הִכֵּ֣יתִי אֶתְכֶם֮ בַּשִּׁדָּפֹ֣ון וּבַיֵּרָקֹון֒ הַרְבֹּ֨ות גַּנֹּותֵיכֶ֧ם וְכַרְמֵיכֶ֛ם וּתְאֵנֵיכֶ֥ם וְזֵיתֵיכֶ֖ם יֹאכַ֣ל הַגָּזָ֑ם וְלֹֽא־שַׁבְתֶּ֥ם עָדַ֖י נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃ ס
“I struck you with blight and with mildew; the multitude of your gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees the locust devoured; yet you did not return to Me,” declares YHWH.
Morphology
- הִכֵּ֣יתִי (hikkeiti) – Root: נכה (nakah); Form: Hiphil perfect 1st person common singular; Translation: “I struck”; Notes: Causative form expressing YHWH’s direct act of punishment—sending agricultural devastation.
- אֶתְכֶם֮ (etkhem) – Root: —; Form: Direct object marker אֵת + suffix 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you”; Notes: Marks Yisraʾel as the object of divine action.
- בַּשִּׁדָּפֹ֣ון (ba-shiddafon) – Root: שׁדף (shadaph); Form: Preposition בְּ + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “with blight”; Notes: Refers to a scorching east wind or fungal disease that destroys crops.
- וּבַיֵּרָקֹון֒ (u-va-yerakon) – Root: ירק (yarak); Form: Conjunction וְ + preposition בְּ + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “and with mildew”; Notes: Denotes plant disease caused by excessive moisture, contrasting with the previous drought-related blight.
- הַרְבֹּ֨ות (harbot) – Root: רבה (rabah); Form: Hiphil infinitive construct used substantively; Translation: “the multitude of”; Notes: Refers to the abundance or numerousness of agricultural produce that was affected.
- גַּנֹּותֵיכֶ֧ם (gannotekhem) – Root: גן (gan); Form: Noun masculine plural + suffix 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “your gardens”; Notes: Represents cultivated areas for fruits or vegetables, symbolizing prosperity destroyed by YHWH’s judgment.
- וְכַרְמֵיכֶ֛ם (ve-karmeikhem) – Root: כרם (kerem); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine plural + suffix 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “and your vineyards”; Notes: Refers to grape-producing areas—the economic heart of agrarian life.
- וּתְאֵנֵיכֶ֥ם (u-teʾeneikhem) – Root: תָּאֵן (teʾen); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun feminine plural + suffix 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “and your fig trees”; Notes: Figs were a staple fruit in Yisraʾel’s diet and a symbol of peace and prosperity.
- וְזֵיתֵיכֶ֖ם (ve-zeiteikhem) – Root: זית (zayit); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine plural + suffix 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “and your olive trees”; Notes: Olives were vital for oil production—another symbol of blessing now turned to loss.
- יֹאכַ֣ל (yoʾkhal) – Root: אכל (ʾakhal); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “devoured”; Notes: The singular verb with a collective subject (“locust”) emphasizes the total destruction inflicted by this pest.
- הַגָּזָ֑ם (ha-gazam) – Root: גזם (gazam); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the locust”; Notes: A specific type of locust mentioned elsewhere as part of divine plagues; symbolizes devastating consumption.
- וְלֹֽא־ (ve-lo) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction וְ + negative particle; Translation: “yet not”; Notes: Marks the tragic lack of repentance despite clear divine chastisement.
- שַׁבְתֶּ֥ם (shavtem) – Root: שׁוב (shuv); Form: Qal perfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you returned”; Notes: The recurring prophetic phrase—calls for repentance that never came.
- עָדַ֖י (ʿaday) – Root: עד (ʿad); Form: Preposition עַד + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “to Me”; Notes: Expresses the desired spiritual direction of repentance—toward YHWH Himself.
- נְאֻם־ (neʾum) – Root: נאם (naʾam); Form: Noun masculine singular (prophetic formula); Translation: “declares”; Notes: Standard prophetic closing for oracles, asserting divine authority.
- יְהוָֽה׃ (YHWH) – Root: הוה (havah); Form: Proper noun, divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenantal name of the God of Yisraʾel, source of both blessing and judgment.