Hebrew Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The Book of Psalms, Chapter 134תהלים 134

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 134 (3 verses in the MT) opens: [A Song of degrees.] Behold, bless you YHWH, all servants of YHWH, which by night stand in the house of YHWH. The middle of the chapter continues: Lift up your hands the sanctuary, and bless YHWH. It closes: YHWH that made heaven and earth bless you out of Zion.

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 134 comprises 3 verses in MT order. Movement I (vv. 1-3) — [A Song of degrees. [A Song of degrees.] Behold, bless you YHWH, all servants of YHWH, which by night stand in the house of YHWH. Lift up your hands the sanctuary, and bless YHWH. YHWH that made heaven and earth bless you out of Zion. Where English printed Bibles divide verses differently, this annotation follows MT versification throughout.

1

שִׁ֗יר הַֽמַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת הִנֵּ֤ה בָּרֲכ֣וּ אֶת יְ֭הוָה כָּל עַבְדֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה הָעֹמְדִ֥ים בְּבֵית יְ֝הוָ֗ה בַּלֵּילֽוֹת

[A Song of degrees.] Behold, bless you YHWH, all servants of YHWH, which by night stand in the house of YHWH.

Imperative — volitional addressasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Imperative — volitional address. Lead predicate is 'bless'. Opens the chapter.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 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'.
הִנֵּ֤הbeholdadv. · הִנֵּה (H2009)Particle or relational elementהִנֵּה (H2009) 'behold'.
בָּרֲכ֣וּblessPiel impv 2mp · בֵּרַךְ (H1288)Predicate verb (imperative)→ Volitional: imperativeבֵּרַךְ (H1288) 'bless'.
אֶת(obj)obj marker · אֵת (H853)Particle or relational elementאֵת (H853) '(obj)'.
יְ֭הוָהYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
כָּלallN c · כֹּל (H3605)Construct chain (genitival)כֹּל (H3605) 'all'.
עַבְדֵ֣יthe servants ofN c · עֶבֶד (H5650)Construct chain (genitival)עֶבֶד (H5650) 'the servants of'.
יְהוָ֑הYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
הָעֹמְדִ֥יםwho stand/serveart + Qal ptc mp · עָמַד (H5975)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorעָמַד (H5975) 'who stand/serve'.
בְּבֵיתin the houseprep + N com m sg constr · בַּיִת (H1004)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)בַּיִת (H1004) 'in the house'.
יְ֝הוָ֗הYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
בַּלֵּילֽוֹתthe nightprep + art + N com m pl abs · לַיְלָה (H3915)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)לַיְלָה (H3915) 'the night'.
2

שְׂאֽוּ יְדֵכֶ֥ם קֹ֑דֶשׁ וּ֝בָרֲכוּ אֶת יְהוָֽה

Lift up your hands the sanctuary, and bless YHWH.

Imperative — volitional addressasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Imperative — volitional address. Lead predicate is 'take up'.
Word-by-word analysis· 6 words
שְׂאֽוּtake upQal impv 2mp · נָשָׂא (H5375)Predicate verb (imperative)→ Volitional: imperativeנָשָׂא (H5375) 'take up'.
יְדֵכֶ֥םyour handN c · יָד (H3027)Construct chain (genitival)יָד (H3027) 'your hand'.
קֹ֑דֶשׁholyN c · קֹדֶשׁ (H6944)Construct chain (genitival)קֹדֶשׁ (H6944) 'holy'.
וּ֝בָרֲכוּand cursed [written 'blessed']conj וְ + Piel impv 2mp · בֵּרַךְ (H1288)Predicate verb (imperative)→ Volitional: imperativeבֵּרַךְ (H1288) 'and cursed [written 'blessed']'.
אֶת(obj)obj marker · אֵת (H853)Particle or relational elementאֵת (H853) '(obj)'.
יְהוָֽהYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
3

יְבָרֶכְךָ֣ יְ֭הוָה מִצִּיּ֑וֹן עֹ֝שֵׂ֗ה שָׁמַ֥יִם וָאָֽרֶץ

YHWH that made heaven and earth bless you out of Zion.

Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-orientedasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-oriented. Lead predicate is 'he may bless you'. Closes the chapter.
Word-by-word analysis· 6 words
יְבָרֶכְךָ֣he may bless youPiel impf 3ms + sfx 2ms · בֵּרַךְ (H1288)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalבֵּרַךְ (H1288) 'he may bless you'.
יְ֭הוָהYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
מִצִּיּ֑וֹןZionprep + N proper · צִיּוֹן (H6726)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)צִיּוֹן (H6726) 'Zion'.
עֹ֝שֵׂ֗הhe didQal ptc ms · עָשָׂה (H6213)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorעָשָׂה (H6213) 'he did'.
שָׁמַ֥יִםheavenN c · שָׁמַיִם (H8064)Construct chain (genitival)שָׁמַיִם (H8064) 'heaven'.
וָאָֽרֶץand earthconj וְ + N com c sg abs · אֶרֶץ (H776)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)אֶרֶץ (H776) 'and earth'.