שָׁמְנ֣וּ עָשְׁת֗וּ גַּ֚ם עָֽבְר֣וּ דִבְרֵי־רָ֔ע דִּ֣ין לֹא־דָ֔נוּ דִּ֥ין יָתֹ֖ום וְיַצְלִ֑יחוּ וּמִשְׁפַּ֥ט אֶבְיֹונִ֖ים לֹ֥א שָׁפָֽטוּ׃
They have grown fat, they have become sleek; indeed, they have surpassed the deeds of evil. The case they do not judge, the case of the orphan, that they might succeed; and the judgment of the needy they have not judged.
Morphology
- שָׁמְנוּ (shamnu) – Root: שׁמן; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they have grown fat”; Notes: Conveys overindulgence and complacency.
- עָשְׁתוּ (ʿashtu) – Root: עשת; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they have become sleek”; Notes: Rare verb indicating glistening or sleekness, reinforcing excess.
- גַּם (gam) – Root: גם; Form: Adverb; Translation: “also” or “indeed”; Notes: Intensifies what follows.
- עָבְרוּ (ʿavru) – Root: עבר; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they have surpassed” or “transgressed”; Notes: Carries the sense of exceeding or going beyond, often with a negative sense.
- דִבְרֵי־רָע (divrei-raʿ) – Root: דבר / רע; Form: Construct masculine plural noun + noun masculine singular; Translation: “the deeds of evil”; Notes: Refers to words or actions characterized by wickedness.
- דִּין (din) – Root: דין; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “case” or “judgment”; Notes: Legal or judicial matter.
- לֹא־דָנוּ (lo-danu) – Root: דין; Form: Negative particle + Qal perfect 3mp; Translation: “they did not judge”; Notes: Indicates failure in their responsibility as leaders or judges.
- דִּין (din) – Root: דין; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “case” or “judgment”; Notes: Repetition emphasizes injustice.
- יָתֹום (yatom) – Root: יתם; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “orphan”; Notes: Symbolizes the most vulnerable in society.
- וְיַצְלִיחוּ (ve-yatsliḥu) – Root: צלח; Form: Conjunction + Hifil imperfect 3mp; Translation: “that they might succeed”; Notes: Expresses the potential success if justice were done.
- וּמִשְׁפַּט (u-mishpat) – Root: שׁפט; Form: Conjunction + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and the judgment”; Notes: Legal decision or due process.
- אֶבְיֹונִים (evyonim) – Root: אבי; Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “the needy”; Notes: Those in poverty or dependence.
- לֹא (lo) – Root: לא; Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Continues negation of justice.
- שָׁפָטוּ (shafatu) – Root: שׁפט; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they have judged”; Notes: In context: “they have not judged,” exposing systemic injustice.