עַל־כֵּן֩ הִכָּ֨ם אַרְיֵ֜ה מִיַּ֗עַר זְאֵ֤ב עֲרָבוֹת֙ יְשָׁדְדֵ֔ם נָמֵ֤ר שֹׁקֵד֙ עַל־עָ֣רֵיהֶ֔ם כָּל־הַיּוֹצֵ֥א מֵהֵ֖נָּה יִטָּרֵ֑ף כִּ֤י רַבּוּ֙ פִּשְׁעֵיהֶ֔ם עָצְמ֖וּ מְשֻׁבוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃
Therefore a lion from the forest shall strike them, a wolf of the deserts shall ravage them, a leopard is watching over their cities; everyone who goes out from them shall be torn to pieces, because their transgressions are many, their apostasies have grown strong.
Morphology
- עַל־כֵּן֩ (ʿal-ken) – Root: כן (ken); Form: Preposition + demonstrative adverb; Translation: “Therefore”; Notes: Indicates result or consequence.
- הִכָּ֨ם (hikkam) – Root: נכה (nakah); Form: Hifil imperfect 3rd person masculine singular + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “shall strike them”; Notes: Causative form describing divine judgment.
- אַרְיֵ֜ה (aryeh) – Root: אריה (aryeh); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “lion”; Notes: Symbol of fierce destruction.
- מִיַּ֗עַר (mi-yaʿar) – Root: יער (yaʿar); Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “from the forest”; Notes: Describes the lion’s origin.
- זְאֵ֤ב (zeʾev) – Root: זאב (zeʾev); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “wolf”; Notes: Another image of violent threat.
- עֲרָבוֹת֙ (ʿaravot) – Root: ערבה (ʿaravah); Form: Noun feminine plural; Translation: “of the deserts”; Notes: Semi-arid or wilderness regions.
- יְשָׁדְדֵ֔ם (yeshodedem) – Root: שדד (shadad); Form: Piel imperfect 3rd person masculine singular + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “shall ravage them”; Notes: Intense plundering action.
- נָמֵ֤ר (namer) – Root: נמר (namer); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “leopard”; Notes: A stealthy predator; used figuratively for lurking danger.
- שֹׁקֵד֙ (shoqed) – Root: שקד (shaqad); Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “is watching”; Notes: Conveys persistent vigilance.
- עַל־עָ֣רֵיהֶ֔ם (ʿal-arehem) – Root: עיר (ʿir); Form: Preposition + noun feminine plural + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “over their cities”; Notes: Threat hovers above urban centers.
- כָּל־הַיּוֹצֵ֥א (kol-ha-yotze) – Root: יצא (yatsaʾ); Form: Construct noun + article + Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “everyone who goes out”; Notes: Participle functions as substantive subject.
- מֵהֵ֖נָּה (me-hennah) – Root: מן (min); Form: Preposition + 3rd person feminine plural suffix; Translation: “from them”; Notes: Refers back to “their cities.”
- יִטָּרֵ֑ף (yittaref) – Root: טרף (taraf); Form: Nifal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “shall be torn to pieces”; Notes: Passive form indicating violent attack.
- כִּ֤י (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “because”; Notes: Introduces reason for the judgment.
- רַבּוּ֙ (rabbu) – Root: רבב (ravav); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they have multiplied”; Notes: Indicates increase in sin.
- פִּשְׁעֵיהֶ֔ם (pisheʿeihem) – Root: פשע (peshaʿ); Form: Noun masculine plural + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “their transgressions”; Notes: Willful rebellions against divine law.
- עָצְמ֖וּ (ʿatsmu) – Root: עצם (ʿatsam); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “have grown strong”; Notes: Strengthening or intensifying of sin.
- מְשֻׁבוֹתֵיהֶֽם (meshuvoteihem) – Root: שוב (shuv); Form: Noun feminine plural in construct + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “their apostasies” or “their turnings away”; Notes: Refers to acts of unfaithfulness or rebellion against YHWH.