כִּ֗י בְּיֹ֛ום פָּקְדִ֥י פִשְׁעֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עָלָ֑יו וּפָֽקַדְתִּי֙ עַל־מִזְבְּחֹ֣ות בֵּֽית־אֵ֔ל וְנִגְדְּעוּ֙ קַרְנֹ֣ות הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ וְנָפְל֖וּ לָאָֽרֶץ׃
“For on the day that I punish the transgressions of Yisraʾel upon him, I will also punish the altars of Beit-el, and the horns of the altar shall be cut off and fall to the ground.
Morphology
- כִּ֗י (ki) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “For”; Notes: Introduces a causal clause explaining the reason for divine punishment.
- בְּיֹ֛ום (be-yom) – Root: יום (yom); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “on the day”; Notes: Marks the specific time of YHWH’s judgment or visitation.
- פָּקְדִ֥י (paqdi) – Root: פקד (paqad); Form: Qal perfect 1st person common singular; Translation: “I punish” or “I visit”; Notes: Denotes divine intervention, often involving retribution or accountability.
- פִשְׁעֵֽי־ (fishʿei) – Root: פשע (peshaʿ); Form: Noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “the transgressions of”; Notes: Refers to deliberate rebellion or willful sin against YHWH.
- יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (Yisraʾel) – Root: ישראל (Yisraʾel); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yisraʾel”; Notes: Refers to the northern kingdom, recipient of prophetic judgment.
- עָלָ֑יו (ʿalav) – Root: —; Form: Preposition עַל + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “upon him”; Notes: Refers to Yisraʾel collectively—divine punishment directed upon the nation.
- וּפָֽקַדְתִּי֙ (u-faqadti) – Root: פקד (paqad); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal perfect 1st person common singular; Translation: “and I will punish”; Notes: Repetition of the same verb emphasizes comprehensive divine judgment.
- עַל־ (ʿal) – Root: —; Form: Preposition; Translation: “upon” or “against”; Notes: Introduces the object of punishment—places of idolatrous worship.
- מִזְבְּחֹ֣ות (mizbeḥot) – Root: זבח (zavach); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “altars”; Notes: Refers to sacrificial altars, especially those associated with idolatry in Beit-El.
- בֵּֽית־אֵ֔ל (Beit-El) – Root: בית (bayit) + אל (ʾel); Form: Proper noun compound; Translation: “Beit-El” (“House of God”); Notes: Ironically, the center of false worship established by Yerovʿam in the northern kingdom.
- וְנִגְדְּעוּ֙ (ve-nigdeʿu) – Root: גדע (gadaʿ); Form: Conjunction וְ + Niphal perfect 3rd person common plural; Translation: “and shall be cut off”; Notes: Passive form—depicts the destruction of the altar’s horns, symbols of power and atonement.
- קַרְנֹ֣ות (karnot) – Root: קרן (qeren); Form: Noun feminine plural; Translation: “horns”; Notes: Projections on the corners of the altar representing strength and sanctity; their removal signifies loss of divine favor.
- הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ (ha-mizbeaḥ) – Root: זבח (zavach); Form: Definite article הַ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “the altar”; Notes: Refers specifically to the idolatrous altar at Beit-El.
- וְנָפְל֖וּ (ve-naflu) – Root: נפל (nafal); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal perfect 3rd person common plural; Translation: “and they shall fall”; Notes: Describes the physical collapse of the altar’s horns after being cut off.
- לָאָֽרֶץ׃ (la-aretz) – Root: ארץ (ʾerets); Form: Preposition לְ + definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “to the ground”; Notes: Symbolizes total downfall and humiliation—the idol altars reduced to dust.