Jeremiah 10:14

נִבְעַ֤ר כָּל־אָדָם֙ מִדַּ֔עַת הֹבִ֥ישׁ כָּל־צֹורֵ֖ף מִפָּ֑סֶל כִּ֛י שֶׁ֥קֶר נִסְכֹּ֖ו וְלֹא־ר֥וּחַ בָּֽם׃

Every man is brutish in knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by the idol, for his molten image is a lie, and there is no spirit in them.

Morphology

1. נִבְעַ֤ר (nivʿar) – Root: בער (baʿar); Form: Nifal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “is brutish”; Notes: Passive or reflexive form, implying moral or intellectual dullness.
2. כָּל־אָדָם֙ (kol-adam) – Root: כל (kol), אדם (adam); Form: Construct noun + noun masculine singular; Translation: “every man”; Notes: Universal scope of the statement.
3. מִדַּ֔עַת (mi-daʿat) – Root: ידע (yadaʿ); Form: Preposition מִן + noun feminine singular; Translation: “from knowledge”; Notes: Indicates separation or lack of understanding.
4. הֹבִ֥ישׁ (hovish) – Root: בושׁ (bosh); Form: Hifil perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “has put to shame”; Notes: Causative sense—caused disgrace or humiliation.
5. כָּל־צֹורֵ֖ף (kol-tzoref) – Root: צרף (tsaraf); Form: Construct noun + participle masculine singular; Translation: “every goldsmith”; Notes: Refers to idol-makers, subject to divine mockery.
6. מִפָּ֑סֶל (mi-phesel) – Root: פסל (pesel); Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine singular; Translation: “by the idol”; Notes: Source of the craftsman’s shame.
7. כִּ֛י (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces the reason or cause.
8. שֶׁ֥קֶר (sheqer) – Root: שקר (sheqer); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “a lie”; Notes: Describes the nature of the idol.
9. נִסְכֹּ֖ו (nisko) – Root: נסך (nasakh); Form: Nifal noun or passive participle with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “his molten image”; Notes: Refers to the idol fashioned by the craftsman.
10. וְלֹא־ר֥וּחַ (ve-lo-ruaḥ) – Root: לא (lo), רוח (ruaḥ); Form: Conjunction + negative particle + noun feminine singular; Translation: “and there is no spirit”; Notes: Denies life or animation within the idol.
11. בָּֽם (bam) – Root: ב (be); Form: Preposition + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “in them”; Notes: Refers to the idols as lifeless and inert objects.