Author Archives: Nevi’im

שָׁמַ֥עְנוּ אֶת־שָׁמְעֹ֖ו רָפ֣וּ יָדֵ֑ינוּ צָרָה֙ הֶחֱזִיקַ֔תְנוּ חִ֖יל כַּיֹּולֵדָֽה׃ We have heard his report; our hands have grown weak. Distress has seized us, anguish like one giving birth.   Morphology שָׁמַ֥עְנוּ (shamaʿnu) – Root: שמע; Form: Qal perfect 1st person common … Continue reading →

קֶ֣שֶׁת וְכִידֹ֞ון יַחֲזִ֗יקוּ אַכְזָרִ֥י הוּא֙ וְלֹ֣א יְרַחֵ֔מוּ קֹולָם֙ כַּיָּ֣ם יֶהֱמֶ֔ה וְעַל־סוּסִ֖ים יִרְכָּ֑בוּ עָר֗וּךְ כְּאִישׁ֙ לַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה עָלַ֖יִךְ בַּת־צִיֹּֽון׃ Bow and javelin they hold; cruel is he and will not show mercy. Their voice roars like the sea, and on horses they … Continue reading →

כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה הִנֵּ֛ה עַ֥ם בָּ֖א מֵאֶ֣רֶץ צָפֹ֑ון וְגֹ֣וי גָּדֹ֔ול יֵעֹ֖ור מִיַּרְכְּתֵי־אָֽרֶץ׃ Thus said YHWH: “Behold, a people is coming from the land of the north, and a great nation shall be stirred up from the uttermost parts of the … Continue reading →

לָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה הִנְנִ֥י נֹתֵ֛ן אֶל־הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֖ה מִכְשֹׁלִ֑ים וְכָ֣שְׁלוּ בָ֠ם אָבֹ֨ות וּבָנִ֥ים יַחְדָּ֛ו שָׁכֵ֥ן וְרֵעֹ֖ו יֹאבֵֽדוּ׃ פ Therefore, thus said YHWH: ‘Behold, I am setting before this people stumbling blocks, and they shall stumble over them; fathers and sons … Continue reading →

לָמָּה־זֶּ֨ה לִ֤י לְבֹונָה֙ מִשְּׁבָ֣א תָבֹ֔וא וְקָנֶ֥ה הַטֹּ֖וב מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מֶרְחָ֑ק עֹלֹֽותֵיכֶם֙ לֹ֣א לְרָצֹ֔ון וְזִבְחֵיכֶ֖ם לֹא־עָ֥רְבוּ לִֽי׃ ס Why to Me does frankincense come from Sheva, and the good cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, and your … Continue reading →

שִׁמְעִ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ הִנֵּ֨ה אָנֹכִ֜י מֵבִ֥יא רָעָ֛ה אֶל־הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֖ה פְּרִ֣י מַחְשְׁבֹותָ֑ם כִּ֤י עַל־דְּבָרַי֙ לֹ֣א הִקְשִׁ֔יבוּ וְתֹורָתִ֖י וַיִּמְאֲסוּ־בָֽהּ׃ Hear, O earth: Behold, I am bringing evil upon this people, the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not listened to My words, … Continue reading →

לָכֵ֖ן שִׁמְע֣וּ הַגֹּויִ֑ם וּדְעִ֥י עֵדָ֖ה אֶת־אֲשֶׁר־בָּֽם׃ Therefore hear, O nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them.   Morphology לָכֵ֖ן (lakhen) – Root: כן; Form: Conjunction/adverb; Translation: “Therefore”; Notes: Signals a logical consequence of prior statements. שִׁמְע֣וּ (shimʿu) – … Continue reading →

וַהֲקִמֹתִ֤י עֲלֵיכֶם֙ צֹפִ֔ים הַקְשִׁ֖יבוּ לְקֹ֣ול שֹׁופָ֑ר וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ לֹ֥א נַקְשִֽׁיב׃ And I appointed watchmen over you, saying, ‘Listen to the sound of the shofar!’ But they said, ‘We will not listen.’   Morphology וַהֲקִמֹתִ֤י (va-haqimoti) – Root: קום; Form: Hifil wayyiqtol … Continue reading →

