Ezekiel 34:21

יַ֗עַן בְּצַ֤ד וּבְכָתֵף֙ תֶּהְדֹּ֔פוּ וּבְקַרְנֵיכֶ֥ם תְּנַגְּח֖וּ כָּל־הַנַּחְלֹ֑ות עַ֣ד אֲשֶׁ֧ר הֲפִיצֹותֶ֛ם אֹותָ֖נָה אֶל־הַחֽוּצָה׃

Because with side and with shoulder you thrust, and with your horns you push all the weak ones, until you have scattered them abroad.

Morphology

1. יַעַן (yaʿan) – Root: יען (yaʿan); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “because”; Notes: Introduces a causal clause explaining the reason for divine judgment.
2. בְּצַד (be-tsad) – Root: צד (tsad); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “with side”; Notes: Describes physical or figurative aggression—using one’s side to shove others aside.
3. וּבְכָתֵף (u-ve-katef) – Root: כתף (katef); Form: Conjunction וּ + preposition בְּ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “and with shoulder”; Notes: Expresses forceful pushing; symbolizes oppressive or domineering behavior.
4. תֶּהְדֹּפוּ (tehdófu) – Root: הדף (hadaf); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you thrust”; Notes: Describes aggressive action by the strong against the weak members of the flock.
5. וּבְקַרְנֵיכֶם (u-ve-karneikhem) – Root: קרן (qeren); Form: Conjunction וּ + preposition בְּ + noun feminine plural construct + suffix 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “and with your horns”; Notes: “Horns” symbolize strength or power—used here metaphorically for aggression and domination.
6. תְּנַגְּחוּ (tenaggeḥu) – Root: נגח (nagach); Form: Piel imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you push” or “you gore”; Notes: Piel emphasizes violent action—depicts the powerful harming the weak.
7. כָּל־הַנַּחְלֹות (kol-ha-nachlot) – Root: נחל (naḥal); Form: Noun feminine plural with definite article and prefixed quantifier; Translation: “all the weak ones”; Notes: Contextually refers to the frail or vulnerable members of the flock—those trampled by the strong.
8. עַד (ʿad) – Root: עד (ʿad); Form: Preposition; Translation: “until”; Notes: Marks the result or limit of the preceding violent actions.
9. אֲשֶׁר (ʾasher) – Root: אשר (ʾasher); Form: Relative pronoun; Translation: “that” or “until which”; Notes: Introduces the subordinate clause explaining the outcome.
10. הֲפִיצֹותֶם (haphitsotem) – Root: פוץ (puts); Form: Hiphil perfect 2nd person masculine plural + suffix 3rd person feminine plural; Translation: “you have scattered them”; Notes: Causative form—implies deliberate or forceful scattering of the weak by the strong.
11. אֹותָנָה (ʾotanah) – Root: את (ʾet); Form: Direct object pronoun feminine plural; Translation: “them”; Notes: Refers to the weak sheep who were scattered.
12. אֶל־הַחֽוּצָה (ʾel-ha-ḥutsah) – Root: חוץ (ḥuts); Form: Preposition אֶל + definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “to the outside” or “abroad”; Notes: Signifies being cast out or expelled from the flock—symbol of exclusion and dispersion.