לָ֥מָּה תָרִ֖יבוּ אֵלָ֑י כֻּלְּכֶ֛ם פְּשַׁעְתֶּ֥ם בִּ֖י נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃
Why do you contend with me? You all have transgressed against me,” declares YHWH.
Morphology
- לָ֥מָּה (lammah) – Root: מה (mah); Form: Interrogative particle with preposition לְ; Translation: “Why”; Notes: Introduces a rhetorical question challenging the audience’s behavior.
- תָרִ֖יבוּ (tarivu) – Root: ריב (riv); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “do you contend”; Notes: Refers to disputing or arguing, usually in a legal or accusatory context.
- אֵלָ֑י (elai) – Root: אל (ʾel); Form: Preposition + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “with me” or “against me”; Notes: The target of their complaint or rebellion is YHWH.
- כֻּלְּכֶ֛ם (kulləkhem) – Root: כל (kol); Form: Noun masculine singular in construct + 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “you all”; Notes: Emphatic collective address to the people.
- פְּשַׁעְתֶּ֥ם (pəshaʿtem) – Root: פשע (pashaʿ); Form: Qal perfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you have transgressed”; Notes: Refers to rebellion or willful sin, especially in covenantal disloyalty.
- בִּ֖י (bi) – Root: ב (be); Form: Preposition + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “against me”; Notes: The object of their offense is explicitly YHWH.
- נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה (nəʾum-YHWH) – Root: נאם (naʾam); Form: Construct noun + proper name; Translation: “declares YHWH”; Notes: Prophetic signature formula affirming divine authority.