עַל־כֵּ֣ן עֲלֵיכֶ֔ם כָּלְא֥וּ שָׁמַ֖יִם מִטָּ֑ל וְהָאָ֖רֶץ כָּלְאָ֥ה יְבוּלָֽהּ׃
Therefore over you the heavens have withheld from dew, and the earth has withheld its produce.
Morphology
- עַל (ʿal) – Root: על (ʿal); Form: Preposition; Translation: “upon / because of”; Notes: Introduces the consequence resulting from their actions.
- כֵּן (ken) – Root: כן (ken); Form: Adverb; Translation: “therefore”; Notes: Carries logical force marking divine judgment.
- עֲלֵיכֶם (ʿalekhem) – Root: על (ʿal) + אתם (atem); Form: Preposition עַל + suffix 2mp; Translation: “over you”; Notes: Directs the divine consequence squarely toward the people.
- כָּלְאוּ (kalʾu) – Root: כלא (kalaʾ); Form: Qal perfect 3cp; Translation: “have withheld”; Notes: Implies intentional restriction, a divine act of withholding blessing.
- שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) – Root: שׁמים (shamayim); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “the heavens”; Notes: Source of dew, symbol of divine favor.
- מִטַּל (mi-tal) – Root: טל (tal); Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine singular; Translation: “from dew”; Notes: Denotes deprivation of a vital agricultural blessing.
- וְהָאָרֶץ (ve-ha-aretz) – Root: ארץ (ʾaretz); Form: Conjunction + definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “and the earth”; Notes: The land responds to Israel’s covenantal obedience or disobedience.
- כָּלְאָה (kalʾah) – Root: כלא (kalaʾ); Form: Qal perfect 3fs; Translation: “has withheld”; Notes: Feminine form agrees with הָאָרֶץ; an intentional withholding of yield.
- יְבוּלָהּ (yevulah) – Root: יבול (yevul); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 3fs; Translation: “its produce”; Notes: Refers to agricultural output; the land’s productivity is divinely restrained.