Amos 6:1

הֹ֚וי הַשַּׁאֲנַנִּ֣ים בְּצִיֹּ֔ון וְהַבֹּטְחִ֖ים בְּהַ֣ר שֹׁמְרֹ֑ון נְקֻבֵי֙ רֵאשִׁ֣ית הַגֹּויִ֔ם וּבָ֥אוּ לָהֶ֖ם בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

Woe to those who are at ease in Tsiyyon and who trust in the mountain of Shomeron, the distinguished ones of the chief of the nations, to whom the house of Yisraʾel comes.

Morphology

1. הֹוי (hoi) – Root: הוי (hoi); Form: Interjection; Translation: “Woe”; Notes: A cry of lament or denunciation, signaling impending judgment or sorrow.
2. הַשַּׁאֲנַנִּים (ha-shaʾanannim) – Root: שׁאנ (shaʾan); Form: Definite adjective masculine plural; Translation: “the complacent ones” or “those at ease”; Notes: Describes people living in false security and comfort, ignoring divine warnings.
3. בְּצִיֹּון (be-Tsiyyon) – Root: ציון (Tsiyyon); Form: Preposition בְּ + proper noun; Translation: “in Tsiyyon”; Notes: Refers to Jerusalem, symbolizing spiritual and political leadership of Yisraʾel.
4. וְהַבֹּטְחִים (ve-ha-botḥim) – Root: בטח (bataḥ); Form: Conjunction וְ + definite participle masculine plural; Translation: “and those who trust”; Notes: Denotes self-reliance or misplaced confidence in worldly strength or defenses.
5. בְּהַר (be-har) – Root: הר (har); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “in the mountain”; Notes: Refers to a place of stronghold or sanctuary; used figuratively for national pride.
6. שֹׁמְרֹון (Shomeron) – Root: שׁמר (shamar); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Shomeron” (Samaria); Notes: Capital of the northern kingdom of Yisraʾel, representing political power and corruption.
7. נְקֻבֵי (nequvey) – Root: נקב (naqav); Form: Passive participle masculine plural construct; Translation: “the distinguished ones of”; Notes: Literally “those who are named” or “marked out,” referring to the elite or renowned leaders.
8. רֵאשִׁית (reʾshit) – Root: ראשׁ (roʾsh); Form: Noun feminine singular construct; Translation: “chief of” or “beginning of”; Notes: Used here for “chief of the nations,” suggesting prominence among peoples.
9. הַגֹּויִם (ha-goyim) – Root: גוי (goy); Form: Definite noun masculine plural; Translation: “the nations”; Notes: Refers to surrounding peoples or foreign nations; Yisraʾel viewed itself as the foremost among them.
10. וּבָאוּ (u-vaʾu) – Root: בוא (boʾ); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal perfect 3rd person plural; Translation: “and they came”; Notes: Indicates motion toward or approach to someone or something; here describing Yisraʾel’s relation to the elite cities.
11. לָהֶם (lahem) – Root: ל (lamed); Form: Preposition לְ + suffix 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “to them”; Notes: Refers to the people of Tsiyyon and Shomeron, those to whom others come or seek favor.
12. בֵּית (beit) – Root: בית (bayit); Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “house of”; Notes: Denotes a collective national identity or lineage.
13. יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisraʾel) – Root: ישראל (Yisraʾel); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yisraʾel”; Notes: Refers to the covenant nation; the verse condemns the complacency and arrogance of its leading classes.