Zephaniah 2:8

שָׁמַ֨עְתִּי֙ חֶרְפַּ֣ת מֹואָ֔ב וְגִדּוּפֵ֖י בְּנֵ֣י עַמֹּ֑ון אֲשֶׁ֤ר חֵֽרְפוּ֙ אֶת־עַמִּ֔י וַיַּגְדִּ֖ילוּ עַל־גְּבוּלָֽם׃

I have heard the reproach of Moʾav and the insults of the sons of ʿAmmon, who reproached My people and magnified themselves against their border.

Morphology

1. שָׁמַעְתִּי (shamaʿti) – Root: שׁמע (shamaʿ); Form: Qal perfect 1st person singular; Translation: “I have heard”; Notes: YHWH is the speaker, asserting full awareness of the nations’ insults.
2. חֶרְפַּת (ḥerpat) – Root: חרף (ḥaraf); Form: Noun feminine singular construct; Translation: “the reproach of”; Notes: Construct phrase governing the following proper noun.
3. מֹואָב (Moʾav) – Root: מואב (Moʾav); Form: Proper noun masculine singular; Translation: “Moʾav”; Notes: One of the neighboring nations condemned for arrogance.
4. וְגִדּוּפֵי (ve-giddufei) – Root: גדף (gadaf); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “and the insults of”; Notes: Refers to verbal contempt directed at YHWH’s people.
5. בְּנֵי (be-nei) – Root: בן (ben); Form: Preposition בְּ (assimilated) understood? *Actually no prefix here*—Form: Noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “sons of”; Notes: Standard construct pattern for describing lineage or national groups.
6. עַמֹּון (ʿAmmon) – Root: עמן (ʿaman); Form: Proper noun masculine singular; Translation: “ʿAmmon”; Notes: Nation east of the Yarden, frequently paired with Moʾav in oracles.
7. אֲשֶׁר (ʾasher) – Root: אשׁר (ʾasher); Form: Relative particle; Translation: “who”; Notes: Introduces the clause explaining their wrongdoing.
8. חֵרְפוּ (ḥerfu) – Root: חרף (ḥaraf); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they reproached”; Notes: Refers specifically to Moʾav and ʿAmmon’s verbal contempt.
9. אֶת (ʾet) – Root: את (ʾet); Form: Direct object marker; Translation: “—”; Notes: Marks the following noun as the direct object.
10. עַמִּי (ʿammi) – Root: עם (ʿam); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 1st person singular; Translation: “My people”; Notes: Emphasizes the covenant relationship violated by the nations’ insults.
11. וַיַּגְדִּילוּ (va-yaggidlu) – Root: גדל (gadal); Form: Conjunction וַ + Hifil wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they magnified themselves”; Notes: Hifil conveys an active causing—exalting themselves in arrogance.
12. עַל־ (ʿal) – Root: על (ʿal); Form: Preposition עַל; Translation: “against”; Notes: Marks hostile direction toward the object that follows.
13. גְּבוּלָם (gevulam) – Root: גבול (gevul); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “their border”; Notes: Refers to territorial boundary—Moʾav and ʿAmmon violated or encroached upon it.