וְלֹ֤א שָֽׁמְעוּ֙ וְלֹֽא־הִטּ֣וּ אֶת־אָזְנָ֔ם וַיֵּֽלְכוּ֙ בְּמֹ֣עֵצֹ֔ות בִּשְׁרִר֖וּת לִבָּ֣ם הָרָ֑ע וַיִּהְי֥וּ לְאָחֹ֖ור וְלֹ֥א לְפָנִֽים׃
But they did not listen, and they did not incline their ear, and they walked in the counsels and in the stubbornness of their evil heart, and they became backward and not forward.
Morphology
- וְלֹ֤א (ve-lo) – Root: לא; Form: Conjunction + negative particle; Translation: “But not”; Notes: Introduces contrast with the previous clause.
- שָֽׁמְעוּ (shamʿu) – Root: שמע; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they listened”; Notes: Denotes refusal to heed or obey.
- וְלֹֽא־הִטּ֣וּ (ve-lo-hittu) – Root: נטה; Form: Hifil perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they did not incline”; Notes: Negated causative verb indicating unwillingness to pay attention.
- אֶת־אָזְנָ֔ם (et-oznam) – Root: אֹזֶן; Form: Definite direct object + feminine singular noun with 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “their ear”; Notes: Refers to the faculty of listening or obedience.
- וַיֵּֽלְכוּ֙ (va-yeleḵu) – Root: הלך; Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they walked”; Notes: Denotes a continued behavioral pattern.
- בְּמֹ֣עֵצֹ֔ות (be-moʿetsot) – Root: עצה; Form: Preposition + plural feminine noun (construct); Translation: “in counsels”; Notes: Refers to plans or self-determined advice.
- בִּשְׁרִר֖וּת (bi-shrirut) – Root: שׁרר; Form: Preposition + feminine singular noun; Translation: “in the stubbornness”; Notes: Suggests willful hardening or obstinacy.
- לִבָּ֣ם (libbam) – Root: לב; Form: Masculine singular noun with 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “of their heart”; Notes: Refers to inner disposition and volition.
- הָרָ֑ע (haraʿ) – Root: רעע; Form: Adjective masculine singular definite; Translation: “evil”; Notes: Qualifies the nature of the heart or intent.
- וַיִּהְי֥וּ (va-yihyu) – Root: היה; Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they became”; Notes: Indicates the result or state of being from previous actions.
- לְאָחֹ֖ור (le-ʾaḥor) – Root: אחור; Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “to the back” / “backward”; Notes: Indicates regression, spiritual or moral decline.
- וְלֹ֥א (ve-lo) – Root: לא; Form: Conjunction + negative particle; Translation: “and not”; Notes: Continues the contrast.
- לְפָנִֽים (le-fanim) – Root: פנים; Form: Preposition + plural noun; Translation: “forward”; Notes: Contrasts with “backward,” indicating progression or obedience.