Amos 5:14

דִּרְשׁוּ־טֹ֥וב וְאַל־רָ֖ע לְמַ֣עַן תִּֽחְי֑וּ וִיהִי־כֵ֞ן יְהוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֵֽי־צְבָאֹ֛ות אִתְּכֶ֖ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲמַרְתֶּֽם׃

Seek good and not evil, that you may live; and thus may YHWH, the God of Hosts, be with you, as you have said.

Morphology

1. דִּרְשׁוּ (dirshu) – Root: דרשׁ (darash); Form: Qal imperative masculine plural; Translation: “Seek”; Notes: A command urging active pursuit of moral and ethical good in contrast to evil.
2. טֹוב (tov) – Root: טוב (tov); Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “good”; Notes: Refers to moral goodness, justice, and righteousness in behavior and judgment.
3. וְאַל (veʾal) – Root: אל (ʾal); Form: Conjunction וְ + negative particle of prohibition; Translation: “and not”; Notes: Conjoins and negates the next verb, forming a moral contrast.
4. רָע (raʿ) – Root: רעע (raʿaʿ); Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “evil”; Notes: Represents moral corruption, injustice, or wickedness.
5. לְמַעַן (lemaʿan) – Root: מען (maʿan); Form: Preposition; Translation: “that” or “in order that”; Notes: Introduces a purpose clause showing the desired result of obedience.
6. תִּחְיוּ (tiḥyu) – Root: חיה (ḥayah); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you may live”; Notes: Expresses the divine promise of life and blessing in response to righteousness.
7. וִיהִי (vihi) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal jussive 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and may He be”; Notes: Expresses a wish or hope that YHWH’s favor would accompany His people.
8. כֵן (khen) – Root: כן (ken); Form: Adverb; Translation: “thus” or “so”; Notes: Refers to the result that will follow their obedience to seek good.
9. יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: הוה (hvh); Form: Proper noun, divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenant name of the God of Yisraʾel, who blesses or judges according to righteousness.
10. אֱלֹהֵי־צְבָאֹות (Elohei-tsevaʾot) – Root: אלה (ʾeloh) + צבא (tsavaʾ); Form: Noun masculine plural construct + noun masculine plural; Translation: “God of hosts”; Notes: A divine title expressing YHWH’s rule over heavenly armies and all creation.
11. אִתְּכֶם (ittekhem) – Root: את (ʾet); Form: Preposition עִם (contracted form) + suffix 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “with you”; Notes: Indicates divine presence and favor accompanying the obedient.
12. כַּאֲשֶׁר (kaʾasher) – Root: אשר (ʾasher); Form: Preposition כְּ + relative particle; Translation: “as”; Notes: Introduces comparison to their own claim about YHWH’s presence.
13. אֲמַרְתֶּם (amartem) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal perfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you have said”; Notes: Refers to the people’s assertion that YHWH is with them, challenged by the prophet to align with true righteousness.