שֹׁ֥מּוּ שָׁמַ֖יִם עַל־זֹ֑את וְשַׂעֲר֛וּ חָרְב֥וּ מְאֹ֖ד נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃
Be appalled, O heavens, at this! Be horrified, be utterly desolate,” declares YHWH.
Morphology
- שֹׁ֥מּוּ (shommu) – Root: שׁמם; Form: Qal imperative 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “Be appalled!”; Notes: Addressed to the heavens; strong emotive imperative denoting astonishment and desolation.
- שָׁמַ֖יִם (shamayim) – Root: שׁמי; Form: Noun, masculine dual absolute; Translation: “heavens”; Notes: Dual form used consistently for “heavens” in Hebrew; subject of the imperative.
- עַל־זֹ֑את (ʿal-zot) – Root: זֶה; Form: Preposition + demonstrative feminine singular; Translation: “at this”; Notes: Refers to the preceding shocking behavior of Yisraʾel.
- וְשַׂעֲר֛וּ (ve-saʿaru) – Root: שער; Form: Qal imperative 2nd person masculine plural with conjunction; Translation: “and shudder!” or “be horrified!”; Notes: Intensifies the emotional reaction expected from the heavens.
- חָרְב֥וּ (ḥorvu) – Root: חרב; Form: Qal imperative 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “be utterly desolate!”; Notes: Triple imperative climaxing in total ruin or devastation; prophetic poetic style.
- מְאֹ֖ד (meʾod) – Root: מאד; Form: Adverb; Translation: “very much,” “exceedingly”; Notes: Intensifier modifying the previous verb “ḥorvu.”
- נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה (neʾum-YHWH) – Root: נאם; Form: Noun construct + divine proper name; Translation: “declares YHWH”; Notes: Common prophetic formula indicating divine authority.