Deuteronomy 32:6

הֲ־לַיְהוָה֙ תִּגְמְלוּ־זֹ֔את עַ֥ם נָבָ֖ל וְלֹ֣א חָכָ֑ם הֲלֹוא־הוּא֙ אָבִ֣יךָ קָּנֶ֔ךָ ה֥וּא עָֽשְׂךָ֖ וַֽיְכֹנְנֶֽךָ׃

Is this how you repay YHWH, foolish and unwise people? Is He not your Father, your Creator? He made you and established you.

Morphology

1. הֲ־לַיְהוָה֙ (ha-layHWH) – Root: יהוה (Y-H-W-H); Form: Interrogative particle (הֲ) + preposition (לְ) with the divine name YHWH; Translation: “Is this to YHWH?”; Notes: Expresses rhetorical questioning of Israel’s ingratitude towards YHWH.
2. תִּגְמְלוּ־זֹ֔את (tigmelu-zot) – Root: גמל (g-m-l); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural + demonstrative pronoun; Translation: “you repay this”; Notes: The verb implies a negative repayment, such as ingratitude.
3. עַ֥ם נָבָ֖ל (ʿam naval) – Root: עם (ʿ-m) + נבל (n-b-l); Form: Noun in construct (“people”) + adjective (“foolish”); Translation: “foolish people”; Notes: Critique of Israel’s lack of wisdom and faithfulness.
4. וְלֹ֣א חָכָ֑ם (velo ḥakham) – Root: לא (l-o) + חכם (ḥ-k-m); Form: Negative particle + adjective; Translation: “and unwise”; Notes: Highlights the absence of discernment.
5. הֲלֹוא־הוּא֙ (halo-hu) – Root: הלא (h-l-o) + הוא (h-u); Form: Interrogative particle + pronoun; Translation: “Is He not?”; Notes: A rhetorical structure expecting a positive affirmation.
6. אָבִ֣יךָ (avikha) – Root: אב (ʾ-b); Form: Masculine singular noun with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “your Father”; Notes: Emphasizes the paternal relationship between YHWH and Israel.
7. קָּנֶ֔ךָ (qanekha) – Root: קנה (q-n-h); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “your Creator” or “the one who acquired you”; Notes: Can imply both creation and ownership.
8. ה֥וּא עָֽשְׂךָ֖ (hu asakha) – Root: עשה (ʿ-s-h); Form: Pronoun (“He”) + Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “He made you”; Notes: Reinforces YHWH as the Creator.
9. וַֽיְכֹנְנֶֽךָ׃ (vayekhonnekha) – Root: כונ (k-w-n); Form: Qal imperfect consecutive 3rd person masculine singular with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “and established you”; Notes: Indicates YHWH’s role in stabilizing and supporting Israel.