Amos 2:14

וְאָבַ֤ד מָנֹוס֙ מִקָּ֔ל וְחָזָ֖ק לֹא־יְאַמֵּ֣ץ כֹּחֹ֑ו וְגִבֹּ֖ור לֹא־יְמַלֵּ֥ט נַפְשֹֽׁו׃

And refuge shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not strengthen his power, and the mighty man shall not deliver his life.

Morphology

1. וְאָבַ֤ד (ve-ʾavad) – Root: אבד; Form: Conjunction + Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And shall perish”; Notes: Indicates the complete loss or disappearance of safety or escape — YHWH’s judgment leaves no way out.
2. מָנֹוס֙ (manos) – Root: נוס; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “refuge” or “escape”; Notes: Derives from the verb “to flee”; symbolizes the end of all means of escape for the wicked.
3. מִקָּ֔ל (mi-qal) – Root: קלל or קל; Form: Preposition מִן + adjective masculine singular; Translation: “from the swift”; Notes: Highlights that even those quick to flee will find no safety — speed offers no escape from divine retribution.
4. וְחָזָ֖ק (ve-ḥazaq) – Root: חזק; Form: Conjunction + adjective masculine singular; Translation: “and the strong”; Notes: Refers to those relying on physical strength or military power.
5. לֹא־יְאַמֵּ֣ץ (lo-yeʾammetz) – Root: אמץ; Form: Negative particle + Piel imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “shall not strengthen”; Notes: The Piel stem adds intensity — even the strong cannot muster their own might when facing divine justice.
6. כֹּחֹ֑ו (koḥo) – Root: כח; Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 3ms; Translation: “his power”; Notes: Denotes personal strength or vigor, which is rendered useless under YHWH’s hand.
7. וְגִבֹּ֖ור (ve-gibbor) – Root: גבר; Form: Conjunction + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and the mighty man”; Notes: Refers to a warrior or hero, someone of valor, whose courage cannot save him.
8. לֹא־יְמַלֵּ֥ט (lo-yemallet) – Root: מלט; Form: Negative particle + Piel imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “shall not deliver”; Notes: The Piel stem intensifies the verb — he will not be able to rescue or save himself from destruction.
9. נַפְשֹֽׁו׃ (nafsho) – Root: נפשׁ; Form: Noun feminine singular + suffix 3ms; Translation: “his life”; Notes: Represents the whole being; even self-preservation becomes impossible before divine judgment.