Hosea 3:3

וָאֹמַ֣ר אֵלֶ֗יהָ יָמִ֤ים רַבִּים֙ תֵּ֣שְׁבִי לִ֔י לֹ֣א תִזְנִ֔י וְלֹ֥א תִֽהְיִ֖י לְאִ֑ישׁ וְגַם־אֲנִ֖י אֵלָֽיִךְ׃

And I said to her, “For many days you shall dwell for me; you shall not commit adultery, nor shall you belong to a man; and I also will be for you.”

Morphology

1. וָאֹמַר (vaʾomar) – Root: אמר (ʾ-m-r); Form: Qal imperfect 1cs with conjunction וָ (wayyiqtol, sequential); Translation: “and I said”; Notes: Introduces Hosea’s symbolic speech to his wife, representing YHWH’s words to His unfaithful people.
2. אֵלֶיהָ (ʾelehah) – Root: אל (ʾ-l); Form: Preposition אֶל + third fs suffix; Translation: “to her”; Notes: Denotes direct address — Hosea speaks personally to his estranged wife, symbolizing YHWH’s appeal to Yisraʾel.
3. יָמִים (yamim) – Root: יום (y-w-m); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “days”; Notes: Refers to an extended period of separation and purification — a time of covenant renewal and waiting.
4. רַבִּים (rabbim) – Root: רבב (r-b-b); Form: Adjective masculine plural; Translation: “many”; Notes: Qualifies the duration — an indefinite yet prolonged season of testing or exile.
5. תֵּשְׁבִי (teshbi) – Root: ישׁב (y-š-b); Form: Qal imperfect 2fs; Translation: “you shall dwell”; Notes: The imperfect indicates ongoing or future action; here, a command or prophetic condition describing separation without abandonment.
6. לִי (li) – Root: —; Form: Preposition לְ + first cs suffix; Translation: “for me”; Notes: Denotes exclusive devotion — Hosea’s wife (symbolic Yisraʾel) must belong to him alone, reflecting YHWH’s demand for covenantal fidelity.
7. לֹא (lo) – Root: —; Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Introduces prohibitions reinforcing moral and relational boundaries.
8. תִזְנִי (tizni) – Root: זנה (z-n-h); Form: Qal imperfect 2fs; Translation: “you shall commit adultery”; Notes: Literal adultery parallels spiritual infidelity. The verb is central to Hosea’s marriage imagery, contrasting unfaithfulness with renewed purity.
9. וְלֹא (ve-lo) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction וְ + negative particle; Translation: “nor”; Notes: Links parallel prohibitions describing the woman’s future conduct.
10. תִהְיִי (tihyi) – Root: היה (h-y-h); Form: Qal imperfect 2fs; Translation: “you shall be”; Notes: Describes identity and relational belonging — “you shall not be to a man.” The imperfect indicates a prescribed state.
11. לְאִישׁ (leʾish) – Root: אישׁ (ʾ-y-š); Form: Preposition לְ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “to a man”; Notes: Expresses relational possession or belonging — she will no longer belong to any man but Hosea, symbolizing Israel’s exclusive belonging to YHWH.
12. וְגַם־אֲנִי (ve-gam ʾani) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction + adverb + pronoun 1cs; Translation: “and I also”; Notes: Emphasizes reciprocity — Hosea mirrors YHWH’s faithfulness, pledging loyalty in response to repentance.
13. אֵלָיִךְ (ʾelayikh) – Root: אל (ʾ-l); Form: Preposition אֶל + second fs suffix; Translation: “to you”; Notes: Conveys intimacy and relational restoration — “I also will be for you,” expressing YHWH’s faithful return to His repentant people.