Zephaniah 3:5

יְהוָ֤ה צַדִּיק֙ בְּקִרְבָּ֔הּ לֹ֥א יַעֲשֶׂ֖ה עַוְלָ֑ה בַּבֹּ֨קֶר בַּבֹּ֜קֶר מִשְׁפָּטֹ֨ו יִתֵּ֤ן לָאֹור֙ לֹ֣א נֶעְדָּ֔ר וְלֹֽא־יֹודֵ֥עַ עַוָּ֖ל בֹּֽשֶׁת׃

YHWH is righteous in her midst; He will not do wrong. Morning by morning His judgment He gives to the light; it is not lacking, but the unjust one knows no shame.

Morphology

1. יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: הוה (havah); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The subject of the declaration—YHWH as the righteous judge.
2. צַדִּיק (tsaddiq) – Root: צדק (tsadaq); Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “righteous”; Notes: Describes YHWH’s just and upright nature.
3. בְּקִרְבָּהּ (be-qirbah) – Root: קרב (qerev); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular + suffix 3fs; Translation: “in her midst”; Notes: Refers to the city YHWH dwells among.
4. לֹא (lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Introduces denial of wrongdoing.
5. יַעֲשֶׂה (yaʿaseh) – Root: עׂשׂה (ʿasah); Form: Qal imperfect 3ms; Translation: “He will do”; Notes: Indicates YHWH’s future action—negated here.
6. עַוְלָה (avlah) – Root: עול (ʿaval); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “wrong / injustice”; Notes: Contrasts YHWH’s righteousness.
7. בַּבֹּקֶר (ba-boqer) – Root: בקר (boqer); Form: Preposition בְּ + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “in the morning”; Notes: Refers to consistent daily action.
8. בַּבֹּקֶר (ba-boqer) – Root: בקר (boqer); Form: Preposition בְּ + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “in the morning”; Notes: Repetition for emphasis—daily reliability.
9. מִשְׁפָּטוֹ (mishpato) – Root: שׁפט (shafat); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 3ms; Translation: “His judgment”; Notes: Refers to YHWH’s consistent justice.
10. יִתֵּן (yitten) – Root: נתן (natan); Form: Qal imperfect 3ms; Translation: “He gives”; Notes: Denotes continual, repeated action.
11. לָאֹור (la-or) – Root: אור (ʾor); Form: Preposition לְ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “to the light”; Notes: Symbolically refers to public clarity and revelation.
12. לֹא (lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Emphasizes the unbroken nature of YHWH’s justice.
13. נֶעְדָּר (neʿdar) – Root: עדר (ʿadar); Form: Nifal participle masculine singular; Translation: “is lacking”; Notes: Nothing is missing in YHWH’s daily justice.
14. וְלֹא־ (ve-lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Conjunction וְ + negative particle; Translation: “and not”; Notes: Introduces the contrasting behavior of the wicked.
15. יֹודֵעַ (yodeaʿ) – Root: ידע (yadaʿ); Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “knows”; Notes: Describes ongoing condition of the unjust.
16. עַוָּל (avval) – Root: עול (ʿaval); Form: Adjective/noun masculine singular; Translation: “the unjust one”; Notes: Moral opposite of YHWH.
17. בֹּשֶׁת (boshet) – Root: בושׁ (bosh); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “shame”; Notes: The wicked demonstrate no shame for their corruption.