Jeremiah 3:24

וְהַבֹּ֗שֶׁת אָֽכְלָ֛ה אֶת־יְגִ֥יעַ אֲבֹותֵ֖ינוּ מִנְּעוּרֵ֑ינוּ אֶת־צֹאנָם֙ וְאֶת־בְּקָרָ֔ם אֶת־בְּנֵיהֶ֖ם וְאֶת־בְּנֹותֵיהֶֽם׃

And the shame has devoured the labor of our fathers from our youth— their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.

Morphology

1. וְהַבֹּשֶׁת (ve-ha-boshet) – Root: בושׁ; Form: Conjunction ו + definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “And the shame”; Notes: Refers to idolatry or disgrace as a devouring force.
2. אָכְלָה (ʾakhlah) – Root: אכל; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “has devoured”; Notes: Feminine verb agrees with בֹּשֶׁת as subject.
3. אֶת־יְגִיעַ (ʾet-yegiʿa) – Root: יגע; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “the labor of”; Notes: Object of the verb, refers to fruit of toil.
4. אֲבֹותֵינוּ (avoteinu) – Root: אב; Form: Noun masculine plural construct + 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “our fathers”; Notes: Possessors of the “labor.”
5. מִנְּעוּרֵינוּ (min-neʿureinu) – Root: נער; Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine plural construct + 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “from our youth”; Notes: Indicates temporal span of loss beginning early.
6. אֶת־צֹאנָם (ʾet-tsonam) – Root: צאן; Form: Noun common gender singular collective + 3rd person plural suffix; Translation: “their flocks”; Notes: One of the devoured possessions.
7. וְאֶת־בְּקָרָם (ve-ʾet-beqaram) – Root: בקר; Form: Noun masculine singular collective + 3rd person plural suffix; Translation: “and their herds”; Notes: Cattle and livestock included in the loss.
8. אֶת־בְּנֵיהֶם (ʾet-benehem) – Root: בן; Form: Noun masculine plural + 3rd person plural suffix; Translation: “their sons”; Notes: Intensifies the depth of destruction or judgment.
9. וְאֶת־בְּנֹותֵיהֶם (ve-ʾet-benoteihem) – Root: בת; Form: Noun feminine plural + 3rd person plural suffix; Translation: “and their daughters”; Notes: Completes the picture of total familial loss.