Amos 4:8

וְנָע֡וּ שְׁתַּיִם֩ שָׁלֹ֨שׁ עָרִ֜ים אֶל־עִ֥יר אַחַ֛ת לִשְׁתֹּ֥ות מַ֖יִם וְלֹ֣א יִשְׂבָּ֑עוּ וְלֹֽא־שַׁבְתֶּ֥ם עָדַ֖י נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃

And two or three cities wandered to one city to drink water, but they were not satisfied; yet you did not return to Me,” declares YHWH.

Morphology

1. וְנָע֡וּ (ve-naʿu) – Root: נוע (nuaʿ); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal perfect 3rd person common plural; Translation: “and they wandered”; Notes: Describes restless movement due to desperation—townspeople seeking water during drought.
2. שְׁתַּיִם֩ (shetayim) – Root: שׁנים (shenayim); Form: Numeral feminine dual; Translation: “two”; Notes: Part of a paired expression “two or three cities,” indicating a small number symbolizing scarcity and futility.
3. שָׁלֹ֨שׁ (shalosh) – Root: שׁלשׁ (shalosh); Form: Numeral feminine singular; Translation: “three”; Notes: Complements “two,” emphasizing the limited number of cities wandering for relief.
4. עָרִ֜ים (ʿarim) – Root: עיר (ʿir); Form: Noun feminine plural; Translation: “cities”; Notes: Refers to multiple urban centers affected by severe drought and compelled to travel for water.
5. אֶל־עִ֥יר (ʾel-ʿir) – Root: עיר (ʿir); Form: Preposition אֶל + noun feminine singular; Translation: “to a city”; Notes: Indicates destination—one city that still had water supply.
6. אַחַ֛ת (aḥat) – Root: אחד (ʾeḥad); Form: Numeral feminine singular; Translation: “one”; Notes: Specifies a single remaining city, underscoring the selective nature of YHWH’s drought judgment.
7. לִשְׁתֹּ֥ות (lishtot) – Root: שתה (shatah); Form: Preposition לְ + Qal infinitive construct; Translation: “to drink”; Notes: Indicates purpose—the intent of traveling was to find drinking water.
8. מַ֖יִם (mayim) – Root: מים (mayim); Form: Noun masculine plural (dual in meaning); Translation: “water”; Notes: Represents essential sustenance withheld by YHWH as judgment.
9. וְלֹ֣א (ve-lo) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction וְ + negative particle; Translation: “and not”; Notes: Marks the failure of their efforts—despite finding water, it was insufficient.
10. יִשְׂבָּ֑עוּ (yisbaʿu) – Root: שׂבע (savaʿ); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they were satisfied”; Notes: Expresses unfulfilled desire—symbolic of spiritual and physical dissatisfaction under divine judgment.
11. וְלֹֽא־ (ve-lo) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction וְ + negative particle; Translation: “yet not”; Notes: Introduces the lament of continued rebellion despite warnings.
12. שַׁבְתֶּ֥ם (shavtem) – Root: שׁוב (shuv); Form: Qal perfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you returned”; Notes: Common prophetic term for repentance—YHWH laments their refusal to turn back to Him.
13. עָדַ֖י (ʿaday) – Root: עד (ʿad); Form: Preposition עַד + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “to Me”; Notes: Expresses direction—YHWH as the one to whom repentance should be directed.
14. נְאֻם־ (neʾum) – Root: נאם (naʾam); Form: Noun masculine singular (prophetic formula); Translation: “declares”; Notes: Signals divine authority over the statement that follows.
15. יְהוָֽה׃ (YHWH) – Root: הוה (havah); Form: Proper noun, divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenantal name of God, whose pronouncement emphasizes moral accountability and covenant faithfulness.