Hebrew Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The Book of Psalms, Chapter 114תהלים 114

Each verse opens with the running Hebrew, an English translation, and a discourse note (its connective, relation, and role in the argument). Below follows the word-by-word breakdown in six tiers: gloss, case/state or parsing, syntax, semantic force, and a lexical note.

Case Nominative Genitive Dative Accusative Vocative Verb (no case) Indeclinable

Discourse notes head each verse: relation · connective · clause-flow. Indentation marks prominence — flush-left = main line of argument; indented = supporting / subordinate material.

Theme

Psalms 114 (8 verses in the MT) opens: When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language; The middle of the chapter continues: What you, O you sea, that you fleddest? you Jordan, you wast driven back? It closes: Which turned the rock a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters.

Translation & textual notes

The Hebrew base text here follows the Masoretic Text in the Leningrad tradition as represented by the Westminster Leningrad Codex / MorphHB diplomatic stream imported from OSHB; distinctively copyrighted apparatus from BHS or BHQ is not reproduced. Psalms 114 comprises 8 verses in MT order. Movement I (vv. 1-4) — When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of stran. When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language; Judah was his sanctuary, Israel his dominion. The sea saw , and fled: Jordan was driven back. The mountains skipped like rams, the little hills like lambs. Movement II (vv. 5-8) — What you, O you sea, that you fleddest? you Jordan, you wast driven back. What you, O you sea, that you fleddest? you Jordan, you wast driven back? You mountains, you skipped like rams; you little hills, like lambs? Tremble, you earth, at the presence of YHWH, at the presence of the God of Jacob; Which turned the rock a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters. Where English printed Bibles divide verses differently, this annotation follows MT versification throughout.

1

בְּצֵ֣את יִ֭שְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם בֵּ֥ית יַ֝עֲקֹ֗ב מֵעַ֥ם לֹעֵֽז

When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language;

Infinitive construct — purpose, result, or complementasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Infinitive construct — purpose, result, or complement. Lead predicate is 'at the going out of'. Opens the chapter.
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
בְּצֵ֣אתat the going out ofprep + Qal inf constr · יָצָא (H3318)Infinitive construct→ Infinitive construct: purpose, result, or complementיָצָא (H3318) 'at the going out of'.
יִ֭שְׂרָאֵלIsraelN · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478) 'Israel'.
מִמִּצְרָ֑יִםfrom Egyptprep + N proper · מִצְרַיִם (H4714)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)מִצְרַיִם (H4714) 'from Egypt'.
בֵּ֥יתthe house ofN c · בַּיִת (H1004)Construct chain (genitival)בַּיִת (H1004) 'the house of'.
יַ֝עֲקֹ֗בJacobN · יַעֲקֹב (H3290)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יַעֲקֹב (H3290) 'Jacob'.
מֵעַ֥םfrom the people ofprep + N com m sg abs · עַם (H5971)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)עַם (H5971) 'from the people of'.
לֹעֵֽזstrange languageQal ptc ms · לָעַז (H3937)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorלָעַז (H3937) 'strange language'.
2

הָיְתָ֣ה יְהוּדָ֣ה לְקָדְשׁ֑וֹ יִ֝שְׂרָאֵ֗ל מַמְשְׁלוֹתָֽיו

Judah was his sanctuary, Israel his dominion.

Qatal — perfective or stative predicationasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Qatal — perfective or stative predication. Lead predicate is 'was'.
Word-by-word analysis· 5 words
הָיְתָ֣הwasQal perf 3fs · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actהָיָה (H1961) 'was'.
יְהוּדָ֣הJudahN · יְהוּדָה (H3063)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוּדָה (H3063) 'Judah'.
לְקָדְשׁ֑וֹholyprep + N com m sg constr + sfx 3ms · קֹדֶשׁ (H6944)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)קֹדֶשׁ (H6944) 'holy'.
יִ֝שְׂרָאֵ֗לIsraelN · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478) 'Israel'.
מַמְשְׁלוֹתָֽיוfor the rule ofN c · מֶמְשֶׁלֶת (H4475)Construct chain (genitival)מֶמְשֶׁלֶת (H4475) 'for the rule of'.
3

הַיָּ֣ם רָ֭אָה וַיָּנֹ֑ס הַ֝יַּרְדֵּ֗ן יִסֹּ֥ב לְאָחֽוֹר

The sea saw , and fled: Jordan was driven back.

