יִשְׁמַ֤ע אֵ֨ל וְֽיַעֲנֵם֮ וְיֹ֤שֵׁ֥ב קֶ֗דֶם סֶ֥לָה אֲשֶׁ֤ר אֵ֣ין חֲלִיפֹ֣ות לָ֑מֹו וְלֹ֖א יָרְא֣וּ אֱלֹהִֽים׃
God will hear and will answer them, even He who sits of old. Sela. Because there are no changes for them, and they do not fear God.
| # | Hebrew | Transliteration | Literal Gloss | Morph Tag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | יִשְׁמַע | yishmaʿ | “he will hear” | Qal imperfect 3ms |
| 2 | אֵל | ʾel | “God” | N(ms) |
| 3 | וְיַעֲנֵם | ve-yaʿanem | “and he will answer them” | Qal imperfect 3ms + suff 3mp |
| 4 | וְיֹשֵׁב | ve-yoshev | “and the one sitting” | Qal participle ms |
| 5 | קֶדֶם | qedem | “of old” | N(ms) adv |
| 6 | סֶלָה | selah | “Selah” | Liturgical marker |
| 7 | אֲשֶׁר | ʾasher | “who/because” | Rel/causal particle |
| 8 | אֵין | ʾen | “there is not” | Neg existential |
| 9 | חֲלִיפֹות | ḥalifot | “changes” | N(fp) |
| 10 | לָמוֹ | lamo | “for them” | Prep לְ + suff 3mp |
| 11 | וְלֹא | ve-lo | “and not” | Conj + Neg |
| 12 | יָרְאוּ | yarʾu | “they fear” | Qal imperfect 3mp |
| 13 | אֱלֹהִים | ʾelohim | “God” | N(mp) |
Morphology
- יִשְׁמַע (yishmaʿ) – Root: שׁמע (š-m-ʿ); Root Type: III-Guttural (ע) (weak); Binyan: Qal; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he will hear”; Notes: Refers to divine attention to prayer or complaint.
- אֵל (ʾel) – Root: אל (ʾ-l); Root Type: I-Guttural (א) (weak); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “God”; Notes: Title emphasizing power and authority.
- וְיַעֲנֵם (ve-yaʿanem) – Root: ענה (ʿ-n-h); Root Type: I-Guttural (ע) / III-He (weak); Binyan: Qal; Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and he will answer them”; Notes: Indicates God’s response to those addressed.
- וְיֹשֵׁב (ve-yoshev) – Root: ישׁב (y-š-b); Root Type: Strong; Binyan: Qal; Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “and the one sitting”; Notes: Describes God as enthroned. The epithet וְיֹשֵׁב קֶדֶם (“He who sits of old”) gains clarity in English by the addition of “He.”
- קֶדֶם (qedem) – Root: קדם (q-d-m); Root Type: Strong; Form: Noun masculine singular used adverbially; Translation: “of old”; Notes: Expresses ancient, eternal duration. The word קֶדֶם is rich, denoting both “East” (the rising sun) and “Antiquity” (the primordial past). Translating it as “of old” emphasizes God’s eternal stability, set against the “changes” the wicked refuse to undergo.
- סֶלָה (selah) – Root: —; Root Type: Liturgical term; Form: Interjection; Translation: “Selah”; Notes: Marks a pause or reflection.
- אֲשֶׁר (ʾasher) – Root: —; Root Type: Particle; Form: Relative/causal particle; Translation: “because”; Notes: Functions causally here, not strictly relative. The particle אֲשֶׁר introduces the second half, linking the absence of “changes” with the absence of fear. Read as “who,” it ties the description back to those afflicted in the first half; read as “because,” it functions causally, showing that their stability in wickedness is the reason they lack fear. The ambiguity allows both senses: prosperity has bred false security, and refusal to change has bred defiance.
- אֵין (ʾen) – Root: —; Root Type: Particle; Form: Negative existential particle; Translation: “there is not”; Notes: Denies the presence of change.
- חֲלִיפֹות (ḥalifot) – Root: חלף (ḥ-l-p̄); Root Type: Strong; Form: Noun feminine plural; Translation: “changes”; Notes: Refers to reversals or transformations in circumstance. The word חֲלִיפֹות is the centerpiece of the verse’s difficulty. From the root חלף, it can mean to pass on, change, or renew. Interpretations vary: “changes of mind” (repentance) or “changes of fortune” (adversity). Rendering it as “no changes” preserves both possibilities—they neither alter their ways nor experience the transforming discipline of divine judgment.
- לָמוֹ (lamo) – Root: —; Root Type: Particle with suffix; Form: Preposition לְ + suffix 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “for them”; Notes: Indicates possession or condition. The suffix ‑מוֹ in לָמוֹ functions as a poetic plural “them.” In this verse, it adds rhythmic weight to the close of the clause, balancing the statement of their lack of fear. The archaic cadence intensifies the solemnity, giving the line a formal, elevated conclusion.
- וְלֹא (ve-lo) – Root: —; Root Type: Particle; Form: Conjunction וְ + negative particle; Translation: “and not”; Notes: Introduces negation.
- יָרְאוּ (yarʾu) – Root: ירא (y-r-ʾ); Root Type: III-Guttural (א) (weak); Binyan: Qal; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they fear”; Notes: Indicates lack of reverence.
- אֱלֹהִים (ʾelohim) – Root: אלה (ʾ-l-h); Root Type: Strong; Form: Noun masculine plural (used as singular proper noun); Translation: “God”; Notes: Object of reverence which they lack.