פֶּן־אַפְשִׁיטֶ֣נָּה עֲרֻמָּ֔ה וְהִ֨צַּגְתִּ֔יהָ כְּיֹ֖ום הִוָּֽלְדָ֑הּ וְשַׂמְתִּ֣יהָ כַמִּדְבָּ֗ר וְשַׁתִּ֨הָ֙ כְּאֶ֣רֶץ צִיָּ֔ה וַהֲמִתִּ֖יהָ בַּצָּמָֽא׃
Lest I strip her naked and set her as in the day she was born, and make her like the wilderness, and set her like a dry land, and kill her with thirst.
Morphology
- פֶּן (pen) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “lest”; Notes: Introduces a conditional warning expressing the consequence of continued unfaithfulness.
- אַפְשִׁיטֶנָּה (ʾafshitennah) – Root: פשׁט (p-š-ṭ); Form: Hifil imperfect 1cs + 3fs suffix; Translation: “I strip her”; Notes: Depicts divine judgment—removing protection or honor as stripping garments.
- עֲרֻמָּה (ʿarummāh) – Root: ערם (ʿ-r-m); Form: Adjective feminine singular; Translation: “naked”; Notes: Symbolizes complete exposure and shame, representing loss of dignity and security.
- וְהִצַּגְתִּיהָ (ve-hitsagtiyah) – Root: יצג (y-ts-g); Form: Hifil perfect 1cs + 3fs suffix with conjunctive וְ; Translation: “and I set her”; Notes: To expose or place in a vulnerable position, recalling the helplessness of infancy.
- כְּיֹום (ke-yom) – Root: יום (y-w-m); Form: Preposition כְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “as the day”; Notes: The comparative preposition introduces the simile “as in the day she was born.”
- הִוָּלְדָהּ (hiwwaldah) – Root: ילד (y-l-d); Form: Nifal infinitive construct + 3fs suffix; Translation: “she was born”; Notes: Passive form expressing helplessness at birth—symbolizing Yisraʾel’s origins and dependence.
- וְשַׂמְתִּיהָ (ve-samtiyah) – Root: שׂים (ś-y-m); Form: Qal perfect 1cs + 3fs suffix with conjunctive וְ; Translation: “and I make her”; Notes: Depicts divine transformation—turning abundance into desolation.
- כַמִּדְבָּר (ka-midbar) – Root: מדבר (m-d-b-r); Form: Preposition כְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “like the wilderness”; Notes: Represents barrenness and divine abandonment, recalling the wilderness period of testing.
- וְשַׁתִּהָ (ve-shattihah) – Root: שׁית (š-y-t); Form: Qal perfect 1cs + 3fs suffix with conjunctive וְ; Translation: “and I set her”; Notes: Parallel to “make her,” emphasizing total desolation and divine judgment.
- כְאֶרֶץ (ke-ʾerets) – Root: ארץ (ʾ-r-ts); Form: Preposition כְּ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “like a land”; Notes: Introduces a comparative phrase intensifying the image of desolation.
- צִיָּה (tsiyyah) – Root: ציה (ṣ-y-h); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “dryness” or “parched land”; Notes: Symbolic of spiritual sterility and divine judgment.
- וַהֲמִתִּיהָ (va-hamitiyah) – Root: מות (m-w-t); Form: Hifil perfect 1cs + 3fs suffix with conjunctive וַ; Translation: “and I kill her”; Notes: Expresses the extreme consequence of divine wrath—death by deprivation.
- בַּצָּמָא (ba-tsama) – Root: צמא (ṣ-m-ʾ); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “with thirst”; Notes: Denotes both literal and spiritual thirst—absence of YHWH’s sustaining presence and mercy.