קֹרֵ֤א דָגַר֙ וְלֹ֣א יָלָ֔ד עֹ֥שֶׂה עֹ֖שֶׁר וְלֹ֣א בְמִשְׁפָּ֑ט בַּחֲצִ֤י יָמָיו֙ יַעַזְבֶ֔נּוּ וּבְאַחֲרִיתֹ֖ו יִהְיֶ֥ה נָבָֽל׃
As the partridge broods but does not bring forth, so is he who makes riches and not with justice; half of his days he shall leave them, and in his end he shall be a fool.
Morphology
- קֹרֵ֤א (qoreʾ) – Root: קרא; Form: Qal active participle masculine singular; Translation: “one who calls” or “broods”; Notes: Possibly metaphor for a partridge sitting on eggs—subject of comparison.
- דָגַר֙ (dagar) – Root: דגר; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “brooded”; Notes: Used only here—refers to nesting or sitting on eggs.
- וְלֹ֣א (ve-lo) – Root: לא; Form: Conjunction + negative particle; Translation: “and not”; Notes: Negates the expected outcome of the action.
- יָלָ֔ד (yalad) – Root: ילד; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “brought forth”; Notes: Emphasizes futility—brooding but no offspring.
- עֹ֥שֶׂה (ʿoseh) – Root: עשה; Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “making”; Notes: The second comparison, transitioning to unjust gain.
- עֹ֖שֶׁר (osher) – Root: עשר; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “riches”; Notes: Wealth obtained by the subject of the comparison.
- וְלֹ֣א (ve-lo) – Root: לא; Form: Conjunction + negative particle; Translation: “and not”; Notes: Negates the manner in which the riches are gained.
- בְמִשְׁפָּ֑ט (be-mishpat) – Root: שפט; Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “with justice”; Notes: Signifies legality and righteousness—absent in this case.
- בַּחֲצִ֤י (ba-ḥatsi) – Root: חצי; Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “in the half of”; Notes: Refers to premature or shortened lifespan.
- יָמָיו֙ (yamav) – Root: יום; Form: Noun masculine plural with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “his days”; Notes: Length of life—cut short due to injustice.
- יַעַזְבֶ֔נּוּ (yaʿazvenu) – Root: עזב; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “he shall leave it”; Notes: Likely refers to wealth—abandoned midlife.
- וּבְאַחֲרִיתֹ֖ו (u-veʾaḥaritov) – Root: אחר; Form: Conjunction + preposition בְּ + noun feminine singular with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “and in his end”; Notes: Refers to final outcome or destiny.
- יִהְיֶ֥ה (yihyeh) – Root: היה; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he shall be”; Notes: Future state resulting from unjust conduct.
- נָבָֽל (naval) – Root: נבל; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “a fool” or “morally corrupt”; Notes: Strong pejorative—associated with disgrace and divine condemnation.