לַמְנַצֵּ֣חַ אַל־֭תַּשְׁחֵת לְדָוִ֣ד מִכְתָּ֑ם בְּבָרְחֹ֥ו מִפְּנֵי־֝שָׁא֗וּל בַּמְּעָרָֽה׃
To the one who leads, do not destroy; of Dawid, a miktam, when he fled from before Shaʾul in the cave.
| # | Hebrew | Transliteration | Literal Gloss | Morph Tag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | לַמְנַצֵּחַ | la-menatseyaḥ | “to the one who leads” | Prep לְ + Def. art. הַ + Piel participle ms |
| 2 | אַל־תַּשְׁחֵת | ʾal-tashḥet | “do not destroy” | Neg + Hiphil jussive 2ms |
| 3 | לְדָוִד | le-Dawid | “of Dawid” | Prep לְ + PN |
| 4 | מִכְתָּם | mikhtam | “a miktam” | N(ms) |
| 5 | בְּבָרְחוֹ | be-varḥo | “when he fled” | Prep בְּ + Qal inf constr + suff 3ms |
| 6 | מִפְּנֵי | mi-pnei | “from before” | Prep מִן + N(fp construct) |
| 7 | שָׁאוּל | Shaʾul | “Shaʾul” | PN |
| 8 | בַּמְּעָרָה | ba-meʿarah | “in the cave” | Prep בְּ + Def. art. הַ + N(fs) |
Morphology
- לַמְנַצֵּחַ (la-menatseyaḥ) – Root: נצח (n-ṣ-ḥ); Root Type: Strong; Binyan: Piel; Form: Preposition לְ + definite article הַ + Piel participle masculine singular; Translation: “to the one who leads”; Notes: Likely refers to the choir director or leader.
- אַל־תַּשְׁחֵת (ʾal-tashḥet) – Root: שׁחת (š-ḥ-t); Root Type: II-Guttural (ח) (weak); Binyan: Hiphil; Form: Negative particle אַל + Hiphil jussive 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “do not destroy”; Notes: Possibly a tune or instruction.
- לְדָוִד (le-Dawid) – Root: —; Root Type: Proper noun; Form: Preposition לְ + proper name; Translation: “of Dawid”; Notes: Indicates authorship or dedication.
- מִכְתָּם (mikhtam) – Root: כתם (k-t-m); Root Type: Strong; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “a miktam”; Notes: A technical term, possibly meaning inscription or composition.
- בְּבָרְחוֹ (be-varḥo) – Root: ברח (b-r-ḥ); Root Type: III-Guttural (ח) (weak); Binyan: Qal; Form: Preposition בְּ + Qal infinitive construct + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “when he fled”; Notes: Indicates time circumstance.
- מִפְּנֵי (mi-pnei) – Root: פנה (p-n-h); Root Type: III-He (weak); Form: Preposition מִן + noun feminine plural construct; Translation: “from before”; Notes: Indicates presence or threat.
- שָׁאוּל (Shaʾul) – Root: —; Root Type: Proper noun; Form: Proper name masculine singular; Translation: “Shaʾul”; Notes: King of Yisraʾel pursuing Dawid.
- בַּמְּעָרָה (ba-meʿarah) – Root: מער (m-ʿ-r); Root Type: II-Guttural (ע) (weak); Form: Preposition בְּ + definite article הַ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “in the cave”; Notes: Location of refuge.