וַיִּזְעֲק֤וּ אֶל־יְהוָה֙ ויאמר חָטָ֔אנוּ כִּ֤י עָזַ֨בְנוּ֙ אֶת־יְהוָ֔ה וַנַּעֲבֹ֥ד אֶת־הַבְּעָלִ֖ים וְאֶת־הָעַשְׁתָּרֹ֑ות וְעַתָּ֗ה הַצִּילֵ֛נוּ מִיַּ֥ד אֹיְבֵ֖ינוּ וְנַעַבְדֶֽךָּ׃
And they cried out to YHWH and said, ‘We have sinned, for we have forsaken YHWH and have served the Baʿalim and the ʿAshtarot; but now, deliver us from the hand of our enemies, and we will serve You.’
Morphology
- וַיִּזְעֲק֤וּ (vayyizʿaqu) – Root: זעק (zaʿaq); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (preterite) 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “And they cried out”; Notes: Expresses a desperate plea.
- אֶל־יְהוָה֙ (el-YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper noun, divine name with preposition; Translation: “to YHWH”; Notes: The recipient of their plea.
- ויאמר (vayomer) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (preterite) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and they said”; Notes: Introduces their statement.
- חָטָ֔אנוּ (ḥataʾnu) – Root: חטא (ḥataʾ); Form: Qal perfect 1st person plural; Translation: “We have sinned”; Notes: Confession of wrongdoing.
- כִּ֤י (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces a reason.
- עָזַ֨בְנוּ֙ (ʿazavnu) – Root: עזב (ʿazav); Form: Qal perfect 1st person plural; Translation: “we have forsaken”; Notes: Indicates abandonment.
- אֶת־יְהוָ֔ה (et-YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper noun, divine name with definite direct object marker; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The one forsaken.
- וַנַּעֲבֹ֥ד (vanʿavod) – Root: עבד (ʿavad); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (preterite) 1st person plural; Translation: “and we have served”; Notes: A contrast with forsaking YHWH.
- אֶת־הַבְּעָלִ֖ים (et-ha-Baʿalim) – Root: בעל (Baʿal); Form: Noun, masculine plural definite; Translation: “the Baʿalim”; Notes: Canaanite deities.
- וְאֶת־הָעַשְׁתָּרֹ֑ות (ve-et-ha-ʿAshtarot) – Root: עשתרת (ʿAshtoret); Form: Noun, feminine plural definite; Translation: “the ʿAshtarot”; Notes: Canaanite goddesses.
- וְעַתָּ֗ה (ve-ʿatta) – Root: עתה (ʿatta); Form: Adverb; Translation: “but now”; Notes: Indicates urgency.
- הַצִּילֵ֛נוּ (hatzilenu) – Root: נצל (natzal); Form: Hifil imperative 2nd person masculine singular + 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “deliver us”; Notes: A plea for salvation.
- מִיַּ֥ד (mi-yad) – Root: יד (yad); Form: Preposition + noun, feminine singular construct; Translation: “from the hand of”; Notes: Indicates oppression.
- אֹיְבֵ֖ינוּ (ʾoyveinu) – Root: אויב (ʾoyev); Form: Noun, masculine plural construct + 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “our enemies”; Notes: Those oppressing Yisraʾel.
- וְנַעַבְדֶֽךָּ׃ (ve-naʿavdekha) – Root: עבד (ʿavad); Form: Qal imperfect 1st person plural + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “and we will serve You”; Notes: A vow of renewed devotion.