Hosea 14:10 (Hosea 14:9)

מִ֤י חָכָם֙ וְיָ֣בֵֽן אֵ֔לֶּה נָבֹ֖ון וְיֵֽדָעֵ֑ם כִּֽי־יְשָׁרִ֞ים דַּרְכֵ֣י יְהוָ֗ה וְצַדִּקִים֙ יֵ֣לְכוּ בָ֔ם וּפֹשְׁעִ֖ים יִכָּ֥שְׁלוּ בָֽם׃

Who is wise and will understand these things, discerning and will know them? For the ways of YHWH are right, and the righteous shall walk in them, but transgressors shall stumble in them.

Morphology

1. מִי (mi) – Root: —; Form: Interrogative pronoun; Translation: “who?”; Notes: Invites reflection, addressing the reader or listener directly to discern the moral and theological truths that close the book.
2. חָכָם (ḥakham) – Root: חָכַם (ḥakham); Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “wise”; Notes: Refers to one who possesses spiritual discernment and moral insight—wisdom linked to understanding YHWH’s ways.
3. וְיָבֵן (ve-yaven) – Root: בִּין (bin); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular (jussive nuance); Translation: “and will understand”; Notes: Calls for moral comprehension; the verb implies discernment that arises from divine illumination.
4. אֵלֶּה (elleh) – Root: —; Form: Demonstrative pronoun masculine plural; Translation: “these things”; Notes: Refers to the preceding divine words and moral lessons in Hosea—calling for contemplation and application.
5. נָבֹון (navon) – Root: בִּין (bin); Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “understanding” or “discerning”; Notes: Denotes a person characterized by insight and perception—an echo of wisdom literature terminology (cf. Proverbs).
6. וְיֵדָעֵם (ve-yedaʿem) – Root: יָדַע (yadaʿ); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular + suffix 3mp; Translation: “and will know them”; Notes: Expresses experiential knowledge—knowing YHWH’s ways through obedience and relationship, not merely intellect.
7. כִּי (ki) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for” or “because”; Notes: Introduces the rationale that follows—the moral and theological principle underlying divine justice.
8. יְשָׁרִים (yesharim) – Root: יָשָׁר (yashar); Form: Adjective masculine plural; Translation: “upright” or “righteous ones”; Notes: Refers to those whose conduct aligns with divine truth and moral order—parallel to the “righteous” in wisdom literature.
9. דַּרְכֵי (darkhei) – Root: דֶּרֶךְ (derekh); Form: Noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “the ways of”; Notes: Refers to YHWH’s moral and covenantal paths—His standards for right living and divine order.
10. יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: —; Form: Proper noun, Tetragrammaton; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenant name of Israel’s God, emphasizing His moral perfection and consistency in judgment and mercy.
11. וְצַדִּקִים (ve-tsaddiqim) – Root: צָדַק (tsadaq); Form: Conjunction וְ + adjective masculine plural; Translation: “and the righteous”; Notes: Those justified and aligned with divine justice—walking faithfully in YHWH’s “straight paths.”
12. יֵלְכוּ (yelᵊkhu) – Root: הָלַךְ (halakh); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “shall walk”; Notes: Indicates consistent moral conduct—walking as a metaphor for living in accordance with divine truth.
13. בָּם (bam) – Root: —; Form: Preposition בְּ + suffix 3mp; Translation: “in them”; Notes: Refers to YHWH’s ways—showing the righteous live within His revealed order.
14. וּפֹשְׁעִים (u-fosheʿim) – Root: פָשַׁע (pashaʿ); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal participle masculine plural; Translation: “but transgressors”; Notes: Signifies willful rebels against divine law—the morally obstinate who resist YHWH’s righteousness.
15. יִכָּשְׁלוּ (yikashlu) – Root: כָּשַׁל (kashal); Form: Nifal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “shall stumble”; Notes: The passive nuance conveys divine justice—the same “paths” that sustain the righteous become a snare to the rebellious.
16. בָּם (bam) – Root: —; Form: Preposition בְּ + suffix 3mp (repetition); Translation: “in them”; Notes: Highlights poetic symmetry—both groups encounter YHWH’s ways, but their outcomes differ according to their moral alignment.