Qatal — perfective or stative predicationasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Qatal — perfective or stative predication. Lead predicate is 'see'.
Word-by-word analysis· 6 words
הַיָּ֣םthe seaart + N com m sg abs · יָם (H3220)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יָם (H3220) 'the sea'.
רָ֭אָהseeQal perf 3ms · רָאָה (H7200)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actרָאָה (H7200) 'see'.
וַיָּנֹ֑סand fledconj וְ + Qal wayyiqtol 3ms · נוּס (H5127)Predicate verb (wayyiqtol of narrative sequence)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceנוּס (H5127) 'and fled'.
הַ֝יַּרְדֵּ֗ןthe Jordanart + N proper · הַיַּרְדֵּן (H3383)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)הַיַּרְדֵּן (H3383) 'the Jordan'.
יִסֹּ֥בand they marched aroundQal impf 3ms · סָבַב (H5437)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalסָבַב (H5437) 'and they marched around'.
לְאָחֽוֹרbackwardprep + N com m sg abs · אָחוֹר (H268)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)אָחוֹר (H268) 'backward'.
4

הֶֽ֭הָרִים רָקְד֣וּ כְאֵילִ֑ים גְּ֝בָע֗וֹת כִּבְנֵי צֹֽאן

The mountains skipped like rams, the little hills like lambs.

Qatal — perfective or stative predicationasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Qatal — perfective or stative predication. Lead predicate is 'dance'.
Word-by-word analysis· 6 words
הֶֽ֭הָרִיםthe mountainsart + N com m pl abs · הַר (H2022)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)הַר (H2022) 'the mountains'.
רָקְד֣וּdanceQal perf 3cp · רָקַד (H7540)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actרָקַד (H7540) 'dance'.
כְאֵילִ֑יםramsprep + N com m pl abs · אַיִל (H352)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)אַיִל (H352) 'rams'.
גְּ֝בָע֗וֹתthe hills ofN c · גִּבְעָה (H1389)Construct chain (genitival)גִּבְעָה (H1389) 'the hills of'.
כִּבְנֵיson ofprep + N com m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)בֵּן (H1121) 'son of'.
צֹֽאןflocksN c · צֹאן (H6629)Construct chain (genitival)צֹאן (H6629) 'flocks'.
5

מַה לְּךָ֣ הַ֭יָּם כִּ֣י תָנ֑וּס הַ֝יַּרְדֵּ֗ן תִּסֹּ֥ב לְאָחֽוֹר

What you, O you sea, that you fleddest? you Jordan, you wast driven back?

Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-orientedasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-oriented. Lead predicate is 'you will flee'.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
מַהwhatinterrog. · מָה (H4100)Particle or relational elementמָה (H4100) 'what'.
לְּךָ֣to youprep + sfx 2msParticle or relational elementFunction word: 'to you'.
הַ֭יָּםthe seaart + N com m sg abs · יָם (H3220)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יָם (H3220) 'the sea'.
כִּ֣יforconj וְ · כִּי (H3588)Particle or relational elementכִּי (H3588) 'for'.
תָנ֑וּסyou will fleeQal impf 2ms · נוּס (H5127)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalנוּס (H5127) 'you will flee'.
הַ֝יַּרְדֵּ֗ןthe Jordanart + N proper · הַיַּרְדֵּן (H3383)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)הַיַּרְדֵּן (H3383) 'the Jordan'.
תִּסֹּ֥בshall go around / migrateQal impf 2ms · סָבַב (H5437)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalסָבַב (H5437) 'shall go around / migrate'.
לְאָחֽוֹרbackwardprep + N com m sg abs · אָחוֹר (H268)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)אָחוֹר (H268) 'backward'.
6

הֶֽ֭הָרִים תִּרְקְד֣וּ כְאֵילִ֑ים גְּ֝בָע֗וֹת כִּבְנֵי צֹֽאן

You mountains, you skipped like rams; you little hills, like lambs?

Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-orientedasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-oriented. Lead predicate is 'dance'.
Word-by-word analysis· 6 words
הֶֽ֭הָרִיםthe mountainsart + N com m pl abs · הַר (H2022)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)הַר (H2022) 'the mountains'.
תִּרְקְד֣וּdanceQal impf 2mp · רָקַד (H7540)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalרָקַד (H7540) 'dance'.
כְאֵילִ֑יםramsprep + N com m pl abs · אַיִל (H352)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)אַיִל (H352) 'rams'.
גְּ֝בָע֗וֹתthe hills ofN c · גִּבְעָה (H1389)Construct chain (genitival)גִּבְעָה (H1389) 'the hills of'.
כִּבְנֵיson ofprep + N com m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)בֵּן (H1121) 'son of'.
צֹֽאןflocksN c · צֹאן (H6629)Construct chain (genitival)צֹאן (H6629) 'flocks'.
7

מִלִּפְנֵ֣י אָ֭דוֹן ח֣וּלִי אָ֑רֶץ מִ֝לִּפְנֵ֗י אֱל֣וֹהַּ יַעֲקֹֽב

Tremble, you earth, at the presence of YHWH, at the presence of the God of Jacob;

Imperative — volitional addressasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Imperative — volitional address. Lead predicate is 'and be in anguish'.
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
מִלִּפְנֵ֣יfrom beforeprep + prep + N com c pl constr · פָּנִים (H6440)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)פָּנִים (H6440) 'from before'.
אָ֭דוֹןmy lordN c · אָדוֹן (H113)Construct chain (genitival)אָדוֹן (H113) 'my lord'.
ח֣וּלִיand be in anguishQal impv 2fs · חוּל (H2342)Predicate verb (imperative)→ Volitional: imperativeחוּל (H2342) 'and be in anguish'.
אָ֑רֶץthe land ofN c · אֶרֶץ (H776)Construct chain (genitival)אֶרֶץ (H776) 'the land of'.
מִ֝לִּפְנֵ֗יfrom beforeprep + prep + N com c pl constr · פָּנִים (H6440)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)פָּנִים (H6440) 'from before'.
אֱל֣וֹהַּGodN c · אֱלוֹהַּ (H433)Construct chain (genitival)אֱלוֹהַּ (H433) 'God'.
יַעֲקֹֽבJacobN · יַעֲקֹב (H3290)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יַעֲקֹב (H3290) 'Jacob'.
8

הַהֹפְכִ֣י הַצּ֣וּר אֲגַם מָ֑יִם חַ֝לָּמִ֗ישׁ לְמַעְיְנוֹ מָֽיִם

Which turned the rock a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters.

Participle — attendant circumstance or substantival actorasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Participle — attendant circumstance or substantival actor. Lead predicate is 'has turned'. Closes the chapter.
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
הַהֹפְכִ֣יhas turnedart + Qal ptc ms · הָפַךְ (H2015)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorהָפַךְ (H2015) 'has turned'.
הַצּ֣וּרthe rockart + N com m sg abs · צוּר (H6697)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)צוּר (H6697) 'the rock'.
אֲגַםtheir poolsN c · אֲגַם (H98)Construct chain (genitival)אֲגַם (H98) 'their pools'.
מָ֑יִםwaterN c · מַיִם (H4325)Construct chain (genitival)מַיִם (H4325) 'water'.
חַ֝לָּמִ֗ישׁfrom the flint ofN c · חַלָּמִישׁ (H2496)Construct chain (genitival)חַלָּמִישׁ (H2496) 'from the flint of'.
לְמַעְיְנוֹthe spring ofprep + N com m sg constr + sfx 3ms · מַעְיָן (H4599)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)מַעְיָן (H4599) 'the spring of'.
מָֽיִםwaterN c · מַיִם (H4325)Construct chain (genitival)מַיִם (H4325) 'water'.