אֲשֶׁ֣ר יַ֭חְדָּו נַמְתִּ֣יק סֹ֑וד בְּבֵ֥ית אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים נְהַלֵּ֥ךְ בְּרָֽגֶשׁ׃
who together we would sweeten counsel, in the house of God we would walk in throng.
| # | Hebrew | Transliteration | Literal Gloss | Morph Tag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | אֲשֶׁר | ʾasher | “who/which” | Rel pron |
| 2 | יַחְדָּו | yaḥdāv | “together” | Adv |
| 3 | נַמְתִּיק | namtiq | “we would sweeten” | Hiphil imperfect 1cp |
| 4 | סֹוד | sod | “counsel” | N(ms) |
| 5 | בְּבֵית | be-beit | “in the house of” | Prep בְּ + N(ms construct) |
| 6 | אֱלֹהִים | Elohim | “God” | N(mp) proper |
| 7 | נְהַלֵּךְ | nehallekh | “we would walk” | Piel imperfect 1cp |
| 8 | בְּרָגֶשׁ | be-rāgesh | “in throng” | Prep בְּ + N(ms) |
Morphology
- אֲשֶׁר (ʾasher) – Root: —; Root Type: Particle; Form: Relative pronoun; Translation: “who”; Notes: Introduces a relative clause describing the companion. The relative pronoun אֲשֶׁר (“who”) serves to link the subjects back to the “companion” and “acquaintance” mentioned in the preceding verse. Its placement ties the betrayal directly to those intimate figures, intensifying the force of the lament.
- יַחְדָּו (yaḥdāv) – Root: יחד (y-ḥ-d); Root Type: II-Guttural (ח) (weak); Form: Adverb; Translation: “together”; Notes: Emphasizes shared experience and unity. This is a reflection of the adverbial form, emphasizing the communal nature of the past intimacy
- נַמְתִּיק (namtiq) – Root: מתק (m-t-q); Root Type: Strong; Binyan: Hiphil; Form: Hiphil imperfect 1st person common plural; Translation: “we would sweeten”; Notes: Figurative expression for intimate or pleasant counsel. The choice of “would sweeten” is an insightful way to handle the imperfect aspect in a context of past habitual action.
- סֹוד (sod) – Root: סוד (s-w-d); Root Type: Hollow (weak); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “counsel”; Notes: Refers to confidential or intimate conversation. “Counsel” is the standard literal rendering. The phrase “sweetening counsel” preserves the Hebrew metaphor for intimate, pleasant conversation.
- בְּבֵית (be-beit) – Root: בית (b-y-t); Root Type: Hollow (weak); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular construct (state: construct); Translation: “in the house of”; Notes: Indicates location in a sacred or communal setting.
- אֱלֹהִים (Elohim) – Root: אלה (ʾ-l-h); Root Type: Strong; Form: Noun masculine plural (used as singular proper noun); Translation: “God”; Notes: Functions as a singular divine name.
- נְהַלֵּךְ (nehallekh) – Root: הלך (h-l-k); Root Type: Strong; Binyan: Piel; Form: Piel imperfect 1st person common plural; Translation: “we would walk”; Notes: Indicates shared movement or participation in worship.
- בְּרָגֶשׁ (be-rāgesh) – Root: רגשׁ (r-g-š); Root Type: Strong; Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “in throng”; Notes: Refers to a crowd or festive assembly. The translation of בְּרָֽגֶשׁ as “in throng” is a specific interpretative choice within a literal framework. The root רגשׁ generally refers to commotion, stir, or a noisy crowd (often used in the context of a conspiracy or a “raging” multitude, as in Psalm 2:1). By choosing “throng,” the translation emphasizes the physical crowd within the Temple. This contrasts with other literal interpretations that might use “company” or “emotion” (referring to the internal stir of feeling). “Throng” effectively maintains the concrete, physical imagery typical of Hebrew poetry.