Zephaniah 2:2

בְּטֶ֨רֶם֙ לֶ֣דֶת חֹ֔ק כְּמֹ֖ץ עָ֣בַר יֹ֑ום בְּטֶ֣רֶם לֹא־יָבֹ֣וא עֲלֵיכֶ֗ם חֲרֹון֙ אַף־יְהוָ֔ה בְּטֶ֨רֶם֙ לֹא־יָבֹ֣וא עֲלֵיכֶ֔ם יֹ֖ום אַף־יְהוָֽה׃

Before the decree gives birth, as chaff a day passes; before the fury of the anger of YHWH comes upon you, before the day of the anger of YHWH comes upon you.

Morphology

1. בְּטֶרֶם (be-terem) – Root: טרם (terem); Form: Preposition בְּ + adverb; Translation: “Before”; Notes: Introduces an action that precedes another.
2. לֶדֶת (ledet) – Root: ילד (yalad); Form: Preposition לְ + infinitive construct feminine singular; Translation: “to give birth”; Notes: Figurative language for a decree taking effect.
3. חֹק (ḥoq) – Root: חקק (ḥaqaq); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “decree”; Notes: Refers to a divine decree or fixed judgment.
4. כְּמֹץ (ke-mots) – Root: מֹץ (mots); Form: Preposition כְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “as chaff”; Notes: Chaff symbolizes worthlessness or transience.
5. עָבַר (avar) – Root: עבר (ʿavar); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “passed”; Notes: Describes the swift passing of time.
6. יֹום (yom) – Root: יום (yom); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “day”; Notes: The subject of the preceding verb.
7. בְּטֶרֶם (be-terem) – Root: טרם (terem); Form: Preposition בְּ + adverb; Translation: “Before”; Notes: Repetition intensifies urgency.
8. לֹא (lo) – Root: לא; Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Negates the following verb.
9. יָבֹוא (yavo) – Root: בוא (bo); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “comes”; Notes: Expresses a future or impending action.
10. עֲלֵיכֶם (ʿaleikhem) – Root: על (ʿal); Form: Preposition עַל + pronominal suffix 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “upon you”; Notes: Indicates the direction of divine judgment.
11. חֲרֹון (ḥaron) – Root: חרה (ḥarah); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “fury”; Notes: A strong term describing intense divine anger.
12. אַף־יְהוָה (af-YHWH) – Root: אף (af); Form: Noun masculine singular in construct + divine name; Translation: “the anger of YHWH”; Notes: Anthropomorphic expression describing YHWH’s wrath.
13. בְּטֶרֶם (be-terem) – Root: טרם (terem); Form: Preposition בְּ + adverb; Translation: “Before”; Notes: Third repetition continues the escalating warning.
14. לֹא (lo) – Root: לא; Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Negates the following verb.
15. יָבֹוא (yavo) – Root: בוא (bo); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “comes”; Notes: Echo of the earlier warning verb.
16. עֲלֵיכֶם (ʿaleikhem) – Root: על (ʿal); Form: Preposition עַל + pronominal suffix 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “upon you”; Notes: Identical construction repeated intentionally.
17. יֹום (yom) – Root: יום (yom); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “day”; Notes: Begins the final phrase parallel to the earlier “day.”
18. אַף־יְהוָה (af-YHWH) – Root: אף (af); Form: Noun masculine singular in construct + divine name; Translation: “the anger of YHWH”; Notes: Climactic repetition concluding the warning.