Hosea 11:9

לֹ֤א אֶֽעֱשֶׂה֙ חֲרֹ֣ון אַפִּ֔י לֹ֥א אָשׁ֖וּב לְשַׁחֵ֣ת אֶפְרָ֑יִם כִּ֣י אֵ֤ל אָֽנֹכִי֙ וְלֹא־אִ֔ישׁ בְּקִרְבְּךָ֣ קָדֹ֔ושׁ וְלֹ֥א אָבֹ֖וא בְּעִֽיר׃

I will not execute the fierceness of My anger; I will not again destroy Efrayim, for I am God and not man, the Holy One in your midst; and I will not come in wrath.

Morphology

1. לֹא (lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Introduces divine restraint—YHWH negates His previous threat of destruction.
2. אֶעֱשֶׂה (eʿeseh) – Root: עשה (ʿasah); Form: Qal imperfect 1cs; Translation: “I will do” or “I will execute”; Notes: Expresses divine volition—YHWH decides not to carry out judgment.
3. חֲרֹון (ḥaron) – Root: חרה (ḥarah); Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “fierceness”; Notes: Derived from “to burn”—refers to intense anger or wrath.
4. אַפִּי (appi) – Root: אף (ʾaf); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 1cs; Translation: “My anger”; Notes: Anthropomorphic expression of divine wrath—figuratively the “burning of the nostrils.”
5. לֹא (lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Repetition emphasizes YHWH’s merciful decision.
6. אָשׁוּב (ʾashuv) – Root: שוב (shuv); Form: Qal imperfect 1cs; Translation: “I will return” or “I will again”; Notes: Indicates YHWH will not repeat the act of destroying Ephrayim—His mercy prevails.
7. לְשַׁחֵת (le-shaḥet) – Root: שׁחת (shaḥat); Form: Preposition לְ + Piel infinitive construct; Translation: “to destroy”; Notes: The verb emphasizes ruin or annihilation; YHWH withholds total destruction.
8. אֶפְרָיִם (Efrayim) – Root: אפרים (Efrayim); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Ephrayim”; Notes: Represents the northern kingdom—here the object of divine compassion.
9. כִּי (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces the rationale for divine mercy.
10. אֵל (ʾEl) – Root: אל (ʾel); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “God”; Notes: Title of divinity emphasizing YHWH’s transcendent and moral distinction from humankind.
11. אָנֹכִי (ʾanokhi) – Root: אנכי (ʾanokhi); Form: Independent pronoun 1cs; Translation: “I”; Notes: Adds solemn emphasis—YHWH declares His divine identity.
12. וְלֹא־אִישׁ (ve-lo-ʾish) – Root: אישׁ (ʾish); Form: Conjunction וְ + negative particle לֹא + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and not man”; Notes: Contrasts divine mercy with human vindictiveness—YHWH’s nature transcends human limitation.
13. בְּקִרְבְּךָ (be-qirbekha) – Root: קרב (qerev); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular construct + suffix 2ms; Translation: “in your midst”; Notes: Signifies YHWH’s immanent presence among His people despite their rebellion.
14. קָדֹושׁ (qadosh) – Root: קדשׁ (qadash); Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “Holy”; Notes: Describes YHWH’s moral perfection and separation from human sinfulness.
15. וְלֹא (ve-lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Conjunction וְ + negative particle; Translation: “and not”; Notes: Continues the contrast—another divine self-limitation.
16. אָבֹוא (ʾavo) – Root: בוא (boʾ); Form: Qal imperfect 1cs; Translation: “I will come”; Notes: The verb conveys decisive action or visitation—YHWH refrains from entering in wrath.
17. בְּעִיר (be-ʿir) – Root: עיר (ʿir); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “in wrath” or “into a city”; Notes: Ambiguous phrase; possibly “in fury” (metaphorically from “city” = place of judgment) or “into a city” = physical invasion; context favors “in wrath.”