זְעַ֤ק וְהֵילֵל֙ בֶּן־אָדָ֔ם כִּי־הִיא֙ הָיתָ֣ה בְעַמִּ֔י הִ֖יא בְּכָל־נְשִׂיאֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל מְגוּרֵ֤י אֶל־חֶ֨רֶב֙ הָי֣וּ אֶת־עַמִּ֔י לָכֵ֖ן סְפֹ֥ק אֶל־יָרֵֽךְ׃
Cry out and wail, son of man, for it has come against my people; it has come against all the princes of Yisraʾel. They have been delivered over to the sword with my people; therefore, strike upon the thigh.
Morphology
- זְעַק (zeʿaq) – Root: זעק (zaʿaq); Form: Qal imperative 2ms; Translation: “Cry out”; Notes: Command for loud lamentation.
- וְהֵילֵל (ve-helil) – Root: ילל (yalal); Form: Piel imperative 2ms; Translation: “and wail”; Notes: Expresses intense mourning.
- בֶּן (ben) – Root: בן (ben); Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “son”; Notes: In construct with אָדָם.
- אָדָם (ʾadam) – Root: אדם (ʾadam); Form: Noun masculine singular absolute; Translation: “man”; Notes: Prophetic title “son of man.”
- כִּי (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces reason for lamentation.
- הִיא (hi) – Root: הוא (hu/hi); Form: Independent pronoun 3fs; Translation: “it”; Notes: Refers to the sword/judgment.
- הָיתָה (hayetah) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal perfect 3fs; Translation: “has come/been”; Notes: Indicates occurrence of judgment.
- בְעַמִּי (be-ʿammi) – Root: עם (ʿam); Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular construct + 1cs suffix; Translation: “against my people”; Notes: YHWH’s people as object of the sword.
- הִיא (hi) – Root: הוא (hu/hi); Form: Independent pronoun 3fs; Translation: “it”; Notes: Repetition for emphasis.
- בְּכָל־נְשִׂיאֵי (be-khol-nesiʾei) – Root: נשא (nasaʾ); Form: Preposition + noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “against all the princes of”; Notes: Political leaders of Yisraʾel.
- יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisraʾel) – Root: ישראל (Yisraʾel); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yisraʾel”; Notes: Nation collectively represented by its leaders.
- מְגוּרֵי (megurei) – Root: גור (gur); Form: Noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “delivered/terror-stricken ones of”; Notes: Implies those consigned to destruction.
- אֶל־חֶרֶב (el-ḥerev) – Root: חרב (ḥerev); Form: Preposition + noun feminine singular absolute; Translation: “to the sword”; Notes: Destination of judgment.
- הָיוּ (hayu) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal perfect 3cp; Translation: “they were”; Notes: Marks their condition of being consigned.
- אֶת־עַמִּי (et-ʿammi) – Root: עם (ʿam); Form: Direct object marker + noun masculine singular construct + 1cs suffix; Translation: “with my people”; Notes: Sword strikes both leaders and common people.
- לָכֵן (lakhen) – Root: כן (ken); Form: Adverb/conjunction; Translation: “therefore”; Notes: Introduces consequence.
- סְפֹק (sefok) – Root: ספק (safaq); Form: Qal imperative 2ms; Translation: “strike”; Notes: Gesture of despair, often clapping or striking the thigh.
- אֶל־יָרֵךְ (el-yarekh) – Root: ירך (yarekh); Form: Preposition + noun feminine singular absolute; Translation: “upon the thigh”; Notes: Expresses deep grief or anguish.