כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה עַל־שְׁלֹשָׁה֙ פִּשְׁעֵ֣י אֱדֹ֔ום וְעַל־אַרְבָּעָ֖ה לֹ֣א אֲשִׁיבֶ֑נּוּ עַל־רָדְפֹ֨ו בַחֶ֤רֶב אָחִיו֙ וְשִׁחֵ֣ת רַחֲמָ֔יו וַיִּטְרֹ֤ף לָעַד֙ אַפֹּ֔ו וְעֶבְרָתֹ֖ו שְׁמָ֥רָה נֶֽצַח׃
Thus says YHWH: “For three transgressions of ʾEdom, and for four, I will not turn it back, because he pursued his brother with the sword and corrupted his compassions, and his anger tore continually, and his wrath he kept forever.
Morphology
- כֹּ֚ה (koh) – Root: כה (koh); Form: Adverb; Translation: “Thus”; Notes: Typical prophetic formula introducing YHWH’s declaration.
- אָמַ֣ר (ʾamar) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “has said”; Notes: Indicates the authoritative divine speech of YHWH.
- יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper noun, Tetragrammaton; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenant name of Israel’s God.
- עַל־שְׁלֹשָׁה֙ (ʿal-sheloshah) – Root: שלשׁ (shalosh); Form: Preposition עַל + cardinal number masculine singular; Translation: “for three”; Notes: Part of the idiom “for three … and for four,” expressing completeness or abundance of offenses.
- פִּשְׁעֵ֣י (pishʿei) – Root: פשע (pashaʿ); Form: Noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “transgressions of”; Notes: Refers to deliberate acts of rebellion or wrongdoing.
- אֱדֹ֔ום (ʾEdom) – Root: אדום (ʾEdom); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “ʾEdom”; Notes: The nation descended from Esau, often symbolizing hostility against Yisraʾel.
- וְעַל־אַרְבָּעָ֖ה (ve-ʿal-arbaʿah) – Root: ארבע (arbaʿ); Form: Conjunction + preposition עַל + cardinal number masculine singular; Translation: “and for four”; Notes: Completes the idiomatic expression emphasizing repeated guilt.
- לֹ֣א (lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Negates the following verb; expresses divine determination not to relent.
- אֲשִׁיבֶ֑נּוּ (ʾashivennu) – Root: שׁוב (shuv); Form: Hiphil imperfect 1st person singular + suffix 3ms; Translation: “I will not turn it back”; Notes: Indicates YHWH’s irrevocable judgment.
- עַל־רָדְפֹ֨ו (ʿal-radfo) – Root: רדף (radaf); Form: Preposition עַל + Qal infinitive construct + suffix 3ms; Translation: “because he pursued”; Notes: Describes Edom’s persistent aggression against his brother nation.
- בַחֶ֤רֶב (ba-ḥerev) – Root: חרב (ḥerev); Form: Preposition בְּ + definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “with the sword”; Notes: Indicates violent hostility and warfare.
- אָחִיו֙ (ʾachiv) – Root: אח (ʾach); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 3ms; Translation: “his brother”; Notes: Refers to Yisraʾel, Edom’s kin by descent from Yaʿaqov and Esau.
- וְשִׁחֵ֣ת (ve-shiḥet) – Root: שׁחת (shaḥat); Form: Conjunction + Piel perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he corrupted”; Notes: Means to destroy or ruin—here referring to the perversion of compassion.
- רַחֲמָ֔יו (raḥamav) – Root: רחם (raḥam); Form: Noun masculine plural + suffix 3ms; Translation: “his compassions”; Notes: Refers to natural pity or mercy; Edom hardened his heart against fraternal compassion.
- וַיִּטְרֹ֤ף (va-yitrof) – Root: טרף (ṭaraf); Form: Conjunction + Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he tore”; Notes: Metaphor for raging anger; conveys uncontrollable hostility.
- לָעַד֙ (la-ʿad) – Root: עד (ʿad); Form: Preposition לְ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “continually” or “forever”; Notes: Indicates unending duration of anger or vengeance.
- אַפֹּ֔ו (appo) – Root: אף (ʾaf); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 3ms; Translation: “his anger”; Notes: “Nose” idiomatically used for wrath; symbolizes Edom’s persistent fury.
- וְעֶבְרָתֹ֖ו (ve-ʿevratō) – Root: עבר (ʿavar); Form: Conjunction + noun feminine singular + suffix 3ms; Translation: “and his wrath”; Notes: Refers to violent rage, related but stronger than “anger.”
- שְׁמָ֥רָה (shemarah) – Root: שׁמר (shamar); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “she kept” or “he kept”; Notes: The feminine form aligns with “wrath” (feminine), meaning “his wrath he maintained.”
- נֶֽצַח׃ (netsaḥ) – Root: נצח (netsaḥ); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “forever” or “eternally”; Notes: Expresses unrelenting vengeance—Edom’s enduring hostility toward his brother nation.