הַשֹּֽׁכְבִים֙ עַל־מִטֹּ֣ות שֵׁ֔ן וּסְרֻחִ֖ים עַל־עַרְשֹׂותָ֑ם וְאֹכְלִ֤ים כָּרִים֙ מִצֹּ֔אן וַעֲגָלִ֖ים מִתֹּ֥וךְ מַרְבֵּֽק׃
Those who lie upon beds of ivory and sprawl upon their couches, and eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall.
Morphology
- הַשֹּׁכְבִים (ha-shokhvim) – Root: שׁכב (shakhav); Form: Definite participle masculine plural Qal; Translation: “those who lie”; Notes: Describes the complacent wealthy reclining in luxury and self-indulgence.
- עַל (ʿal) – Root: על (ʿal); Form: Preposition; Translation: “upon”; Notes: Indicates physical position—lying upon extravagant furnishings.
- מִטֹּות (mittot) – Root: מטה (mittah); Form: Noun feminine plural; Translation: “beds”; Notes: Symbol of luxury and wealth, contrasting the suffering poor.
- שֵׁן (shen) – Root: שׁן (shen); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “ivory”; Notes: Indicates opulence—beds inlaid or carved with ivory, a luxury import.
- וּסְרֻחִים (u-seruḥim) – Root: סרח (saraḥ); Form: Conjunction וְ + passive participle masculine plural Qal; Translation: “and sprawling”; Notes: Depicts relaxed indulgence, stretched out in comfort.
- עַל־עַרְשֹׂותָם (ʿal-ʿarsotam) – Root: ערשׂ (ʿeres); Form: Preposition עַל + noun feminine plural + suffix 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “upon their couches”; Notes: Couches for reclining at banquets—symbol of excessive ease and self-pleasure.
- וְאֹכְלִים (ve-okhlim) – Root: אכל (ʾakhal); Form: Conjunction וְ + participle masculine plural Qal; Translation: “and eating”; Notes: Continues the portrait of indulgence—luxurious feasting.
- כָּרִים (karim) – Root: כר (kar); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “lambs”; Notes: Denotes young, tender sheep—choice meat reserved for the rich.
- מִצֹּאן (mi-tson) – Root: צאן (tson); Form: Preposition מִן + noun collective feminine; Translation: “from the flock”; Notes: Specifies the source of their lambs; typical imagery of wealth and pastoral abundance.
- וַעֲגָלִים (va-ʿagalim) – Root: עגל (ʿegel); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine plural; Translation: “and calves”; Notes: Refers to well-fed calves prepared for feasting, emphasizing gluttony.
- מִתֹּוךְ (mi-tokh) – Root: תוך (tokh); Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine singular; Translation: “from the midst of”; Notes: Indicates origin or source—drawn directly from luxurious reserves.
- מַרְבֵּק (marbeq) – Root: רבק (ravak); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “stall”; Notes: Refers to a fattening pen or feeding place; portrays excess and indulgent consumption among the wealthy elite.