Hosea 12:1 (Hosea 11:12)

סְבָבֻ֤נִי בְכַ֨חַשׁ֙ אֶפְרַ֔יִם וּבְמִרְמָ֖ה בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וִֽיהוּדָ֗ה עֹ֥ד רָד֙ עִם־אֵ֔ל וְעִם־קְדֹושִׁ֖ים נֶאֱמָֽן׃

Efrayim has surrounded Me with deceit, and the house of Yisraʾel with treachery; but Yehuda still walks with God, and with the Holy One he is faithful.

Morphology

1. סְבָבֻנִי (sevavuni) – Root: סבב (savav); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural + suffix 1cs; Translation: “they have surrounded Me”; Notes: Depicts YHWH as encircled by deceitful acts—an image of betrayal and false devotion from His people.
2. בְכַחַשׁ (be-kaḥash) – Root: כחשׁ (kaḥash); Form: Preposition בְ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “with deceit”; Notes: Expresses falsehood, denial, or hypocrisy—referring to the insincerity of Ephrayim’s worship and repentance.
3. אֶפְרַיִם (Efrayim) – Root: אפרים (Efrayim); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Ephrayim”; Notes: Represents the northern kingdom of Yisraʾel, the leading tribe often symbolizing all ten tribes in prophetic contexts.
4. וּבְמִרְמָה (u-ve-mirmah) – Root: רמה (ramah); Form: Conjunction וְ + preposition בְ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “and with treachery”; Notes: Strengthens the accusation—refers to deceitful dealings both with YHWH and among themselves.
5. בֵּית (beit) – Root: בית (bayit); Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “house of”; Notes: Denotes a collective entity—used here for the national community of Yisraʾel.
6. יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisraʾel) – Root: ישראל (Yisraʾel); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yisraʾel”; Notes: Refers to the northern kingdom, often associated with unfaithfulness and idolatry in Hosea’s oracles.
7. וִיהוּדָה (vi-Yehudah) – Root: יהודה (Yehudah); Form: Conjunction וְ + proper noun; Translation: “but Yehudah”; Notes: Introduces a contrast between Judah’s relative faithfulness and Ephrayim’s deceit, though later Judah also falls into sin.
8. עֹד (ʿod) – Root: עוד (ʿod); Form: Adverb; Translation: “still” or “yet”; Notes: Highlights that Yehudah continues in some measure of fidelity while Ephrayim has utterly rebelled.
9. רָד (rad) – Root: רוד (rud); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “walks” or “goes with”; Notes: A rare verb meaning to accompany, to follow, or to maintain relationship—describing Yehudah’s continuing connection with God.
10. עִם־אֵל (ʿim-El) – Root: אל (ʾEl); Form: Preposition עִם + noun masculine singular; Translation: “with God”; Notes: Expresses fellowship and covenantal loyalty—Yehudah’s relationship with the divine contrasts with Ephrayim’s deceit.
11. וְעִם־קְדֹושִׁים (ve-ʿim-qedoshim) – Root: קדשׁ (qadash); Form: Conjunction וְ + preposition עִם + noun masculine plural; Translation: “and with the Holy One(s)”; Notes: Refers either to YHWH’s heavenly council or to His covenant people—the context suggests faithfulness in relation to divine holiness.
12. נֶאֱמָן (neʾeman) – Root: אמן (ʾaman); Form: Niphal participle masculine singular; Translation: “is faithful”; Notes: Describes reliability and steadfastness; the verse ends affirming Yehudah’s comparative loyalty amidst widespread deceit.