שִׁמְע֞וּ הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֗ה פָּרֹ֤ות הַבָּשָׁן֙ אֲשֶׁר֙ בְּהַ֣ר שֹֽׁמְרֹ֔ון הָעֹשְׁקֹ֣ות דַּלִּ֔ים הָרֹצְצֹ֖ות אֶבְיֹונִ֑ים הָאֹמְרֹ֥ת לַאֲדֹֽנֵיהֶ֖ם הָבִ֥יאָה וְנִשְׁתֶּֽה׃
Hear this word, you cows of the Bashan who are on the mountain of Shomeron, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who say to their masters, “Bring, and let us drink.”
Morphology
- שִׁמְע֞וּ (shimʿu) – Root: שׁמע (shamaʿ); Form: Qal imperative 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “Hear”; Notes: Prophetic imperative calling the privileged women of Shomeron to heed YHWH’s rebuke.
- הַדָּבָ֣ר (ha-davar) – Root: דבר (davar); Form: Definite article הַ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “the word”; Notes: Refers to the divine message or oracle being proclaimed.
- הַזֶּ֗ה (ha-zeh) – Root: זה (zeh); Form: Demonstrative pronoun masculine singular; Translation: “this”; Notes: Specifies the particular prophetic message being announced.
- פָּרֹ֤ות (parot) – Root: פרה (parah); Form: Noun feminine plural; Translation: “cows”; Notes: Figurative description of wealthy women in Shomeron—luxurious and indulgent.
- הַבָּשָׁן֙ (ha-Bashan) – Root: בשׁן (Bashan); Form: Definite article הַ + proper noun; Translation: “the Bashan”; Notes: A fertile region east of the Yarden, known for its well-fed cattle—used metaphorically for indulgent prosperity.
- אֲשֶׁר֙ (ʾasher) – Root: —; Form: Relative pronoun; Translation: “who” or “that”; Notes: Introduces the relative clause describing the conduct of these women.
- בְּהַ֣ר (be-har) – Root: הר (har); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “on the mountain of”; Notes: Refers to the hill of Shomeron where the wealthy resided.
- שֹֽׁמְרֹ֔ון (Shomeron) – Root: שׁמרון (Shomeron); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Shomeron”; Notes: Capital of the northern kingdom, symbol of wealth and moral decay.
- הָעֹשְׁקֹ֣ות (ha-ʿoshqot) – Root: עשׁק (ʿashaq); Form: Definite article הַ + Qal participle feminine plural; Translation: “who oppress”; Notes: Denotes continual exploitation of the weak by the powerful.
- דַּלִּ֔ים (dallim) – Root: דלל (dalal); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “the poor”; Notes: Refers to the impoverished and defenseless classes oppressed by the elite.
- הָרֹצְצֹ֖ות (ha-rotsetsot) – Root: רצץ (ratsats); Form: Definite article הַ + Qal participle feminine plural; Translation: “who crush”; Notes: Describes active oppression and violence against the needy.
- אֶבְיֹונִ֑ים (evyonim) – Root: אביון (evyon); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “the needy”; Notes: Denotes those in material or social distress exploited by the rich.
- הָאֹמְרֹ֥ת (ha-ʾomrot) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Definite article הַ + Qal participle feminine plural; Translation: “who say”; Notes: Marks habitual command or expectation expressed by these women to their husbands or lords.
- לַאֲדֹֽנֵיהֶ֖ם (la-adoneihem) – Root: אדן (ʾadon); Form: Preposition לְ + noun masculine plural construct + suffix 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “to their masters”; Notes: Refers to their husbands or rulers—those who serve their indulgent desires.
- הָבִ֥יאָה (haviʾah) – Root: בוא (boʾ); Form: Hiphil imperative 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “Bring!”; Notes: Command form expressing demand for gratification or luxury.
- וְנִשְׁתֶּֽה׃ (ve-nishteh) – Root: שׁתה (shatah); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal cohortative 1st person common plural; Translation: “and let us drink”; Notes: Expresses self-indulgent pleasure, symbolizing moral and spiritual complacency among the wealthy women of Shomeron.