הַשֹּׁאֲפִ֤ים עַל־עֲפַר־אֶ֨רֶץ֙ בְּרֹ֣אשׁ דַּלִּ֔ים וְדֶ֥רֶךְ עֲנָוִ֖ים יַטּ֑וּ וְאִ֣ישׁ וְאָבִ֗יו יֵֽלְכוּ֙ אֶל־הַֽנַּעֲרָ֔ה לְמַ֥עַן חַלֵּ֖ל אֶת־שֵׁ֥ם קָדְשִֽׁי׃
Those who pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and they pervert the way of the humble; and a man and his father go to the same young woman, in order to profane My holy name.
Morphology
- הַשֹּׁאֲפִ֤ים (ha-shoʾafim) – Root: שׁאף; Form: Definite article + Qal participle masculine plural; Translation: “those who pant” or “those who trample”; Notes: Conveys intense greed or oppression — those who eagerly crush or exploit the poor.
- עַל־עֲפַר־אֶ֨רֶץ֙ (ʿal-ʿafar-ʾerets) – Root: עפר + ארץ; Form: Preposition עַל + construct noun masculine singular + noun feminine singular; Translation: “upon the dust of the earth”; Notes: Symbolic of humiliation — trampling the downtrodden into the dust.
- בְּרֹ֣אשׁ (be-roʾsh) – Root: ראשׁ; Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “on the head”; Notes: Possibly referring to throwing dust on the heads of the poor — an act of degradation.
- דַּלִּ֔ים (dallim) – Root: דלל; Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “the poor”; Notes: Refers to the economically weak or socially vulnerable.
- וְדֶ֥רֶךְ (ve-derekh) – Root: דרך; Form: Conjunction + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and the way”; Notes: Refers metaphorically to the manner of life or conduct.
- עֲנָוִ֖ים (ʿanavim) – Root: ענה; Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “the humble” or “the meek”; Notes: Those who are lowly in spirit or status, often the righteous poor.
- יַטּ֑וּ (yattu) – Root: נטה; Form: Hiphil imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they pervert” or “they turn aside”; Notes: Conveys moral distortion — bending justice or corrupting right paths.
- וְאִ֣ישׁ (ve-ʾish) – Root: אישׁ; Form: Conjunction + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and a man”; Notes: Introduces the shocking parallel sin of sexual immorality.
- וְאָבִ֗יו (ve-aviv) – Root: אב; Form: Conjunction + noun masculine singular with 3ms suffix; Translation: “and his father”; Notes: The shared participation underscores the generational moral collapse.
- יֵֽלְכוּ֙ (yelku) – Root: הלך; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they go”; Notes: Literally “go in to,” a euphemism for sexual relations.
- אֶל־הַֽנַּעֲרָ֔ה (ʾel-ha-naʿarah) – Root: נער; Form: Preposition אֶל + definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “to the young woman”; Notes: The definite article suggests a specific girl, possibly a temple prostitute or servant girl exploited by both.
- לְמַ֥עַן (le-maʿan) – Root: מען; Form: Preposition; Translation: “in order to” or “so that”; Notes: Introduces the purpose or result of the action — profaning YHWH’s name.
- חַלֵּ֖ל (ḥallel) – Root: חלל; Form: Piel infinitive construct; Translation: “to profane”; Notes: Denotes desecration of what is sacred — here, YHWH’s holy name.
- אֶת־שֵׁ֥ם (ʾet-shem) – Root: שם; Form: Direct object marker + noun masculine singular; Translation: “the name of”; Notes: Refers to the reputation or divine identity of YHWH.
- קָדְשִֽׁי׃ (qodshi) – Root: קדשׁ; Form: Noun masculine singular construct + 1cs suffix; Translation: “My holiness” or “My holy name”; Notes: Highlights the gravity of sin — human immorality defiles divine sanctity.