לָכֵן֩ אֱמֹ֨ר אֲלֵיהֶ֜ם כֹּֽה־אָמַ֣ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֗ה עַל־הַדָּ֧ם תֹּאכֵ֛לוּ וְעֵינֵיכֶ֛ם תִּשְׂא֥וּ אֶל־גִּלּוּלֵיכֶ֖ם וְדָ֣ם תִּשְׁפֹּ֑כוּ וְהָאָ֖רֶץ תִּירָֽשׁוּ׃
Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord YHWH: “You eat upon the blood, and you lift up your eyes to your idols, and you shed blood—yet shall you possess the land?
Morphology
- לָכֵן (lakhen) – Root: —; Form: Adverb; Translation: “therefore”; Notes: Marks divine response or judgment following human presumption—common in prophetic rebukes.
- אֱמֹר (ʾemor) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal imperative masculine singular; Translation: “say”; Notes: Direct command to Yeḥezqel to deliver YHWH’s message.
- אֲלֵיהֶם (ʾaleihem) – Root: אל (ʾel); Form: Preposition אֶל + suffix 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “to them”; Notes: Marks the recipients of the divine oracle—the inhabitants of the land.
- כֹּה (koh) – Root: —; Form: Adverb; Translation: “thus”; Notes: A formula introducing divine speech—“Thus says YHWH.”
- אָמַר (ʾamar) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “said”; Notes: Refers to YHWH as the speaker; establishes prophetic authority.
- אֲדֹנָי (Adonai) – Root: אדן (ʾadon); Form: Noun masculine plural with 1st person singular suffix (used as title); Translation: “Lord”; Notes: Title of sovereignty; paired here with YHWH to emphasize divine rulership.
- יְהוִה (YHWH) – Root: Divine Name; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenant name of Israel’s God—source of judgment and covenant enforcement.
- עַל־הַדָּם (ʿal-ha-dam) – Root: דם (dam); Form: Preposition עַל + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “upon the blood”; Notes: A reference to idolatrous or pagan consumption of blood, forbidden in Torah (Lev. 17:10).
- תֹּאכֵלוּ (toʾkhelu) – Root: אכל (ʾakhal); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you eat”; Notes: Expresses continuous or habitual action of ritual disobedience.
- וְעֵינֵיכֶם (ve-ʿeineikhem) – Root: עין (ʿayin); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun dual construct + suffix 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “and your eyes”; Notes: Refers to the focus or gaze of worship—directed toward idols.
- תִּשְׂאוּ (tissaʾu) – Root: נשא (nasaʾ); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you lift up”; Notes: Idiomatically means “to look up to” or “to worship.”
- אֶל־גִּלּוּלֵיכֶם (el-gilluleikhem) – Root: גלל (galal); Form: Preposition אֶל + plural noun with suffix 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “to your idols”; Notes: A contemptuous term derived from “dung pellets”—a satirical reference to idols.
- וְדָם (ve-dam) – Root: דם (dam); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and blood”; Notes: Repetition heightens the charge of bloodguilt and moral corruption.
- תִּשְׁפֹּכוּ (tishpokhu) – Root: שׁפך (shafakh); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you shed”; Notes: Refers to acts of violence or murder—direct violation of covenant law.
- וְהָאָרֶץ (ve-ha-aretz) – Root: ארץ (ʾerets); Form: Conjunction וְ + definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “and the land”; Notes: Refers to the promised land, now defiled by bloodshed.
- תִּירָשׁוּ (tiraʾshu) – Root: ירשׁ (yarash); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you will possess”; Notes: Rhetorical question in Hebrew syntax—implies “Will you possess the land under such sins?” emphasizing divine irony and judgment.