כֹּ֣ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֡ה עִמְדוּ֩ עַל־דְּרָכִ֨ים וּרְא֜וּ וְשַׁאֲל֣וּ לִנְתִבֹ֣ות עֹולָ֗ם אֵי־זֶ֨ה דֶ֤רֶךְ הַטֹּוב֙ וּלְכוּ־בָ֔הּ וּמִצְא֥וּ מַרְגֹּ֖ועַ לְנַפְשְׁכֶ֑ם וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ לֹ֥א נֵלֵֽךְ׃ Thus said YHWH: “Stand by the ways and see, and ask for the ancient paths, where is the good way; and … Continue reading →

הֹבִ֕ישׁוּ כִּ֥י תֹועֵבָ֖ה עָשׂ֑וּ גַּם־בֹּ֣ושׁ לֹֽא־יֵבֹ֗ושׁוּ גַּם־הַכְלִים֙ לֹ֣א יָדָ֔עוּ לָכֵ֞ן יִפְּל֧וּ בַנֹּפְלִ֛ים בְּעֵת־פְּקַדְתִּ֥ים יִכָּשְׁל֖וּ אָמַ֥ר יְהוָֽה׃ ס They are put to shame, for they have committed abomination. Yet they are not ashamed at all, they do not even know how … Continue reading →

וַֽיְרַפְּא֞וּ אֶת־שֶׁ֤בֶר עַמִּי֙ עַל־נְקַלָּ֔ה לֵאמֹ֖ר שָׁלֹ֣ום שָׁלֹ֑ום וְאֵ֖ין שָׁלֹֽום׃ And they have healed the wound of My people lightly, saying ‘Peace, peace,’ but there is no peace.   Morphology וַֽיְרַפְּא֞וּ (va-yerappeʾu) – Root: רפא; Form: Piel wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd … Continue reading →

כִּ֤י מִקְּטַנָּם֙ וְעַד־גְּדֹולָ֔ם כֻּלֹּ֖ו בֹּוצֵ֣עַ בָּ֑צַע וּמִנָּבִיא֙ וְעַד־כֹּהֵ֔ן כֻּלֹּ֖ו עֹ֥שֶׂה שָּֽׁקֶר׃ “For from their least even to their greatest, all of them are greedy for gain, and from prophet even to priest, all of them act falsely.   Morphology כִּ֤י … Continue reading →

וְנָסַ֤בּוּ בָֽתֵּיהֶם֙ לַאֲחֵרִ֔ים שָׂדֹ֥ות וְנָשִׁ֖ים יַחְדָּ֑ו כִּֽי־אַטֶּ֧ה אֶת־יָדִ֛י עַל־יֹשְׁבֵ֥י הָאָ֖רֶץ נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃ And their houses shall be turned over to others, fields and women together, for I will stretch out My hand against the inhabitants of the land,” declares YHWH.   … Continue reading →

וְאֵת֩ חֲמַ֨ת יְהוָ֤ה מָלֵ֨אתִי֙ נִלְאֵ֣יתִי הָכִ֔יל שְׁפֹ֤ךְ עַל־עֹולָל֙ בַּח֔וּץ וְעַ֛ל סֹ֥וד בַּחוּרִ֖ים יַחְדָּ֑ו כִּֽי־גַם־אִ֤ישׁ עִם־אִשָּׁה֙ יִלָּכֵ֔דוּ זָקֵ֖ן עִם־מְלֵ֥א יָמִֽים׃ And with the wrath of YHWH I am filled; I am weary of holding it in. “Pour it out upon the … Continue reading →

עַל־מִ֨י אֲדַבְּרָ֤ה וְאָעִ֨ידָה֙ וְיִשְׁמָ֔עוּ הִנֵּה֙ עֲרֵלָ֣ה אָזְנָ֔ם וְלֹ֥א יוּכְל֖וּ לְהַקְשִׁ֑יב הִנֵּ֣ה דְבַר־יְהוָ֗ה הָיָ֥ה לָהֶ֛ם לְחֶרְפָּ֖ה לֹ֥א יַחְפְּצוּ־בֹֽו׃ To whom shall I speak and testify, that they may hear? Behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they are not able to listen. … Continue reading →

כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָאֹ֔ות עֹולֵ֛ל יְעֹולְל֥וּ כַגֶּ֖פֶן שְׁאֵרִ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל הָשֵׁב֙ יָדְךָ֔ כְּבֹוצֵ֖ר עַל־סַלְסִלֹּֽות׃ Thus said YHWH of armies: “They shall glean thoroughly like a vine the remnant of Yisraʾel. Turn back your hand like a grape-gatherer over the tendrils.”   … Continue reading →

הִוָּסְרִי֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם פֶּן־תֵּקַ֥ע נַפְשִׁ֖י מִמֵּ֑ךְ פֶּן־אֲשִׂימֵ֣ךְ שְׁמָמָ֔ה אֶ֖רֶץ לֹ֥וא נֹושָֽׁבָה׃ פ Be disciplined, Yerushalayim, lest My soul be torn away from you, lest I make you a desolation, a land not inhabited.”   Morphology הִוָּסְרִי (hiwwasri) – Root: יסר; Form: … Continue reading →

כְּהָקִ֥יר בור מֵימֶ֔יהָ כֵּ֖ן הֵקֵ֣רָה רָעָתָ֑הּ חָמָ֣ס וָ֠שֹׁד יִשָּׁ֨מַע בָּ֧הּ עַל־פָּנַ֛י תָּמִ֖יד חֳלִ֥י וּמַכָּֽה׃ As a cistern keeps its waters cool, so she has kept her evil fresh; violence and spoil are heard in her, before Me continually are sickness … Continue reading →

כִּ֣י כֹ֤ה אָמַר֙ יְהוָ֣ה צְבָאֹ֔ות כִּרְת֣וּ עֵצָ֔ה וְשִׁפְכ֥וּ עַל־יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם סֹלְלָ֑ה הִ֚יא הָעִ֣יר הָפְקַ֔ד כֻּלָּ֖הּ עֹ֥שֶׁק בְּקִרְבָּֽהּ׃ For thus said YHWH of armies: “Cut down trees and pour out a siege ramp against Yerushalayim. She is the city to be punished; … Continue reading →

ק֚וּמוּ וְנַעֲלֶ֣ה בַלָּ֔יְלָה וְנַשְׁחִ֖יתָה אַרְמְנֹותֶֽיהָ׃ ס Arise and let us go up by night, and let us destroy her palaces.   Morphology ק֚וּמוּ (qumu) – Root: קום; Form: Qal imperative masculine plural; Translation: “Arise”; Notes: Call to immediate action by … Continue reading →

קַדְּשׁ֤וּ עָלֶ֨יהָ֙ מִלְחָמָ֔ה ק֖וּמוּ וְנַעֲלֶ֣ה בַֽצָּהֳרָ֑יִם אֹ֥וי לָ֨נוּ֙ כִּי־פָנָ֣ה הַיֹּ֔ום כִּ֥י יִנָּט֖וּ צִלְלֵי־עָֽרֶב׃ Sanctify war against her, arise and let us go up at noon! Woe to us, for the day has turned, for the shadows of evening are stretched … Continue reading →

אֵלֶ֛יהָ יָבֹ֥אוּ רֹעִ֖ים וְעֶדְרֵיהֶ֑ם תָּקְע֨וּ עָלֶ֤יהָ אֹהָלִים֙ סָבִ֔יב רָע֖וּ אִ֥ישׁ אֶת־יָדֹֽו׃ To her shall come shepherds and their flocks, they shall pitch their tents against her all around, they shall pasture each man his hand.   Morphology אֵלֶ֛יהָ (ʾeleha) – … Continue reading →

