Zephaniah 1:13

וְהָיָ֤ה חֵילָם֙ לִמְשִׁסָּ֔ה וּבָתֵּיהֶ֖ם לִשְׁמָמָ֑ה וּבָנ֤וּ בָתִּים֙ וְלֹ֣א יֵשֵׁ֔בוּ וְנָטְע֣וּ כְרָמִ֔ים וְלֹ֥א יִשְׁתּ֖וּ אֶת־יֵינָֽם׃

And their wealth shall be for plunder, and their houses for desolation; and they will build houses but will not dwell, and they will plant vineyards but will not drink their wine.”

Morphology

1. וְהָיָה (ve-hayah) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Conjunction + Qal perfect 3ms; Translation: “and it shall be”; Notes: Introduces the prophetic outcome.
2. חֵילָם (ḥeilam) – Root: חיל (ḥayil); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 3mp; Translation: “their wealth / force”; Notes: Often connotes military strength or riches.
3. לִמְשִׁסָּה (limshissah) – Root: שׁסה (shasah); Form: Preposition לְ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “for plunder”; Notes: Indicates the fate of their possessions.
4. וּבָתֵּיהֶם (u-vatteihem) – Root: בית (bayit); Form: Conjunction + noun masculine plural + suffix 3mp; Translation: “and their houses”; Notes: Marks domestic stability overturned.
5. לִשְׁמָמָה (lishmamāh) – Root: שׁמם (shamam); Form: Preposition לְ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “for desolation”; Notes: Total ruin.
6. וּבָנוּ (u-vanu) – Root: בנה (banah); Form: Conjunction + Qal perfect 3mp; Translation: “and they built”; Notes: Human effort contrasted with divine undoing.
7. בָתִּים (batim) – Root: בית (bayit); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “houses”; Notes: Object of the verb.
8. וְלֹא (ve-lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Conjunction + negative particle; Translation: “but not”; Notes: Reversal formula.
9. יֵשֵׁבוּ (yeshvu) – Root: ישׁב (yashav); Form: Qal imperfect 3mp; Translation: “they will dwell”; Notes: Denial of enjoyment of their own homes.
10. וְנָטְעוּ (ve-natʿu) – Root: נטע (nataʿ); Form: Conjunction + Qal perfect 3mp; Translation: “and they planted”; Notes: Continues listing unfulfilled labors.
11. כְרָמִים (keramim) – Root: כרם (kerem); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “vineyards”; Notes: Symbol of agricultural prosperity.
12. וְלֹא (ve-lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Conjunction + negative particle; Translation: “but not”; Notes: Mirrors previous line.
13. יִשְׁתּוּ (yishtu) – Root: שׁתה (shatah); Form: Qal imperfect 3mp; Translation: “they will drink”; Notes: Loss of harvest enjoyment.
14. אֶת (’et) – Root: —; Form: Direct object marker; Translation: —; Notes: Introduces the object.
15. יֵינָם (yeinam) – Root: יין (yayin); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 3mp; Translation: “their wine”; Notes: Ultimate product of the vineyard they will not enjoy.