Hebrew Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The Book of Psalms, Chapter 129תהלים 129

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 129 (8 verses in the MT) opens: [A Song of degrees.] Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say: The middle of the chapter continues: Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion. It closes: Neither do they which go by say, The blessing of YHWH upon you: we bless you in the name of YHWH.

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 129 comprises 8 verses in MT order. Movement I (vv. 1-4) — [A Song of degrees. [A Song of degrees.] Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say: Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me. The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows. YHWH righteous: he has cut asunder the cords of the wicked. Movement II (vv. 5-8) — Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion. Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion. Let them be as the grass the housetops, which withereth afore it groweth up: Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand; nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom. Neither do they which go by say, The blessing of YHWH upon you: we bless you in the name of YHWH. Where English printed Bibles divide verses differently, this annotation follows MT versification throughout.

1

שִׁ֗יר הַֽמַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת רַ֭בַּת צְרָר֣וּנִי מִנְּעוּרַ֑י יֹֽאמַר נָ֝א יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

[A Song of degrees.] Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say:

Qatal — perfective or stative predicationasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Qatal — perfective or stative predication. Lead predicate is 'and it will besiege'. Opens the chapter. Speech formula or quoted address.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
שִׁ֗ירa songN c · שִׁירָה (H7892)Construct chain (genitival)שִׁירָה (H7892) 'a song'.
הַֽמַּ֫עֲל֥וֹתby stepsart + N com f pl abs · מַעֲלָה (H4609)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)מַעֲלָה (H4609) 'by steps'.
רַ֭בַּתmanyAdj · רַב (H7227)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)רַב (H7227) 'many'.
צְרָר֣וּנִיand it will besiegeQal perf 3cp + sfx 1cs · צָרַר (H6887)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actצָרַר (H6887) 'and it will besiege'.
מִנְּעוּרַ֑יin her youthprep + N com c pl constr + sfx 1cs · נַעַר (H5271)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)נַעַר (H5271) 'in her youth'.
יֹֽאמַרhe saysQal jussive 3ms · אָמַר (H559)Predicate verb (jussive)→ Jussive: volitionalאָמַר (H559) 'he says'.
נָ֝אpleaseparticle · נָא (H4994)Particle or relational elementנָא (H4994) 'please'.
יִשְׂרָאֵֽלIsraelN · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478) 'Israel'.
2

רַ֭בַּת צְרָר֣וּנִי מִנְּעוּרָ֑י גַּ֝ם לֹא יָ֥כְלוּ לִֽי

Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me.

Qatal — perfective or stative predicationasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Qatal — perfective or stative predication. Lead predicate is 'and it will besiege'.
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
רַ֭בַּתmanyAdj · רַב (H7227)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)רַב (H7227) 'many'.
צְרָר֣וּנִיand it will besiegeQal perf 3cp + sfx 1cs · צָרַר (H6887)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actצָרַר (H6887) 'and it will besiege'.
מִנְּעוּרָ֑יin her youthprep + N com c pl constr + sfx 1cs · נַעַר (H5271)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)נַעַר (H5271) 'in her youth'.
גַּ֝םalsoparticle · גַּם (H1571)Particle or relational elementגַּם (H1571) 'also'.
לֹאnotneg. · לֹא (H3808)Particle or relational elementלֹא (H3808) 'not'.
יָ֥כְלוּthey were ableQal perf 3cp · יָכֹל (H3201)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actיָכֹל (H3201) 'they were able'.
לִֽיto meprep + sfx 1csParticle or relational elementFunction word: 'to me'.
3

עַל גַּ֭בִּי חָרְשׁ֣וּ חֹרְשִׁ֑ים הֶ֝אֱרִ֗יכוּ למענותם לְמַעֲנִיתָֽם

The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows.

Qatal — perfective or stative predicationasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Qatal — perfective or stative predication. Lead predicate is 'and is silent'.
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
עַלonprep · עַל (H5921)Particle or relational elementעַל (H5921) 'on'.
גַּ֭בִּיthe ridges ofN c · גַּב (H1354)Construct chain (genitival)גַּב (H1354) 'the ridges of'.
חָרְשׁ֣וּand is silentQal perf 3cp · חָרַשׁ (H2790)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actחָרַשׁ (H2790) 'and is silent'.
חֹרְשִׁ֑יםand is silentQal ptc mp · חָרַשׁ (H2790)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorחָרַשׁ (H2790) 'and is silent'.
הֶ֝אֱרִ֗יכוּoutlivedHiphil perf 3cp · אָרַךְ (H748)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actאָרַךְ (H748) 'outlived'.
למענותםacreprep + N com f pl constr + sfx 3mp · מַעֲנָה (H4618)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)מַעֲנָה (H4618) 'acre'.
לְמַעֲנִיתָֽםacreprep + N com f sg constr + sfx 3mp · מַעֲנָה (H4618)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)מַעֲנָה (H4618) 'acre'.
4

יְהוָ֥ה צַדִּ֑יק קִ֝צֵּ֗ץ עֲב֣וֹת רְשָׁעִֽים

YHWH righteous: he has cut asunder the cords of the wicked.

Qatal — perfective or stative predicationasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Qatal — perfective or stative predication. Lead predicate is 'and they cut off'.
Word-by-word analysis· 5 words
יְהוָ֥הYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
צַדִּ֑יקrighteousAdj · צַדִּיק (H6662)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)צַדִּיק (H6662) 'righteous'.
קִ֝צֵּ֗ץand they cut offPiel perf 3ms · קָצַץ (H7112)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actקָצַץ (H7112) 'and they cut off'.
עֲב֣וֹתcords ofN c · עֲבֹת (H5688)Construct chain (genitival)עֲבֹת (H5688) 'cords of'.
רְשָׁעִֽיםthe wickedAdj · רָשָׁע (H7563)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)רָשָׁע (H7563) 'the wicked'.
5

יֵ֭בֹשׁוּ וְיִסֹּ֣גוּ אָח֑וֹר כֹּ֝֗ל שֹׂנְאֵ֥י צִיּֽוֹן

Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion.

Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-orientedasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-oriented. Lead predicate is 'were ashamed'.
Word-by-word analysis· 6 words
יֵ֭בֹשׁוּwere ashamedQal impf 3mp · בּוּשׁ (H954)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalבּוּשׁ (H954) 'were ashamed'.
וְיִסֹּ֣גוּbacksliderconj וְ + Niphal impf 3mp · סוּג (H5472)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalסוּג (H5472) 'backslider'.
אָח֑וֹרbackwardN c · אָחוֹר (H268)Construct chain (genitival)אָחוֹר (H268) 'backward'.
כֹּ֝֗לallN c · כֹּל (H3605)Construct chain (genitival)כֹּל (H3605) 'all'.
שֹׂנְאֵ֥יwho hateQal ptc mp · שָׂנֵא (H8130)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorשָׂנֵא (H8130) 'who hate'.
צִיּֽוֹןZionN · צִיּוֹן (H6726)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)צִיּוֹן (H6726) 'Zion'.
6

יִ֭הְיוּ כַּחֲצִ֣יר גַּגּ֑וֹת שֶׁקַּדְמַ֖ת שָׁלַ֣ף יָבֵֽשׁ

Let them be as the grass the housetops, which withereth afore it groweth up:

Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-orientedasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-oriented. Lead predicate is 'they shall be'.
Word-by-word analysis· 6 words
יִ֭הְיוּthey shall beQal impf 3mp · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalהָיָה (H1961) 'they shall be'.
כַּחֲצִ֣ירthe leeksprep + N com m sg constr · חָצִיר (H2682)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)חָצִיר (H2682) 'the leeks'.
גַּגּ֑וֹתthe roofN c · גָּג (H1406)Construct chain (genitival)גָּג (H1406) 'the roof'.
שֶׁקַּדְמַ֖תaforerel. שֶׁ + N com f sg constr · קַדְמָה (H6927)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)קַדְמָה (H6927) 'afore'.
שָׁלַ֣ףhe drew outQal perf 3ms · שָׁלַף (H8025)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actשָׁלַף (H8025) 'he drew out'.
יָבֵֽשׁwas dryQal perf 3ms · יָבֵשׁ (H3001)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actיָבֵשׁ (H3001) 'was dry'.
7

שֶׁלֹּ֤א מִלֵּ֖א כַפּ֥וֹ קוֹצֵ֗ר וְחִצְנ֥וֹ מְעַמֵּֽר

Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand; nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom.

Qatal — perfective or stative predicationasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Qatal — perfective or stative predication. Lead predicate is 'he wholly followed'.
Word-by-word analysis· 6 words
שֶׁלֹּ֤אnotrel. שֶׁ + neg. · לֹא (H3808)Particle or relational elementלֹא (H3808) 'not'.
מִלֵּ֖אhe wholly followedPiel perf 3ms · מָלֵא (H4390)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actמָלֵא (H4390) 'he wholly followed'.
כַפּ֥וֹhis palmN c · כַּף (H3709)Construct chain (genitival)כַּף (H3709) 'his palm'.
קוֹצֵ֗רand it became impatientQal ptc ms · קָצַר (H7114)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorקָצַר (H7114) 'and it became impatient'.
וְחִצְנ֥וֹandconj וְ + N com m sg constr + sfx 3ms · חֵצֶן (H2683)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)חֵצֶן (H2683) 'and'.
מְעַמֵּֽרyou shall treat as merchandisePiel ptc ms · עָמַר (H6014)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorעָמַר (H6014) 'you shall treat as merchandise'.
8

וְלֹ֤א אָֽמְר֨וּ הָעֹבְרִ֗ים בִּרְכַּֽת יְהוָ֥ה אֲלֵיכֶ֑ם בֵּרַ֥כְנוּ אֶ֝תְכֶ֗ם בְּשֵׁ֣ם יְהוָֽה

Neither do they which go by say, The blessing of YHWH upon you: we bless you in the name of YHWH.

Qatal — perfective or stative predicationwə
wə-chaining from the preceding clause. Qatal — perfective or stative predication. Lead predicate is 'they said'. Closes the chapter. Speech formula or quoted address.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
וְלֹ֤אand notconj וְ + neg. · לֹא (H3808)Particle or relational elementלֹא (H3808) 'and not'.
אָֽמְר֨וּthey saidQal perf 3cp · אָמַר (H559)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actאָמַר (H559) 'they said'.
הָעֹבְרִ֗יםare crossingart + Qal ptc mp · עָבַר (H5674)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorעָבַר (H5674) 'are crossing'.
בִּרְכַּֽתblessings ofN c · בְּרָכָה (H1293)Construct chain (genitival)בְּרָכָה (H1293) 'blessings of'.
יְהוָ֥הYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
אֲלֵיכֶ֑םto youprep + sfx 2mp · אֶל (H413)Particle or relational elementאֶל (H413) 'to you'.
בֵּרַ֥כְנוּblessedPiel perf 1cp · בֵּרַךְ (H1288)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actבֵּרַךְ (H1288) 'blessed'.
אֶ֝תְכֶ֗םyouobj marker + sfx 2mp · אֵת (H853)Particle or relational elementאֵת (H853) 'you'.
בְּשֵׁ֣םin the name ofprep + N com m sg constr · שֵׁם (H8034)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)שֵׁם (H8034) 'in the name of'.
יְהוָֽהYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.