כַּעֲנָבִ֣ים בַּמִּדְבָּ֗ר מָצָ֨אתִי֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כְּבִכּוּרָ֤ה בִתְאֵנָה֙ בְּרֵ֣אשִׁיתָ֔הּ רָאִ֖יתִי אֲבֹֽותֵיכֶ֑ם הֵ֜מָּה בָּ֣אוּ בַֽעַל־פְּעֹ֗ור וַיִּנָּֽזְרוּ֙ לַבֹּ֔שֶׁת וַיִּהְי֥וּ שִׁקּוּצִ֖ים כְּאָהֳבָֽם׃
Like grapes in the wilderness I found Yisraʾel; like the first-ripe fruit on the fig tree in its beginning I saw your fathers. They came to Baʿal-peʿor and consecrated themselves to shame, and became abominable like the thing they loved.
Morphology
- כַּעֲנָבִים (kaʿanavim) – Root: ענב (ʿanav); Form: Preposition כְּ + noun masculine plural; Translation: “like grapes”; Notes: Grapes symbolize sweetness and delight — an image of divine joy in finding Yisraʾel.
- בַּמִּדְבָּר (ba-midbar) – Root: מדבר (midbar); Form: Preposition בְּ + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “in the wilderness”; Notes: The desert context contrasts fertility with desolation — highlighting YHWH’s miraculous provision and love.
- מָצָאתִי (matsaʾti) – Root: מצא (matsaʾ); Form: Qal perfect 1st person common singular; Translation: “I found”; Notes: Expresses divine discovery — YHWH’s gracious finding of Yisraʾel amidst the wilderness.
- יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisraʾel) – Root: ישראל (Yisraʾel); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yisraʾel”; Notes: Represents the covenant people — once pure and precious to YHWH.
- כְּבִכּוּרָה (ke-vikkurah) – Root: בכר (bakhar); Form: Preposition כְּ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “like the first-ripe fruit”; Notes: Symbol of freshness and value — early figs are rare delicacies, symbolizing early faithfulness.
- בִתְאֵנָה (bi-teʾenah) – Root: תאנה (teʾenah); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “on the fig tree”; Notes: The fig tree often symbolizes Yisraʾel — its fruitfulness reflects spiritual vitality.
- בְּרֵאשִׁיתָהּ (be-reʾshitah) – Root: ראשׁ (roʾsh); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun feminine singular + suffix 3fs; Translation: “in its beginning”; Notes: Refers to the first season or early growth — the time of YHWH’s initial delight in His people.
- רָאִיתִי (raʾiti) – Root: ראה (raʾah); Form: Qal perfect 1st person common singular; Translation: “I saw”; Notes: Denotes divine observation — YHWH beholding the early generations with favor.
- אֲבֹותֵיכֶם (ʾavotekhem) – Root: אב (ʾav); Form: Noun masculine plural construct + suffix 2mp; Translation: “your fathers”; Notes: Refers to the patriarchal ancestors — Abraham, Yitsḥaq, and Yaʿaqov, the original recipients of covenantal grace.
- הֵמָּה (hemmah) – Root: —; Form: Independent pronoun masculine plural; Translation: “they”; Notes: Marks contrast — despite divine favor, their descendants turned to idolatry.
- בָּאוּ (baʾu) – Root: בוא (bo); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they came”; Notes: Refers to the people’s entrance into idolatry — abandoning covenant faithfulness.
- בַעַל־פְּעֹור (Baʿal-Peʿor) – Root: —; Form: Proper noun (compound); Translation: “Baʿal-Peʿor”; Notes: A Moabite deity associated with shameful rites; site of Israel’s grave apostasy (Numbers 25:1–3).
- וַיִּנָּזְרוּ (va-yinnazeru) – Root: נזר (nazar); Form: Nifal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they consecrated themselves”; Notes: Ironically portrays Israel’s devotion — to shame instead of holiness.
- לַבֹּשֶׁת (la-boshet) – Root: בושׁ (bosh); Form: Preposition לְ + definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “to shame”; Notes: Refers to idol worship as disgraceful and degrading in the eyes of YHWH.
- וַיִּהְיוּ (va-yihyu) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they became”; Notes: Marks transformation — moral and spiritual degeneration through idolatry.
- שִׁקּוּצִים (shikkuṭsim) – Root: שׁקץ (shaqats); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “abominations”; Notes: Denotes detestable idols or abhorrent practices — moral defilement replacing holiness.
- כְּאָהֳבָם (ke-ahavam) – Root: אהב (ʾahav); Form: Preposition כְּ + noun masculine singular + suffix 3mp; Translation: “like the thing they loved”; Notes: Their spiritual corruption mirrors their affection — becoming like what they worshiped.