הִנֵּה־זֶ֣ה הָיָ֔ה עֲוֹ֖ן סְדֹ֣ם אֲחֹותֵ֑ךְ גָּאֹ֨ון שִׂבְעַת־לֶ֜חֶם וְשַׁלְוַ֣ת הַשְׁקֵ֗ט הָ֤יָה לָהּ֙ וְלִבְנֹותֶ֔יהָ וְיַד־עָנִ֥י וְאֶבְיֹ֖ון לֹ֥א הֶחֱזִֽיקָה׃
Behold, this was the iniquity of Sedom your sister: pride, fullness of bread, and prosperous ease was hers and her daughters’, but the hand of the poor and needy she did not strengthen.
Morphology
- הִנֵּה (hinneh) – Root: הן (hen); Form: Demonstrative particle; Translation: “behold”; Notes: Introduces an emphatic declaration.
- זֶה (zeh) – Root: זה (zeh); Form: Demonstrative pronoun masculine singular; Translation: “this”; Notes: Points to what follows as a definition.
- הָיָה (hayah) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “was”; Notes: Establishes what existed or characterized the subject.
- עֲוֹן (ʿavon) – Root: עון (ʿavon); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “iniquity / guilt”; Notes: Refers to moral guilt or sin.
- סְדֹם (Sedom) – Root: סדם; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Sedom”; Notes: A city destroyed in Genesis, here metaphor for sin and pride.
- אֲחֹותֵךְ (aḥotekh) – Root: אחות (aḥot); Form: Noun feminine singular construct + 2nd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “your sister”; Notes: Symbolic kinship between Jerusalem and Sedom.
- גָּאֹון (gaʾon) – Root: גאה (gaʾah); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “pride / arrogance”; Notes: Suggests haughtiness, often condemned by prophets.
- שִׂבְעַת־לֶחֶם (sivʿat-leḥem) – Root: שׂבע (savaʿ) + לחם (leḥem); Form: Construct phrase, “fullness of bread”; Translation: “abundance of bread”; Notes: Symbolizes prosperity and material plenty.
- וְשַׁלְוַת (ve-shalvat) – Root: שלו (shalah); Form: Noun feminine singular construct with conjunction; Translation: “and ease”; Notes: Refers to complacent security.
- הַשְׁקֵט (hashqet) – Root: שקט (shaqat); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “prosperous quiet / tranquility”; Notes: Peace without struggle, leading to moral decline.
- הָיָה (hayah) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “was”; Notes: Repetition emphasizes description of their condition.
- לָהּ (lah) – Root: ל (preposition); Form: Preposition + 3rd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “hers”; Notes: Refers back to Sedom.
- וְלִבְנֹותֶיהָ (u-livnoteha) – Root: בן (ben); Form: Preposition + noun feminine plural construct + 3rd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “and her daughters”; Notes: Refers to surrounding towns associated with Sedom.
- וְיַד (ve-yad) – Root: יד (yad); Form: Noun feminine singular with conjunction; Translation: “and hand”; Notes: Figurative for power or help.
- עָנִי (ʿani) – Root: ענה (ʿanah); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “poor”; Notes: Describes one afflicted or destitute.
- וְאֶבְיֹון (ve-evyon) – Root: אבה (ʾavah? debated, common noun); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “and needy”; Notes: Even more destitute than “poor,” lacking essentials.
- לֹא (lo) – Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Absolute negation.
- הֶחֱזִיקָה (heḥezikah) – Root: חזק (ḥazaq); Form: Hiphil perfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “she strengthened”; Notes: Implies failing to support or help the needy.