לָכֵן֩ כֶּאֱכֹ֨ל קַ֜שׁ לְשֹׁ֣ון אֵ֗שׁ וַחֲשַׁ֤שׁ לֶֽהָבָה֙ יִרְפֶּ֔ה שָׁרְשָׁם֙ כַּמָּ֣ק יִֽהְיֶ֔ה וּפִרְחָ֖ם כָּאָבָ֣ק יַעֲלֶ֑ה כִּ֣י מָאֲס֗וּ אֵ֚ת תֹּורַת֙ יְהוָ֣ה צְבָאֹ֔ות וְאֵ֛ת אִמְרַ֥ת קְדֹֽושׁ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל נִאֵֽצוּ׃
Therefore, as the tongue of fire devours stubble, and dry grass sinks in flame, their root shall be like rot, and their blossom shall go up like dust, because they have rejected the Torah of YHWH of Hosts and have despised the word of the Holy One of Yisraʾel.
Morphology
- לָכֵן (lakhen) – Root: כן (ken); Form: Adverb; Translation: “Therefore”; Notes: Introduces the result or consequence of the previous sin.
- כֶּאֱכֹל (keʾekhol) – Root: אכל (ʾakal); Form: Preposition כְּ + infinitive construct; Translation: “as the devouring of”; Notes: Comparative phrase introducing a simile.
- קַשׁ (qash) – Root: —; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “stubble”; Notes: Dry stalks easily consumed by fire.
- לְשֹׁון (leshon) – Root: לשׁן (lashon); Form: Noun feminine singular in construct; Translation: “tongue of”; Notes: Figurative for a licking flame.
- אֵשׁ (ʾesh) – Root: —; Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “fire”; Notes: Completes the image of destruction.
- וַחֲשַׁשׁ (va-ḥashash) – Root: חשׁשׁ (ḥashash); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “and dry grass”; Notes: Refers to brittle, dry vegetation.
- לֶהָבָה (lehavah) – Root: להב (lahav); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “flame”; Notes: Paired with fire to reinforce image of consuming judgment.
- יִרְפֶּה (yirpeh) – Root: רפה (raphah); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “shall sink” or “decay”; Notes: Used here in the sense of failing or collapsing.
- שָׁרְשָׁם (shorsham) – Root: שרשׁ (shoresh); Form: Noun masculine singular with 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “their root”; Notes: Symbolizes their foundational strength or lineage.
- כַּמָּק (ka-maq) – Root: מקק (maqaq); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “like rot” or “decay”; Notes: Comparison expressing moral and physical corruption.
- יִהְיֶה (yihyeh) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “shall be”; Notes: Future consequence.
- וּפִרְחָם (u-firkham) – Root: פרח (parach); Form: Noun masculine singular with 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “and their blossom”; Notes: Symbol of outward success or vitality.
- כָּאָבָק (ka-avak) – Root: אבק (ʿavaq); Form: Noun masculine singular with comparative prefix כְּ; Translation: “like dust”; Notes: Signifies worthlessness or destruction.
- יַעֲלֶה (yaʿaleh) – Root: עלה (ʿalah); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “shall go up”; Notes: Ironically describes their rise as vaporous and fleeting.
- כִּי (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “because”; Notes: Introduces the reason for divine judgment.
- מָאֲסוּ (maʾasu) – Root: מאס (maʾas); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they have rejected”; Notes: Indicates willful disdain.
- אֵת (et) – Form: Direct object marker; Translation: —; Notes: Marks “Torah” as the object of rejection.
- תֹּורַת (torat) – Root: ירה (yarah); Form: Noun feminine singular construct; Translation: “the Torah of”; Notes: Divine instruction or law.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenant name of God.
- צְבָאֹות (tsevaʾot) – Root: צבא (tsava); Form: Noun feminine plural in construct; Translation: “of Hosts”; Notes: Military term, divine title of rulership.
- וְאֵת (ve-et) – Form: Conjunction + direct object marker; Translation: —; Notes: Introduces second object of contempt.
- אִמְרַת (imrat) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Noun feminine singular construct; Translation: “the word of”; Notes: Divine utterance or decree.
- קְדֹושׁ (qedosh) – Root: קדש (qadash); Form: Adjective masculine singular construct; Translation: “the Holy One of”; Notes: Title of YHWH emphasizing holiness.
- יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisraʾel) – Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yisraʾel”; Notes: Covenant people of God.
- נִאֵצוּ (niʾetsu) – Root: נאץ (naʾats); Form: Piel perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they have despised”; Notes: Strong verb for contempt or blasphemy.