הֹ֗וי בֹּצֵ֛עַ בֶּ֥צַע רָ֖ע לְבֵיתֹ֑ו לָשׂ֤וּם בַּמָּרֹום֙ קִנֹּ֔ו לְהִנָּצֵ֖ל מִכַּף־רָֽע׃
Woe to him who cuts off unjust gain for his house, to set his nest on high, to be delivered from the grasp of evil.
Morphology
- הֹוי (hoi) – Root: הוי (hoi); Form: Interjection; Translation: “Woe”; Notes: Introduces judgment and denunciation.
- בֹּצֵעַ (botzeaʿ) – Root: בצע (batzaʿ); Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “one who cuts off / seizes”; Notes: A term for dishonest gain or extortion.
- בֶּצַע (betzaʿ) – Root: בצע (batzaʿ); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “gain”; Notes: Context shows morally corrupt profit.
- רָע (raʿ) – Root: רעע (raʿaʿ); Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “evil”; Notes: Characterizes the profit as wicked.
- לְבֵיתֹו (le-veito) – Root: בית (bayit); Form: Preposition לְ + noun masculine singular + suffix 3ms; Translation: “for his house”; Notes: Refers to household wealth or dynasty.
- לָשׂוּם (la-sum) – Root: שים (sim); Form: Preposition לְ + Qal infinitive construct; Translation: “to set”; Notes: Introduces intended purpose.
- בַּמָּרֹום (ba-marum) – Root: מרום (marom); Form: Preposition בְּ + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “in the height / on high”; Notes: Metaphor for security beyond danger.
- קִנֹּו (kinno) – Root: קן (ken); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 3ms; Translation: “his nest”; Notes: Image of a fortress or safe refuge.
- לְהִנָּצֵל (le-hinnatsel) – Root: נצל (natsal); Form: Preposition לְ + Nifal infinitive construct; Translation: “to be delivered”; Notes: Expresses intended security or escape.
- מִכַּף־ (mi-kaf) – Root: כף (kaf); Form: Preposition מִן + noun feminine singular construct; Translation: “from the grasp of”; Notes: “Hand/palm” used metaphorically for power or control.
- רָע (raʿ) – Root: רעע (raʿaʿ); Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “evil”; Notes: Refers to danger or harm he seeks to escape.