Amos 3:4

הֲיִשְׁאַ֤ג אַרְיֵה֙ בַּיַּ֔עַר וְטֶ֖רֶף אֵ֣ין לֹ֑ו הֲיִתֵּ֨ן כְּפִ֤יר קֹולֹו֙ מִמְּעֹ֣נָתֹ֔ו בִּלְתִּ֖י אִם־לָכָֽד׃

Will a lion roar in the forest when he has no prey? Will a young lion give forth his voice from his den unless he has taken something?

Morphology

1. הֲיִשְׁאַ֤ג (ha-yishʾag) – Root: שׁאג (shaʾag); Form: Interrogative particle הֲ + Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “Will roar”; Notes: The question introduces a rhetorical comparison, implying that a lion roars only for a cause, symbolizing YHWH’s justified action.
2. אַרְיֵה֙ (aryeh) – Root: ארה (ʾarah); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “lion”; Notes: Represents strength and predatory power; often used metaphorically for YHWH or a nation executing His judgment.
3. בַּיַּ֔עַר (ba-yaʿar) – Root: יער (yaʿar); Form: Preposition בְּ + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “in the forest”; Notes: Indicates the lion’s natural environment; adds realism to the rhetorical question.
4. וְטֶ֖רֶף (ve-ṭeref) – Root: טרף (ṭaraf); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and prey”; Notes: Denotes captured food or victim, establishing the condition for the lion’s roar.
5. אֵ֣ין (ʾein) – Root: —; Form: Negative particle; Translation: “there is none”; Notes: Denies existence—introduces the hypothetical lack of prey.
6. לֹ֑ו (lo) – Root: —; Form: Preposition לְ + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “for him”; Notes: Refers to the lion; completes the expression “he has no prey.”
7. הֲיִתֵּ֨ן (ha-yitten) – Root: נתן (natan); Form: Interrogative particle הֲ + Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “Will give (forth)”; Notes: Used idiomatically—“give his voice” meaning to utter a cry or roar.
8. כְּפִ֤יר (kefir) – Root: כפר (kafar); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “young lion”; Notes: Refers to a mature but youthful lion; a secondary image paralleling the first.
9. קֹולֹו֙ (qolō) – Root: קול (qol); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “his voice”; Notes: Expresses sound or cry, here the lion’s roar symbolizing a purposeful divine warning.
10. מִמְּעֹ֣נָתֹ֔ו (mi-meʿonato) – Root: מעון (maʿon); Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “from his den”; Notes: Indicates the lion’s dwelling or lair; parallels YHWH’s throne from which He acts.
11. בִּלְתִּ֖י (bilti) – Root: —; Form: Negative particle used with infinitive; Translation: “unless”; Notes: Marks an exception or condition for the preceding rhetorical question.
12. אִם־ (ʾim) – Root: —; Form: Conditional particle; Translation: “if”; Notes: Introduces the specific condition under which the lion roars or gives voice.
13. לָכָֽד׃ (lakad) – Root: לכד (lakad); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he has taken (something)”; Notes: Describes successful capture; figuratively expresses the certainty of cause and effect—YHWH’s actions are never without reason.