וְאַתֶּם֙ סַרְתֶּ֣ם מִן־הַדֶּ֔רֶךְ הִכְשַׁלְתֶּ֥ם רַבִּ֖ים בַּתֹּורָ֑ה שִֽׁחַתֶּם֙ בְּרִ֣ית הַלֵּוִ֔י אָמַ֖ר יְהוָ֥ה צְבָאֹֽות׃
And you, you have turned aside from the way, you have caused many to stumble in the instruction, you have corrupted the covenant of Levi,” says YHWH of Hosts.
Morphology
- וְאַתֶּם (ve-ʾattem) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction וְ + independent pronoun 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “and you”; Notes: Emphatic subject.
- סַרְתֶּם (sartem) – Root: סור (sur); Form: Qal perfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you have turned aside”; Notes: Indicates deviation from the right path.
- מִן (min) – Root: —; Form: Preposition מִן; Translation: “from”; Notes: Marks separation.
- הַדֶּרֶךְ (ha-derekh) – Root: דרך (derekh); Form: Definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “the way”; Notes: Symbol of proper conduct.
- הִכְשַׁלְתֶּם (hikhsheltem) – Root: כשל (kashal); Form: Hifil perfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you have caused to stumble”; Notes: Causative stem indicating leading others into error.
- רַבִּים (rabbim) – Root: רבב (ravav); Form: Adjective masculine plural used substantively; Translation: “many”; Notes: Direct object of הִכְשַׁלְתֶּם.
- בַּתֹּורָה (ba-torah) – Root: ירה (yarah); Form: Preposition בְּ + definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “in the instruction”; Notes: Sphere in which stumbling occurred.
- שִׁחַתֶּם (shiḥattem) – Root: שׁחת (shaḥat); Form: Piel perfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you have corrupted”; Notes: Intensive stem indicating deliberate ruin.
- בְּרִית (berit) – Root: ברית (berit); Form: Noun feminine singular construct; Translation: “covenant of”; Notes: In construct with הַלֵּוִי.
- הַלֵּוִי (ha-Levi) – Root: לוי (Levi); Form: Definite proper noun masculine singular; Translation: “Levi”; Notes: Refers to the priestly tribe.
- אָמַר (ʾamar) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “says”; Notes: Prophetic declaration formula.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Proper noun masculine singular; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Covenant name.
- צְבָאֹות (Tsevaʾot) – Root: צבא (tsavaʾ); Form: Noun masculine plural absolute in construct with יְהוָה; Translation: “Hosts”; Notes: Divine title expressing sovereignty.