Hosea 12:2 (Hosea 12:1)

אֶפְרַ֜יִם רֹעֶ֥ה ר֨וּחַ֙ וְרֹדֵ֣ף קָדִ֔ים כָּל־הַיֹּ֕ום כָּזָ֥ב וָשֹׁ֖ד יַרְבֶּ֑ה וּבְרִית֙ עִם־אַשּׁ֣וּר יִכְרֹ֔תוּ וְשֶׁ֖מֶן לְמִצְרַ֥יִם יוּבָֽל׃

Efrayim feeds on wind and pursues the east wind; all the day he multiplies falsehood and violence, and they make a covenant with Ashshur, while oil is carried to Mitsrayim.

Morphology

1. אֶפְרַיִם (Efrayim) – Root: אפרים (Efrayim); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Ephrayim”; Notes: Symbolic of the northern kingdom of Yisraʾel; personified as engaging in vain and deceitful pursuits.
2. רֹעֶה (roʿeh) – Root: רעה (raʿah); Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “feeding” or “pasturing”; Notes: Metaphor of futility—Ephrayim “feeds” on emptiness, investing in worthless pursuits.
3. רוּחַ (ruaḥ) – Root: רוח (ruaḥ); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “wind”; Notes: Represents vanity, instability, or emptiness—feeding on what cannot nourish or satisfy.
4. וְרֹדֵף (ve-rodef) – Root: רדף (radaf); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “and pursuing”; Notes: Expresses continuous action—Ephrayim is constantly chasing the east wind, a metaphor for fruitless effort.
5. קָדִים (qadim) – Root: קדים (qadim); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “east wind”; Notes: The hot, destructive desert wind symbolizing disaster and futility.
6. כָּל־הַיֹּום (kol ha-yom) – Root: יום (yom); Form: Noun masculine singular construct + definite article; Translation: “all the day”; Notes: Denotes unceasing action—Ephrayim’s persistence in deceit and violence.
7. כָּזָב (kazav) – Root: כזב (kazav); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “falsehood”; Notes: Suggests dishonesty, deceit, and treacherous political intrigue.
8. וָשֹׁד (va-shod) – Root: שׁוד (shod); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and violence”; Notes: Conveys destruction, oppression, and exploitation—paired with deceit as moral corruption.
9. יַרְבֶּה (yarbeh) – Root: רבה (ravah); Form: Hiphil imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he multiplies”; Notes: Implies deliberate intensification—Ephrayim’s deceit and oppression are increasing continually.
10. וּבְרִית (u-berit) – Root: ברית (berit); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “and a covenant”; Notes: Political alliances symbolized as faithless pacts replacing covenant loyalty to YHWH.
11. עִם־אַשּׁוּר (ʿim-Ashshur) – Root: אשור (Ashshur); Form: Preposition עִם + proper noun; Translation: “with Ashshur (Assyria)”; Notes: Represents misplaced trust in foreign powers instead of divine reliance.
12. יִכְרֹתוּ (yikhrtu) – Root: כרת (karat); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they make” or “they cut (a covenant)”; Notes: Idiom for treaty-making; indicates diplomatic dealings contrary to YHWH’s command.
13. וְשֶׁמֶן (ve-shemen) – Root: שׁמן (shemen); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and oil”; Notes: A valuable export commodity; symbolizes material bargaining in political manipulation.
14. לְמִצְרַיִם (le-Mitsrayim) – Root: מצרים (Mitsrayim); Form: Preposition לְ + proper noun; Translation: “to Mitsrayim (Egypt)”; Notes: Represents an opposing power to Assyria—Ephrayim’s divided loyalties between empires.
15. יוּבָל (yubal) – Root: יבל (yaval); Form: Hophal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “is carried”; Notes: Passive construction emphasizes futility—Ephrayim’s riches flow away as tribute to foreign nations.