וְעַתָּ֣ה יֹוסִ֣פוּ לַחֲטֹ֗א וַיַּעְשׂ֣וּ לָהֶם֩ מַסֵּכָ֨ה מִכַּסְפָּ֤ם כִּתְבוּנָם֙ עֲצַבִּ֔ים מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה חָרָשִׁ֖ים כֻּלֹּ֑ה לָהֶם֙ הֵ֣ם אֹמְרִ֔ים זֹבְחֵ֣י אָדָ֔ם עֲגָלִ֖ים יִשָּׁקֽוּן׃
And now they continue to sin and make for themselves a molten image from their silver, idols according to their understanding, all of it the work of craftsmen. Of them they say, “Those who sacrifice men kiss calves.”
Morphology
- וְעַתָּה (ve-ʿattah) – Root: עתה (ʿattah); Form: Conjunction וְ + adverb; Translation: “and now”; Notes: Marks transition—introduces renewed or continuous rebellion against YHWH despite prior warnings.
- יֹוסִפוּ (yosifu) – Root: יסף (yasaf); Form: Hiphil imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they continue” or “they add”; Notes: Expresses persistent action—Efrayim’s sin is cumulative, reflecting stubbornness in idolatry.
- לַחֲטֹא (la-ḥatoʾ) – Root: חטא (ḥataʾ); Form: Preposition לְ + Qal infinitive construct; Translation: “to sin”; Notes: Indicates purpose or result—shows willful and ongoing sinning against divine covenant.
- וַיַּעְשׂוּ (vayyaʿasu) – Root: עשה (ʿasah); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they made”; Notes: Denotes active engagement—contrasts divine creation with humanly fabricated idols.
- לָהֶם (lahem) – Root: ל (l); Form: Preposition + suffix 3mp; Translation: “for themselves”; Notes: Emphasizes self-serving motives—idolatry crafted for their own satisfaction, not divine command.
- מַסֵּכָה (massekhah) – Root: נסך (nasakh); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “molten image”; Notes: Refers to idols formed from molten metal—echoes the golden calf narrative and symbolizes spiritual regression.
- מִכַּסְפָּם (mi-kasfam) – Root: כסף (kesef); Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine singular + suffix 3mp; Translation: “from their silver”; Notes: Indicates material source—wealth is misused for idol fabrication instead of worshiping YHWH.
- כִּתְבוּנָם (kitvūnam) – Root: תבונה (tevunah); Form: Noun feminine singular construct + suffix 3mp; Translation: “according to their understanding”; Notes: Ironically highlights human wisdom misapplied to construct gods after their own imagination.
- עֲצַבִּים (ʿatsabbim) – Root: עצב (ʿatsav); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “idols”; Notes: Related to “pain” or “sorrow”; indicates lifeless man-made figures bringing grief instead of blessing.
- מַעֲשֵׂה (maʿaseh) – Root: עשה (ʿasah); Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “the work of”; Notes: Introduces the description of artisanship, underscoring human manufacture of divinities.
- חָרָשִׁים (ḥarashim) – Root: חרשׁ (ḥarash); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “craftsmen” or “artisans”; Notes: Contrasts divine creation with human artistry; idols are mere human products.
- כֻּלֹּה (kullo) – Root: כל (kol); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 3ms; Translation: “all of it”; Notes: Refers to the entirety of the idol-making process—every part is man-made and devoid of divinity.
- לָהֶם (lahem) – Root: ל (l); Form: Preposition + suffix 3mp; Translation: “to them”; Notes: Marks indirect object of the saying—introduces the speech of idolaters themselves.
- הֵם (hem) – Root: —; Form: Independent pronoun 3mp; Translation: “they”; Notes: Identifies the speakers—those who engage in idolatry within Efrayim’s apostate community.
- אֹמְרִים (ʾomrim) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal participle masculine plural; Translation: “say”; Notes: Continuous speech—indicates habitual declaration among idolaters, reflecting communal corruption.
- זֹבְחֵי (zovḥei) – Root: זבח (zavaḥ); Form: Qal participle masculine plural construct; Translation: “those who sacrifice”; Notes: Refers to idol worshippers; their sacrifices are abominable to YHWH.
- אָדָם (adam) – Root: אדם (ʾadam); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “man” or “humankind”; Notes: Possibly denotes human offerings or simply “men who sacrifice”—a grim exaggeration of idolatry’s depravity.
- עֲגָלִים (ʿagalim) – Root: עגל (ʿegel); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “calves”; Notes: Refers to golden calves—symbols of false worship and imitation of YHWH’s glory.
- יִשָּׁקוּן (yishaqūn) – Root: נשׁק (nashaq); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they kiss”; Notes: Sign of homage or veneration—expresses intimate devotion toward lifeless idols, contrasting covenantal loyalty to YHWH.