הַנָּוָה֙ וְהַמְּעֻנָּגָ֔ה דָּמִ֖יתִי בַּת־צִיֹּֽון׃ The lovely and the delicate one I likened to the daughter of Tsiyyon.   Morphology הַנָּוָה (ha-navah) – Root: נוה; Form: Definite adjective feminine singular; Translation: “the lovely”; Notes: Often used to describe beauty, especially in … Continue reading →

הָעִ֣זוּ בְּנֵ֣י בִניָמִ֗ן מִקֶּ֨רֶב֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם וּבִתְקֹ֨ועַ֙ תִּקְע֣וּ שֹׁופָ֔ר וְעַל־בֵּ֥ית הַכֶּ֖רֶם שְׂא֣וּ מַשְׂאֵ֑ת כִּ֥י רָעָ֛ה נִשְׁקְפָ֥ה מִצָּפֹ֖ון וְשֶׁ֥בֶר גָּדֹֽול׃ Flee, sons of Binyamin, from the midst of Yerushalayim, and in Teqoaʿ blow a shofar, and over Beit-hakkerem lift up a signal, … Continue reading →

הַנְּבִיאִ֞ים נִבְּא֣וּ־בַשֶּׁ֗קֶר וְהַכֹּהֲנִים֙ יִרְדּ֣וּ עַל־יְדֵיהֶ֔ם וְעַמִּ֖י אָ֣הֲבוּ כֵ֑ן וּמַֽה־תַּעֲשׂ֖וּ לְאַחֲרִיתָֽהּ׃ The prophets prophesied falsely, and the priests ruled by their hands, and My people loved it so; but what will you do at its end?   Morphology הַנְּבִיאִים (ha-neviʾim) – … Continue reading →

שַׁמָּה֙ וְשַׁ֣עֲרוּרָ֔ה נִהְיְתָ֖ה בָּאָֽרֶץ׃ Horror and disgrace have come to pass in the land.   Morphology שַׁמָּה (shammah) – Root: שׁמם; Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “horror”; Notes: Denotes devastation, desolation, or appalling event. וְשַׁעֲרוּרָה (ve-shaʿarurah) – Root: שער; Form: … Continue reading →

הַֽעַל־אֵ֥לֶּה לֹֽא־אֶפְקֹ֖ד נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה אִ֚ם בְּגֹ֣וי אֲשֶׁר־כָּזֶ֔ה לֹ֥א תִתְנַקֵּ֖ם נַפְשִֽׁי׃ ס ‘Shall I not punish for these things?’ declares YHWH, ‘On a nation such as this, shall not My soul take vengeance?’   Morphology הַֽעַל־אֵלֶּה (haʿal-elleh) – Root: על / אלה; … Continue reading →

שָׁמְנ֣וּ עָשְׁת֗וּ גַּ֚ם עָֽבְר֣וּ דִבְרֵי־רָ֔ע דִּ֣ין לֹא־דָ֔נוּ דִּ֥ין יָתֹ֖ום וְיַצְלִ֑יחוּ וּמִשְׁפַּ֥ט אֶבְיֹונִ֖ים לֹ֥א שָׁפָֽטוּ׃ They have grown fat, they have become sleek; indeed, they have surpassed the deeds of evil. The case they do not judge, the case of the … Continue reading →

כִּכְלוּב֙ מָ֣לֵא עֹ֔וף כֵּ֥ן בָּתֵּיהֶ֖ם מְלֵאִ֣ים מִרְמָ֑ה עַל־כֵּ֥ן גָּדְל֖וּ וַֽיַּעֲשִֽׁירוּ׃ Like a cage full of birds, so their houses are full of deceit; therefore they have become great and have grown rich.   Morphology כִּכְלוּב (ki-keluv) – Root: כלוב; Form: … Continue reading →

כִּי־נִמְצְא֥וּ בְעַמִּ֖י רְשָׁעִ֑ים יָשׁוּר֙ כְּשַׁ֣ךְ יְקוּשִׁ֔ים הִצִּ֥יבוּ מַשְׁחִ֖ית אֲנָשִׁ֥ים יִלְכֹּֽדוּ׃ For among My people are found wicked men; he watches like one who lies in wait with snares, they set a trap; men they catch.   Morphology כִּי (ki) – … Continue reading →