כִּ֣י בִ֤י נִשְׁבַּ֨עְתִּי֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה כִּֽי־לְשַׁמָּ֧ה לְחֶרְפָּ֛ה לְחֹ֥רֶב וְלִקְלָלָ֖ה תִּֽהְיֶ֣ה בָצְרָ֑ה וְכָל־עָרֶ֥יהָ תִהְיֶ֖ינָה לְחָרְבֹ֥ות עֹולָֽם׃
For by myself I have sworn,” declares YHWH, “that Botsra shall become a desolation, a reproach, a ruin, and a curse, and all her cities shall become perpetual ruins.”
Morphology
- כִּי (ki) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces divine declaration.
- בִי (bi) – Root: —; Form: Preposition בְּ + first person common singular suffix; Translation: “by myself”; Notes: Swearing formula emphasizing God’s own authority.
- נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי (nishbaʿti) – Root: שׁבע; Form: Niphal perfect 1st person common singular; Translation: “I have sworn”; Notes: Oath formula by YHWH.
- נְאֻם־ (nəʾum-) – Root: נאם; Form: Noun construct with maqaf; Translation: “utterance of”; Notes: Prophetic formula authenticating the declaration.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: הוה/יהוה; Form: Proper noun, divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenantal God of Yisraʾel.
- כִּי־ (ki-) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction with maqaf; Translation: “that”; Notes: Introduces result of the oath.
- לְשַׁמָּה (le-shammah) – Root: שׁמם; Form: Preposition לְ + noun feminine singular absolute; Translation: “a desolation”; Notes: Refers to devastation and emptiness.
- לְחֶרְפָּה (le-ḥerpa) – Root: חרף; Form: Preposition לְ + noun feminine singular absolute; Translation: “a reproach”; Notes: Indicates shame and disgrace.
- לְחֹרֶב (le-ḥorev) – Root: חרב; Form: Preposition לְ + noun masculine singular absolute; Translation: “a ruin/destruction”; Notes: Synonymous with devastation.
- וְלִקְלָלָה (ve-liqəlalah) – Root: קלל; Form: Conjunction + preposition לְ + noun feminine singular absolute; Translation: “and a curse”; Notes: Object of contempt and judgment.
- תִּהְיֶה (tihyeh) – Root: היה; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “shall become”; Notes: Refers to Bozrah as subject.
- בָצְרָה (Botzrah) – Root: —; Form: Proper noun, place name; Translation: “Bozrah”; Notes: Chief city of Edom, target of judgment.
- וְכָל־ (ve-kol) – Root: כל; Form: Conjunction + noun masculine singular construct with maqaf; Translation: “and all”; Notes: Introduces collective inclusion.
- עָרֶיהָ (ʿareha) – Root: עיר; Form: Noun feminine plural construct + 3rd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “her cities”; Notes: Dependent cities of Bozrah.
- תִהְיֶינָה (tihyeynah) – Root: היה; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person feminine plural; Translation: “they shall become”; Notes: Agreement with plural subject “cities.”
- לְחָרְבֹות (le-ḥarvot) – Root: חרב; Form: Preposition לְ + noun feminine plural absolute; Translation: “ruins”; Notes: Emphasizes complete devastation.
- עֹולָם (ʿolam) – Root: עלם; Form: Noun masculine singular absolute; Translation: “perpetual/forever”; Notes: Implies enduring ruin without restoration.