יָדַ֧עְנוּ יְהוָ֛ה רִשְׁעֵ֖נוּ עֲוֹ֣ן אֲבֹותֵ֑ינוּ כִּ֥י חָטָ֖אנוּ לָֽךְ׃
We have known, O YHWH, our wickedness, the iniquity of our fathers, for we have sinned against You.
Morphology
- יָדַ֧עְנוּ (yadaʿnu) – Root: ידע; Form: Qal perfect 1st person common plural; Translation: “We have known”; Notes: Refers to acknowledgement, not just cognitive awareness.
- יְהוָ֛ה (YHWH) – Root: Divine name; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “O YHWH”; Notes: Vocative address in direct confession.
- רִשְׁעֵ֖נוּ (rishʿenu) – Root: רשע; Form: Noun masculine singular construct + 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “our wickedness”; Notes: Confession of moral wrongdoing.
- עֲוֹ֣ן (ʿavon) – Root: עון; Form: Noun masculine singular absolute; Translation: “the iniquity”; Notes: Parallel to “wickedness”; often implies guilt-bearing sin.
- אֲבֹותֵ֑ינוּ (avotenu) – Root: אב; Form: Noun masculine plural construct + 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “of our fathers”; Notes: Ancestral guilt is acknowledged in line with covenantal theology.
- כִּ֥י (ki) – Root: כי; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces cause or reason.
- חָטָ֖אנוּ (ḥataʾnu) – Root: חטא; Form: Qal perfect 1st person common plural; Translation: “we have sinned”; Notes: Direct admission of sin.
- לָֽךְ (lakh) – Root: ל + אתה; Form: Preposition + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “against You” or “to You”; Notes: Dative of reference or direction of sin/confession.