חֹ֥רֶב אֶל־מֵימֶ֖יהָ וְיָבֵ֑שׁוּ כִּ֣י אֶ֤רֶץ פְּסִלִים֙ הִ֔יא וּבָאֵימִ֖ים יִתְהֹלָֽלוּ׃
A drought is against her waters, and they shall dry up, for it is a land of idols, and they go mad over terrors.
Morphology
- חֹרֶב (ḥorev) – Root: חרב; Form: Noun masculine singular absolute; Translation: “drought”; Notes: Figurative judgment upon Babylon’s resources.
- אֶל־מֵימֶיהָ (el-meimeha) – Root: מים; Form: Preposition אֶל + noun masculine plural (dual in sense) + 3rd feminine singular suffix; Translation: “against her waters”; Notes: Refers to the rivers and canals of Babylon.
- וְיָבֵשׁוּ (ve-yaveshu) – Root: יבשׁ; Form: Qal perfect 3rd masculine plural with vav-consecutive; Translation: “and they shall dry up”; Notes: Fulfillment of the drought curse.
- כִּי (ki) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for/because”; Notes: Explains the reason for judgment.
- אֶרֶץ (ʾeretz) – Root: ארץ; Form: Noun feminine singular absolute; Translation: “land”; Notes: Refers to Babylon.
- פְּסִלִים (pesilim) – Root: פסל; Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “idols”; Notes: Babylon is condemned for its devotion to false gods.
- הִיא (hi) – Root: —; Form: Independent pronoun feminine singular; Translation: “it is”; Notes: Identifies Babylon’s essential character.
- וּבָאֵימִים (u-vaʾemim) – Root: אֵימָה; Form: Conjunction + noun masculine plural; Translation: “and over terrors”; Notes: Suggests frightful, awe-inspiring idols or phantoms.
- יִתְהֹלָלוּ (yitholalu) – Root: הלל; Form: Hitpael imperfect 3rd masculine plural; Translation: “they go mad/boast themselves”; Notes: Ironically portrays idolaters as frenzied or deranged in their worship.