Amos 4:5

וְקַטֵּ֤ר מֵֽחָמֵץ֙ תֹּודָ֔ה וְקִרְא֥וּ נְדָבֹ֖ות הַשְׁמִ֑יעוּ כִּ֣י כֵ֤ן אֲהַבְתֶּם֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִֽה׃

And offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven, and proclaim freewill offerings, make them heard, for so you love to do, O sons of Yisraʾel,” declares the Lord YHWH.

Morphology

1. וְקַטֵּ֤ר (ve-qatter) – Root: קטר (qatar); Form: Conjunction וְ + Piel imperative 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “and offer” or “and burn”; Notes: Piel indicates an intensive action—burning incense or offering sacrifice; here used sarcastically by the prophet to mock false worship.
2. מֵֽחָמֵץ֙ (me-ḥamets) – Root: חמץ (ḥamets); Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine singular; Translation: “with leaven”; Notes: Leaven was usually prohibited in offerings, so this phrase underscores their deviation from proper worship practice.
3. תֹּודָ֔ה (todah) – Root: ידה (yadah); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “a sacrifice of thanksgiving”; Notes: Refers to offerings of gratitude, often accompanied by praise; Amos points to their ritualism without sincerity.
4. וְקִרְא֥וּ (ve-qirʾu) – Root: קרא (qaraʾ); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal imperative 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “and proclaim”; Notes: Suggests public display—exposing their love for showy piety.
5. נְדָבֹ֖ות (nedavot) – Root: נדב (nadav); Form: Noun feminine plural; Translation: “freewill offerings”; Notes: Voluntary gifts or sacrifices presented apart from command—done here for public recognition rather than devotion.
6. הַשְׁמִ֑יעוּ (hashmiʿu) – Root: שׁמע (shamaʿ); Form: Hiphil imperative 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “make heard”; Notes: Causative form—meaning “cause to be heard” or “announce loudly”; further mocks their noisy, insincere worship.
7. כִּ֣י (ki) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces reason—explains their behavior as stemming from misplaced affection for ritual performance.
8. כֵ֤ן (ken) – Root: —; Form: Adverb; Translation: “so” or “thus”; Notes: Reinforces the sarcastic tone—this is indeed what they love to do.
9. אֲהַבְתֶּם֙ (ʾahavtem) – Root: אהב (ʾahav); Form: Qal perfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you love”; Notes: Expresses the people’s preference for outward religion over moral obedience.
10. בְּנֵ֣י (be-ney) – Root: בן (ben); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “O sons of”; Notes: Addressed directly to the people of Yisraʾel, emphasizing their collective identity.
11. יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (Yisraʾel) – Root: ישראל (Yisraʾel); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yisraʾel”; Notes: Represents the northern kingdom being condemned for its hypocrisy in worship.
12. נְאֻ֖ם (neʾum) – Root: נאם (naʾam); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “declares”; Notes: Prophetic declaration formula emphasizing the authority of divine speech.
13. אֲדֹנָ֥י (Adonai) – Root: אדן (ʾadon); Form: Noun masculine plural with singular meaning; Translation: “Lord”; Notes: Title of majesty expressing divine sovereignty.
14. יְהוִֽה׃ (YHWH) – Root: הוה (havah); Form: Proper noun, divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenantal name of Israel’s God, underscoring that the sarcastic rebuke comes with divine authority.