Hosea 13:8

אֶפְגְּשֵׁם֙ כְּדֹ֣ב שַׁכּ֔וּל וְאֶקְרַ֖ע סְגֹ֣ור לִבָּ֑ם וְאֹכְלֵ֥ם שָׁם֙ כְּלָבִ֔יא חַיַּ֥ת הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה תְּבַקְּעֵֽם׃

I will meet them like a bereaved bear, and I will tear open the covering of their heart; and there I will devour them like a lion; the beast of the field shall tear them apart.

Morphology

1. אֶפְגְּשֵׁם (efgeshem) – Root: פגשׁ (pagash); Form: Qal imperfect 1st person singular + suffix 3mp; Translation: “I will meet them”; Notes: Expresses divine confrontation—YHWH meeting His people not in mercy but in judgment.
2. כְּדֹב (ke-dov) – Root: דוב (dov); Form: Preposition כְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “like a bear”; Notes: The bear symbolizes violent ferocity—especially when bereaved of her cubs.
3. שַׁכּוּל (shakkul) – Root: שׁכל (shakal); Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “bereaved”; Notes: Describes an enraged mother bear deprived of her young—depicting unrestrained wrath and vengeance.
4. וְאֶקְרַע (ve-ekraʿ) – Root: קרע (qaraʿ); Form: Qal imperfect 1st person singular with conjunction וְ; Translation: “and I will tear open”; Notes: Violent imagery—divine tearing symbolizes utter destruction and exposure of inner being.
5. סְגֹור (segor) – Root: סגר (sagar); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “covering” or “enclosure”; Notes: Possibly refers to the chest or ribs protecting the heart—metaphor for penetrating Yisraʾel’s innermost being.
6. לִבָּם (libbam) – Root: לב (lev); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 3mp; Translation: “their heart”; Notes: Represents the seat of thought and emotion—YHWH’s wrath will reach their deepest core.
7. וְאֹכְלֵם (ve-okhlem) – Root: אכל (ʾakhal); Form: Qal imperfect 1st person singular + suffix 3mp with conjunction וְ; Translation: “and I will devour them”; Notes: Continues predatory imagery—YHWH consumes them in judgment as wild beasts consume prey.
8. שָׁם (sham) – Root: —; Form: Adverb of place; Translation: “there”; Notes: Indicates the place of punishment—likely symbolic of exile or ruin.
9. כְּלָבִיא (ke-lavi) – Root: לביא (lavi); Form: Preposition כְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “like a lion”; Notes: The lion, symbol of predatory power—another vivid metaphor for divine ferocity.
10. חַיַּת (ḥayyat) – Root: חיה (ḥayah); Form: Noun feminine singular construct; Translation: “the beast of”; Notes: General term for wild animals—collectively symbolizing destructive forces unleashed by YHWH.
11. הַשָּׂדֶה (ha-sadeh) – Root: שׂדה (sadeh); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the field”; Notes: Denotes untamed nature—beasts of the open field contrasted with cultivated life in the land.
12. תְּבַקְּעֵם (tevakkeʿem) – Root: בקע (baqaʿ); Form: Piel imperfect 3rd person feminine singular + suffix 3mp; Translation: “shall tear them apart”; Notes: The beast is personified as YHWH’s instrument—utterly rending the people, a graphic depiction of divine retribution.