רְתֹ֧ם הַמֶּרְכָּבָ֛ה לָרֶ֖כֶשׁ יֹושֶׁ֣בֶת לָכִ֑ישׁ רֵאשִׁ֨ית חַטָּ֥את הִיא֙ לְבַת־צִיֹּ֔ון כִּי־בָ֥ךְ נִמְצְא֖וּ פִּשְׁעֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
Harness the chariot to the steeds O inhabitant of Lakhish the beginning of sin she is to the daughter of Tsiyon for in you were found the transgressions of Yisraʾel.
Morphology
- רְתֹם (retom) – Root: רתם (ratam); Form: Qal imperative 2ms; Translation: “Harness”; Notes: A command directed at Lakhish, urging preparation for escape or battle.
- הַמֶּרְכָּבָה (ha-merkavah) – Root: רכב (rakhav); Form: Definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “the chariot”; Notes: Symbol of military might.
- לָרֶכֶשׁ (la-rekesh) – Root: רכשׁ (rekesh); Form: Preposition לְ + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “to the steeds”; Notes: Refers to war-horses or swift steeds.
- יֹושֶׁבֶת (yoshevet) – Root: ישׁב (yashav); Form: Qal participle feminine singular; Translation: “O inhabitant of”; Notes: Feminine form personifies the town.
- לָכִישׁ (Lakhish) – Root: לכּשׁ (lakhish); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Lakhish”; Notes: A major fortified city of Judah.
- רֵאשִׁית (reʾshit) – Root: ראשׁ (rosh); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “the beginning of”; Notes: Indicates origin or first instance.
- חַטָּאת (ḥattaʾt) – Root: חטא (ḥataʾ); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “sin”; Notes: The wrongdoing associated with Lakhish.
- הִיא (hi) – Root: הוא (hu/hi); Form: Pronoun feminine singular; Translation: “she is”; Notes: Refers back to Lakhish as a feminine entity.
- לְבַת (le-bat) – Root: בת (bat); Form: Preposition לְ + noun feminine singular construct; Translation: “to the daughter of”; Notes: Introduces relationship to Tsiyon.
- צִיֹּון (Tsiyon) – Root: ציון (Tsiyon); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Tsiyon”; Notes: A poetic name for Yerushalayim.
- כִּי (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces the explanation.
- בָךְ (bakh) – Root: ךְ (suffix only); Form: Preposition בְּ + suffix 2fs; Translation: “in you”; Notes: Addressed to Lakhish personified.
- נִמְצְאוּ (nimtseʾu) – Root: מצא (matsaʾ); Form: Niphal perfect 3mp; Translation: “were found”; Notes: Indicates discovery of sin.
- פִּשְׁעֵי (pisheʿei) – Root: פשע (peshaʿ); Form: Noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “the transgressions of”; Notes: Introduces sins attributed to Yisraʾel.
- יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisraʾel) – Root: שרי־אל (sarah–El); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yisraʾel”; Notes: Refers to the northern kingdom.