַ֭זִּיפִים וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ לְשָׁא֑וּל הֲלֹ֥א דָ֝וִ֗ד מִסְתַּתֵּ֥ר עִמָּֽנוּ׃
When the Zifim came, and they said to Shaʾul, “Is not Dawid hiding himself with us?”
| # | Hebrew | Transliteration | Literal Gloss | Morph Tag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | בְּבֹוא | be-voʾ | “when coming” | Prep בְּ + Qal infinitive construct |
| 2 | הַזִּיפִים | ha-Zifim | “the Ziphites” | Def. art. הַ + Proper noun mp |
| 3 | וַיֹּאמְרוּ | va-yomru | “and they said” | Qal wayyiqtol 3mp |
| 4 | לְשָׁאוּל | le-Shaʾul | “to Shaʾul” | Prep לְ + Proper noun |
| 5 | הֲלֹא | ha-lo | “is not?” | Interrogative particle + negative |
| 6 | דָוִד | Dawid | “Dawid” | Proper noun |
| 7 | מִסְתַּתֵּר | mistatter | “hiding himself” | Hitpael participle ms |
| 8 | עִמָּנוּ | ʿimmanu | “with us” | Prep עִם + suff 1cp |
Morphology
- בְּבֹוא (be-voʾ) – Root: בוא (b-w-ʾ); Root Type: III-Guttural (א); Binyan: Qal; Form: Preposition בְּ + infinitive construct; Translation: “when coming”; Notes: Introduces the temporal clause describing the arrival of the Ziphites. The temporal construct בְּבֹוא combines the בְּ‑preposition with the infinitive construct, forming a temporal clause: “When the Zifim came.” This is the most accurate way to handle this common Hebrew structure, which regularly establishes historical context and effectively sets the stage for the prayer that follows.
- הַזִּיפִים (ha-Zifim) – Root: זיף (z-y-p); Root Type: Hollow; Form: Definite article הַ + proper noun masculine plural; Translation: “the Ziphites”; Notes: Refers to the inhabitants of Ziph who betrayed Dawid. By retaining the Hebrew names and the plural Zifim rather than the anglicized “Ziphites,” the translation preserves the authentic phonetics of the Tanakh. This choice grounds the reader in the specific geography and tribal identity of the Judean wilderness.
- וַיֹּאמְרוּ (va-yomru) – Root: אמר (ʾ-m-r); Root Type: I-Guttural (א); Binyan: Qal; Form: Conjunction וַ + wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they said”; Notes: Advances the narrative action.
- לְשָׁאוּל (le-Shaʾul) – Root: שׁאל (š-ʾ-l); Root Type: I-Guttural (שׁ) / III-Guttural (א); Form: Preposition לְ + proper noun masculine singular; Translation: “to Shaʾul”; Notes: Identifies the recipient of the report.
- הֲלֹא (ha-lo) – Root: —; Root Type: Particle (Strong); Form: Interrogative particle הֲ + negative particle; Translation: “is not?”; Notes: Introduces a rhetorical question expecting confirmation. The interrogative particle הֲ on הֲלֹא turns the statement into a question that expects a “Yes” answer. The rendering “Is not Dawid…” conveys the rhetorical nudge the Zifim give to Saul, showing that they are not merely asking but informing.
- דָוִד (Dawid) – Root: דוד (d-w-d); Root Type: Hollow; Form: Proper noun masculine singular; Translation: “Dawid”; Notes: The subject being reported on.
- מִסְתַּתֵּר (mistatter) – Root: סתר (s-t-r); Root Type: Strong; Binyan: Hitpael; Form: Participle masculine singular; Translation: “hiding himself”; Notes: Reflexive action indicating concealment.
- עִמָּנוּ (ʿimmanu) – Root: עם (ʿ-m); Root Type: II-Guttural; Form: Preposition עִם + suffix 1st person common plural; Translation: “with us”; Notes: Indicates location and association with the speakers. This is a clean translation that avoids embellishment, letting the dramatic tension of betrayal in 1 Samuel 23:19 serve as the backdrop for the Psalm. The contrast between the Zifim claiming Dawid is “with us” (עִמָּנוּ) and Dawid’s plea for God to be “with him” adds a subtle layer that the literal rendering preserves.