הֲתִשְׁכַּ֤ח בְּתוּלָה֙ עֶדְיָ֔הּ כַּלָּ֖ה קִשֻּׁרֶ֑יהָ וְעַמִּ֣י שְׁכֵח֔וּנִי יָמִ֖ים אֵ֥ין מִסְפָּֽר׃
Does a virgin forget her ornament, a bride her bands? But my people have forgotten me days without number.
Morphology
- הֲתִשְׁכַּ֤ח (ha-tishkaḥ) – Root: שכח (shakhaḥ); Form: Interrogative prefix הֲ + Qal imperfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “Does [she] forget”; Notes: Rhetorical question emphasizing improbability.
- בְּתוּלָה (bətulah) – Root: בתל (batul); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “a virgin”; Notes: Represents purity and care, contrasted with forgetfulness.
- עֶדְיָהּ (ʿedyah) – Root: עדה (ʿadah); Form: Noun masculine singular with 3rd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “her ornament”; Notes: Likely refers to jewelry or festive adornment.
- כַּלָּ֖ה (kallah) – Root: כלה (kallah); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “a bride”; Notes: Common symbol for covenant relationship with YHWH.
- קִשֻּׁרֶ֑יהָ (kishureha) – Root: קשר (qashar); Form: Noun masculine plural with 3rd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “her bands” or “bindings”; Notes: May refer to wedding attire or ceremonial decorations.
- וְעַמִּ֣י (ve-ʿammi) – Root: עם (ʿam); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine singular with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “but my people”; Notes: Contrasts YHWH’s people with the attentive bride.
- שְׁכֵח֔וּנִי (shekheḥuni) – Root: שכח (shakhaḥ); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “they have forgotten me”; Notes: Emphasizes the personal abandonment of YHWH.
- יָמִ֖ים (yamim) – Root: יום (yom); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “days”; Notes: Refers to extended duration or continuous behavior.
- אֵ֥ין (ʾein) – Root: אין (ʾein); Form: Particle of negation/existence; Translation: “there is no”; Notes: Used here to emphasize immeasurability.
- מִסְפָּֽר (mispar) – Root: ספר (safar); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “number”; Notes: Indicates vastness of time forgotten—beyond counting.