Ezekiel 33:4

וְשָׁמַ֨ע הַשֹּׁמֵ֜עַ אֶת־קֹ֤ול הַשֹּׁופָר֙ וְלֹ֣א נִזְהָ֔ר וַתָּ֥בֹוא חֶ֖רֶב וַתִּקָּחֵ֑הוּ דָּמֹ֥ו בְרֹאשֹׁ֖ו יִֽהְיֶֽה׃

And the one who hears the sound of the shofar but does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him, his blood shall be upon his own head.

Morphology

1. וְשָׁמַע (ve-shamaʿ) – Root: שׁמע (shamaʿ); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he heard”; Notes: Refers to the hearer of the warning signal.
2. הַשֹּׁמֵעַ (ha-shomeaʿ) – Root: שׁמע (shamaʿ); Form: Definite article הַ + Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “the one who hears”; Notes: Denotes the person in the act of hearing the shofar’s sound.
3. אֶת־ (ʾet) – Root: את (ʾet); Form: Direct object marker; Translation: “(marks the direct object)”; Notes: Introduces the object “the sound.”
4. קֹול (qol) – Root: קול (qol); Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “sound of”; Notes: Refers to the audible blast of the shofar, symbolizing warning.
5. הַשֹּׁופָר (ha-shofar) – Root: שׁופר (shofar); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the shofar”; Notes: The ram’s horn used to alert of danger or divine judgment.
6. וְלֹא (ve-lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Conjunction וְ + negative particle; Translation: “and did not”; Notes: Connects the subordinate clause expressing failure to act upon the warning.
7. נִזְהָר (nizhar) – Root: זהר (zahar); Form: Nifal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “take warning / be careful”; Notes: Reflexive form indicating failure to heed the danger signal.
8. וַתָּבֹוא (va-tavo) – Root: בוא (bo); Form: Conjunction וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “and it came”; Notes: Refers to the coming of the sword as divine judgment.
9. חֶרֶב (ḥerev) – Root: חרב (ḥerev); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “a sword”; Notes: Symbol of destruction and warfare, the instrument of YHWH’s justice.
10. וַתִּקָּחֵהוּ (va-tikkaḥehu) – Root: לקח (laqach); Form: Conjunction וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person feminine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and it took him”; Notes: Personified sword acting as the agent of divine retribution.
11. דָּמֹו (damo) – Root: דם (dam); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “his blood”; Notes: Symbol of guilt and moral responsibility for one’s own death.
12. בְרֹאשֹׁו (be-rosho) – Root: ראשׁ (rosh); Form: Preposition בְ + noun masculine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “upon his head”; Notes: Idiom meaning “he is responsible”; the guilt rests upon him.
13. יִהְיֶה (yihyeh) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “it shall be”; Notes: Indicates the consequence or verdict of his negligence—his own blood is upon him.