הַחֶ֣רֶב בַּח֔וּץ וְהַדֶּ֥בֶר וְהָרָעָ֖ב מִבָּ֑יִת אֲשֶׁ֤ר בַּשָּׂדֶה֙ בַּחֶ֣רֶב יָמ֔וּת וַאֲשֶׁ֣ר בָּעִ֔יר רָעָ֥ב וָדֶ֖בֶר יֹאכֲלֶֽנּוּ׃
The sword is outside, and the pestilence and the famine are inside; whoever is in the field by the sword shall die, and whoever is in the city famine and pestilence shall consume him.
Morphology
- הַחֶרֶב (ha-ḥerev) – Root: חרב; Form: Noun feminine singular absolute with definite article; Translation: “the sword”; Notes: Symbol of war and violence.
- בַּחוּץ (ba-ḥuts) – Root: חוץ; Form: Preposition + definite article + noun masculine singular; Translation: “outside”; Notes: Refers to dangers in the open areas.
- וְהַדֶּבֶר (ve-ha-dever) – Root: דבר; Form: Conjunction + noun masculine singular with definite article; Translation: “and the pestilence”; Notes: Common prophetic term for plague.
- וְהָרָעָב (ve-ha-raʿav) – Root: רעב; Form: Conjunction + noun masculine singular with definite article; Translation: “and the famine”; Notes: Refers to starvation caused by siege.
- מִבָּיִת (mi-bayit) – Root: בית; Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular absolute; Translation: “inside”; Notes: Opposed to “outside,” showing contrast of dangers.
- אֲשֶׁר (ʾasher) – Root: —; Form: Relative particle; Translation: “whoever”; Notes: Introduces a relative clause.
- בַּשָּׂדֶה (ba-sadeh) – Root: שׂדה; Form: Preposition + definite article + noun masculine singular; Translation: “in the field”; Notes: Refers to those outside the city walls.
- בַּחֶרֶב (ba-ḥerev) – Root: חרב; Form: Preposition + definite article + noun feminine singular; Translation: “by the sword”; Notes: Instrumental use — slain by war.
- יָמוּת (yamut) – Root: מות; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he shall die”; Notes: Predicts outcome for those in the field.
- וַאֲשֶׁר (va-ʾasher) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction + relative particle; Translation: “and whoever”; Notes: Begins a parallel conditional clause.
- בָּעִיר (ba-ʿir) – Root: עיר; Form: Preposition + definite article + noun feminine singular; Translation: “in the city”; Notes: Contrasted with “in the field.”
- רָעָב (raʿav) – Root: רעב; Form: Noun masculine singular absolute; Translation: “famine”; Notes: Serves as subject of the verb “shall consume him.”
- וָדֶבֶר (va-dever) – Root: דבר; Form: Conjunction + noun masculine singular absolute; Translation: “and pestilence”; Notes: Second subject in compound clause.
- יֹאכֲלֶנּוּ (yoʾkhalennu) – Root: אכל; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “shall consume him”; Notes: Famine and pestilence personified as devouring forces.