הֹ֥וי אַשּׁ֖וּר שֵׁ֣בֶט אַפִּ֑י וּמַטֶּה־ה֥וּא בְיָדָ֖ם זַעְמִֽי׃
Woe to Ashshur, the rod of My anger, and the staff in their hand is My fury.
Morphology
- הֹ֥וי (hoy) – Root: הוי; Form: Interjection; Translation: “Woe”; Notes: A lamenting cry used to announce impending judgment.
- אַשּׁ֖וּר (Ashshur) – Root: Proper noun; Form: Proper name, masculine singular; Translation: “Ashshur”; Notes: Refers to the Assyrian empire as an instrument of YHWH’s will.
- שֵׁ֣בֶט (shevet) – Root: שׁבט (shevet); Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “the rod of”; Notes: Symbol of authority, discipline, or punishment.
- אַפִּ֑י (appi) – Root: אף (ʾaf); Form: Noun masculine singular with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “My anger”; Notes: Refers to divine wrath or indignation.
- וּמַטֶּה (u-matteh) – Root: נטה (natah); Form: Conjunction + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and the staff”; Notes: Parallels “rod,” reinforcing the image of a divine instrument.
- הוּא (hu) – Root: Pronoun; Form: 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “it is”; Notes: Equative use, linking subject and predicate.
- בְיָדָם (be-yadam) – Root: יד (yad); Form: Preposition בְ + noun feminine singular with 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “in their hand”; Notes: Indicates agency or possession.
- זַעְמִי (zaʿmi) – Root: זעם (zaʿam); Form: Noun masculine singular with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “My fury”; Notes: Stronger than “anger,” suggesting intense divine indignation.