Hosea 6:9

וּכְחַכֵּ֨י אִ֜ישׁ גְּדוּדִ֗ים חֶ֚בֶר כֹּֽהֲנִ֔ים דֶּ֖רֶךְ יְרַצְּחוּ־שֶׁ֑כְמָה כִּ֥י זִמָּ֖ה עָשֽׂוּ׃

And as bands of robbers lie in wait for a man, a company of priests murder on the way toward Shekhem, for they have committed a vile deed.

Morphology

1. וּכְחַכֵּי (u-kheḥakkei) – Root: חכה (ḥakhah); Form: Conjunction וְ + preposition כְּ + Qal infinitive construct with plural sense; Translation: “and as those who lie in wait”; Notes: From the root “to wait” or “to ambush”; introduces a simile comparing priests to highway robbers.
2. אִישׁ (ʾish) – Root: אישׁ (ʾish); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “a man”; Notes: Object of the ambush—represents an innocent traveler.
3. גְּדוּדִים (gedudim) – Root: גדד (gadad); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “bands” or “troops”; Notes: Usually denotes raiding parties or armed groups; conveys violent aggression.
4. חֶבֶר (ḥever) – Root: חבר (ḥavar); Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “a company of”; Notes: Forms a construct with “priests,” describing a conspiratorial group.
5. כֹּהֲנִים (kohanim) – Root: כהן (kohen); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “priests”; Notes: Refers to corrupt priests whose actions betray their sacred calling, likened to violent robbers.
6. דֶּרֶךְ (derekh) – Root: דרך (derekh); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “way” or “road”; Notes: Specifies the place of the priests’ violent acts—likely the road to Shekhem, a well-known city of refuge.
7. יְרַצְּחוּ־ (yeratsḥu) – Root: רצח (ratsach); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they murder”; Notes: Describes ongoing violent conduct by those expected to uphold justice and holiness.
8. שֶׁכְמָה (Shekhemah) – Root: שׁכם (Shekhem); Form: Proper noun with directional ending (־ה locative); Translation: “toward Shekhem”; Notes: The directional suffix indicates motion toward the city; Shekhem was historically significant as a place of covenant and worship.
9. כִּי (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces the reason or explanation for the metaphor of violence.
10. זִמָּה (zimmah) – Root: זמם (zamam); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “a vile deed” or “wickedness”; Notes: Denotes premeditated evil or moral corruption—often implying calculated sin.
11. עָשׂוּ (ʿasu) – Root: עשה (ʿasah); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they have done”; Notes: Refers to deliberate wrongdoing by the priests, confirming the accusation of treachery and bloodshed.