Hosea 9:8

צֹפֶ֥ה אֶפְרַ֖יִם עִם־אֱלֹהָ֑י נָבִ֞יא פַּ֤ח יָקֹושׁ֙ עַל־כָּל־דְּרָכָ֔יו מַשְׂטֵמָ֖ה בְּבֵ֥ית אֱלֹהָֽיו׃

Efrayim is a watchman with my God; the prophet is a snare of a fowler on all his ways, hostility is in the house of his God.

Morphology

1. צֹפֶה (tsofeh) – Root: צפה (tsafah); Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “is watching” or “watchman”; Notes: Denotes one who observes or keeps guard — possibly ironic, as Ephrayim fails in vigilance.
2. אֶפְרַיִם (Ephrayim) – Root: אפרים (Ephrayim); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Ephrayim”; Notes: Represents the northern kingdom of Yisraʾel — symbolizing unfaithfulness and corruption.
3. עִם (ʿim) – Root: עם (ʿim); Form: Preposition; Translation: “with”; Notes: Suggests proximity or association — Ephrayim’s relationship with God in name but not in truth.
4. אֱלֹהָי (Elohay) – Root: אלה (ʾeloh); Form: Noun masculine plural + suffix 1cs; Translation: “my God”; Notes: Expresses the prophet’s allegiance to YHWH in contrast to Ephrayim’s hypocrisy.
5. נָבִיא (naviʾ) – Root: נבא (naviʾ); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “the prophet”; Notes: Refers either to a true prophet or sarcastically to false prophets misleading Ephrayim.
6. פַּח (paḥ) – Root: פח (paḥ); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “snare”; Notes: A trap used by birdcatchers — metaphor for deceitful entrapment by false prophets.
7. יָקֹושׁ (yaqosh) – Root: יקשׁ (yaqash); Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “fowler” or “one who traps”; Notes: Describes the prophet’s deceitful behavior — ensnaring the people instead of guiding them.
8. עַל (ʿal) – Root: על (ʿal); Form: Preposition; Translation: “upon” or “on”; Notes: Marks the location of the trap — spread along all their paths.
9. כָּל (kol) – Root: כל (kol); Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “all of”; Notes: Indicates totality — no path of Ephrayim is free from deceit.
10. דְּרָכָיו (derakhav) – Root: דרך (derekh); Form: Noun masculine plural + suffix 3ms; Translation: “his ways”; Notes: Refers to moral or behavioral paths — corruption in every course of life.
11. מַשְׂטֵמָה (masṭemah) – Root: שׂטם (saṭam); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “hostility” or “enmity”; Notes: Reflects deep-seated opposition — possibly against true prophets or against YHWH Himself.
12. בְּבֵית (be-beit) – Root: בית (bayit); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “in the house of”; Notes: Refers to a sanctuary or temple — ironically now corrupted.
13. אֱלֹהָיו (Elohav) – Root: אלה (ʾeloh); Form: Noun masculine plural + suffix 3ms; Translation: “his God”; Notes: Possibly refers to YHWH, but here implies false worship — hostility even within the place that should honor Him.