וְאֶת־בָּנֶ֖יהָ לֹ֣א אֲרַחֵ֑ם כִּֽי־בְנֵ֥י זְנוּנִ֖ים הֵֽמָּה׃
And her children I will not have mercy upon, for they are children of whoredom.
Morphology
- וְאֶת (ve-et) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction וְ + direct object marker; Translation: “and [the]”; Notes: Marks the following noun phrase “her children” as the object of the verb.
- בָּנֶיהָ (baneha) – Root: בן (b-n); Form: Noun masculine plural + 3fs suffix; Translation: “her children”; Notes: Refers metaphorically to the people of Yisraʾel, the offspring of the unfaithful “mother.”
- לֹא (lo) – Root: לא (l-ʾ); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Expresses total negation of divine compassion.
- אֲרַחֵם (ʾaraḥem) – Root: רחם (r-ḥ-m); Form: Piel imperfect 1cs; Translation: “I will have mercy”; Notes: The Piel stem intensifies the action—YHWH declares a deliberate withholding of compassion once extended to His people.
- כִּי (ki) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for” or “because”; Notes: Introduces the reason for divine rejection.
- בְנֵי (bene) – Root: בן (b-n); Form: Noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “children of”; Notes: Denotes belonging or origin, here describing moral and spiritual descent.
- זְנוּנִים (zenunim) – Root: זנה (z-n-h); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “whoredom” or “acts of harlotry”; Notes: Symbolic of idolatry and spiritual betrayal—offspring born of unfaithfulness.
- הֵמָּה (hemmah) – Root: —; Form: Independent pronoun masculine plural; Translation: “they are”; Notes: Emphasizes identity—these are truly children reflecting their mother’s corruption and idolatry.