כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה עַל־שְׁלֹשָׁה֙ פִּשְׁעֵ֣י מֹואָ֔ב וְעַל־אַרְבָּעָ֖ה לֹ֣א אֲשִׁיבֶ֑נּוּ עַל־שָׂרְפֹ֛ו עַצְמֹ֥ות מֶֽלֶךְ־אֱדֹ֖ום לַשִּֽׂיד׃
Thus says YHWH: “For three transgressions of Moʾav, and for four, I will not turn it back, because he burned the bones of the king of ʾEdom to lime.
Morphology
- כֹּ֚ה (koh) – Root: כה; Form: Adverb; Translation: “Thus”; Notes: Typical introductory word of divine or prophetic declaration.
- אָמַ֣ר (ʾamar) – Root: אמר; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “has said”; Notes: Indicates the direct speech of YHWH.
- יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה; Form: Proper noun, Tetragrammaton; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Covenant name of the God of Yisraʾel, declaring divine judgment.
- עַל־שְׁלֹשָׁה֙ (ʿal-sheloshah) – Root: שלשׁ; Form: Preposition עַל + cardinal number masculine singular; Translation: “for three”; Notes: Begins the prophetic idiom “for three… and for four,” denoting abundant iniquity.
- פִּשְׁעֵ֣י (pishʿei) – Root: פשע; Form: Noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “transgressions of”; Notes: Refers to deliberate acts of rebellion or moral defiance.
- מֹואָ֔ב (Moʾav) – Root: מואב; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Moʾav”; Notes: Nation east of the Dead Sea, descended from Lot; frequently in conflict with Yisraʾel.
- וְעַל־אַרְבָּעָ֖ה (ve-ʿal-arbaʿah) – Root: ארבע; Form: Conjunction + preposition עַל + cardinal number masculine singular; Translation: “and for four”; Notes: Completes the idiomatic expression of cumulative guilt.
- לֹ֣א (lo) – Root: לא; Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Negates the following verb to emphasize irreversible divine action.
- אֲשִׁיבֶ֑נּוּ (ʾashivennu) – Root: שׁוב; Form: Hiphil imperfect 1st person singular + suffix 3ms; Translation: “I will not turn it back”; Notes: Expresses YHWH’s unrelenting judgment.
- עַל־שָׂרְפֹ֛ו (ʿal-sarfo) – Root: שרף; Form: Preposition עַל + Qal infinitive construct + suffix 3ms; Translation: “because he burned”; Notes: Introduces the reason for judgment — an act of desecration.
- עַצְמֹ֥ות (ʿatsmot) – Root: עצם; Form: Noun feminine plural; Translation: “bones”; Notes: Represents human remains, symbolizing the complete humiliation of the dead.
- מֶֽלֶךְ־אֱדֹ֖ום (melech-ʾEdom) – Root: מלך + אדום; Form: Construct noun masculine singular + proper noun; Translation: “the king of ʾEdom”; Notes: Refers to a ruler of ʾEdom; burning his bones violated ancient norms of respect for the dead.
- לַשִּֽׂיד׃ (la-sid) – Root: שׂיד; Form: Preposition לְ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “to lime”; Notes: Denotes complete cremation or reduction to powder; an act of desecration symbolizing contempt and vengeance beyond death.