Psalm 7:4 (Psalm 7:3)

יְהוָ֣ה אֱ֭לֹהַי אִם־עָשִׂ֣יתִי זֹ֑את אִֽם־יֶשׁ־עָ֥וֶל בְּכַפָּֽי׃

YHWH, my God, if I have done this, if there is injustice in my palms.

 

# Hebrew Transliteration Literal Gloss Morph Tag
1 יְהוָה YHWH “YHWH” Proper N(ms)
2 אֱלֹהַי ʾelohai “my God” N(mp) + suff 1cs
3 אִם־ ʾim “if” Conjunction
4 עָשִׂיתִי ʿasiti “I have done” Qal perfect 1cs
5 זֹאת zoʾt “this” Demonstrative(fs)
6 אִם־ ʾim “if” Conjunction
7 יֶשׁ־ yesh “there is” Particle of existence
8 עָוֶל ʿavel “injustice” N(ms)
9 בְּכַפָּי be-kappai “in my palms” Prep בְּ + N(fp) + suff 1cs

 

Morphology

  1. יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH) – Root: היה (h-y-h); Root Type: III-He (weak); Form: Proper divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The Tetragrammaton functions as a direct address opening the oath-like clause.
  2. אֱלֹהַי (ʾelohai) – Root: אלה (ʾ-l-h); Root Type: Strong; Form: Noun masculine plural (plural of majesty/abstraction) + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “my God”; Notes: The 1cs suffix marks personal relationship and covenantal appeal.
  3. אִם־ (ʾim) – Root: אם (ʾ-m); Root Type: Strong; Form: Conjunction introducing a conditional/oath protasis; Translation: “if”; Notes: Often used in self-imprecatory oath style, setting up conditions to be tested.
  4. עָשִׂיתִי (ʿasiti) – Root: עשׂה (ʿ-ś-h); Root Type: III-He (weak); Binyan: Qal; Form: Perfect 1st person common singular; Translation: “I have done”; Notes: Perfect expresses completed action, here asserted hypothetically under oath.
  5. זֹאת (zoʾt) – Root: זה (z-h); Root Type: Strong; Form: Demonstrative pronoun feminine singular; Translation: “this”; Notes: Points to a specific alleged deed, left undefined in this clause.
  6. אִם־ (ʾim) – Root: אם (ʾ-m); Root Type: Strong; Form: Conjunction introducing a second conditional/oath clause; Translation: “if”; Notes: Repetition intensifies the speaker’s claim of innocence by stacking conditions.
  7. יֶשׁ־ (yesh) – Root: ישׁ (y-sh); Root Type: Strong; Form: Existential particle; Translation: “there is”; Notes: Marks existence/presence rather than verbal tense, focusing on whether wrongdoing is present at all.
  8. עָ֥וֶל (ʿavel) – Root: עול (ʿ-w-l); Root Type: I-Guttural (ע) (weak); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “injustice”; Notes: Denotes moral wrong, unjust gain, or perverse action, fitting the forensic tone of the verse.
  9. בְּכַפָּֽי (be-kappai) – Root: כף (k-p); Root Type: Geminate (doubled consonant class reflected in the plural form); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun feminine plural + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “in my palms”; Notes: “Palms/hands” functions as a metonymy for one’s actions and dealings, especially regarding guilt or illicit gain.

 

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