לָ֤מָּה צַּ֨מְנוּ֙ וְלֹ֣א רָאִ֔יתָ עִנִּ֥ינוּ נַפְשֵׁ֖נוּ וְלֹ֣א תֵדָ֑ע הֵ֣ן בְּיֹ֤ום צֹֽמְכֶם֙ תִּמְצְאוּ־חֵ֔פֶץ וְכָל־עַצְּבֵיכֶ֖ם תִּנְגֹּֽשׂוּ׃
“Why have we fasted, and You do not see? We have afflicted our souls, and You do not know.” Behold, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, and all your laborers you drive hard.
Morphology
- לָמָּה (lammah) – Root: מה (mah); Form: Interrogative particle; Translation: “Why”; Notes: Introduces a rhetorical complaint.
- צַּמְנוּ (tzamnu) – Root: צום (tzum); Form: Qal perfect 1st person plural; Translation: “we have fasted”; Notes: Refers to ritual fasting, expecting divine recognition.
- וְלֹא (ve-lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Conjunction + negative particle; Translation: “and not”; Notes: Negates the verb that follows.
- רָאִיתָ (raʾita) – Root: ראה (raʾah); Form: Qal perfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “You have seen”; Notes: Addresses YHWH directly.
- עִנִּינוּ (ʿinninu) – Root: ענה (ʿanah); Form: Piel perfect 1st person plural; Translation: “we have afflicted”; Notes: Often associated with self-denial during fasting.
- נַפְשֵׁנוּ (nafshenu) – Root: נפשׁ (nefesh); Form: Noun feminine singular with 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “our soul(s)”; Notes: Refers to inner being or life; intensive fasting practice.
- וְלֹא (ve-lo) – Form: Conjunction + negative particle; Translation: “and not”; Notes: Continuation of the complaint.
- תֵדָע (tedaʿ) – Root: ידע (yadaʿ); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “You know”; Notes: Another accusation of divine neglect.
- הֵן (hen) – Root: Demonstrative particle; Form: Particle; Translation: “Behold”; Notes: Introduces explanation or rebuttal.
- בְּיֹום צֹמְכֶם (be-yom tzomkhem) – Roots: יום (yom), צום (tzum); Form: Preposition בְ + construct noun + plural suffix; Translation: “on the day of your fast”; Notes: Refers to the specific ritual practice being challenged.
- תִּמְצְאוּ־חֵפֶץ (timtzeʾu-ḥefets) – Roots: מצא (matza), חפץ (ḥefets); Form: Qal imperfect 2mp + noun masculine singular; Translation: “you find pleasure”; Notes: Critique that their fasting is self-serving.
- וְכָל־עַצְּבֵיכֶם (ve-khol-ʿatzveikhem) – Root: עצב (ʿatsav); Form: Conjunction + noun masculine plural with 2mp suffix; Translation: “and all your laborers”; Notes: Refers to those burdened under them, possibly workers or servants.
- תִּנְגֹּשׂוּ (tinggosu) – Root: נגשׂ (nagas); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you oppress”; Notes: Denounces exploitation even while appearing pious.