כִּ֤י זָֽנְתָה֙ אִמָּ֔ם הֹבִ֖ישָׁה הֹֽורָתָ֑ם כִּ֣י אָמְרָ֗ה אֵלְכָ֞ה אַחֲרֵ֤י מְאַהֲבַי֙ נֹתְנֵ֤י לַחְמִי֙ וּמֵימַ֔י צַמְרִ֣י וּפִשְׁתִּ֔י שַׁמְנִ֖י וְשִׁקּוּיָֽי׃
For their mother has played the harlot; she who conceived them has acted shamefully. For she said, “I will go after my lovers, who give my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, my oil and my drink.”
Morphology
- כִּי (ki) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for” or “because”; Notes: Introduces the reason for divine judgment—Israel’s spiritual adultery.
- זָֽנְתָה (zanetah) – Root: זנה (z-n-h); Form: Qal perfect 3fs; Translation: “she has played the harlot”; Notes: Describes ongoing unfaithfulness; figuratively, Israel’s idolatry and alliances with foreign nations.
- אִמָּם (ʾimmam) – Root: אם (ʾ-m); Form: Noun feminine singular + 3mp suffix; Translation: “their mother”; Notes: Represents the nation of Israel collectively, contrasted with her “children” (the people).
- הֹבִישָׁה (hovishah) – Root: בושׁ (b-w-š); Form: Hifil perfect 3fs; Translation: “she has acted shamefully”; Notes: Indicates moral disgrace and covenantal humiliation before YHWH.
- הֹורָתָם (horatam) – Root: הרָה (h-r-h); Form: Noun feminine singular + 3mp suffix; Translation: “she who conceived them”; Notes: Refers to the act of conception—symbolically, Israel’s role in producing generations of idolatry.
- כִּי (ki) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for” or “because”; Notes: Introduces the justification for her shame—her deliberate pursuit of false gods and foreign benefactors.
- אָמְרָה (amrah) – Root: אמר (ʾ-m-r); Form: Qal perfect 3fs; Translation: “she said”; Notes: Marks the internal reasoning of the unfaithful nation, justifying her betrayal.
- אֵלְכָה (ʾelkhah) – Root: הלך (h-l-k); Form: Qal cohortative 1cs; Translation: “I will go”; Notes: Expresses intent or determination to pursue her desires—emphasizing willful rebellion.
- אַחֲרֵי (ʾaḥarei) – Root: אחר (ʾ-ḥ-r); Form: Preposition; Translation: “after”; Notes: Indicates pursuit or devotion—used figuratively of idolatrous following.
- מְאַהֲבַי (meʾahavay) – Root: אהב (ʾ-h-v); Form: Participle masculine plural + 1cs suffix; Translation: “my lovers”; Notes: Refers to the foreign nations or deities with whom Israel sought prosperity.
- נֹתְנֵי (noteney) – Root: נתן (n-t-n); Form: Qal participle masculine plural construct; Translation: “who give”; Notes: The participle denotes continuous or habitual action—Israel’s perceived providers.
- לַחְמִי (laḥmi) – Root: לחם (l-ḥ-m); Form: Noun masculine singular + 1cs suffix; Translation: “my bread”; Notes: Symbol of sustenance—metaphorically, divine provision falsely attributed to idols or alliances.
- וּמֵימַי (umeimai) – Root: מים (m-y-m); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine plural + 1cs suffix; Translation: “and my water”; Notes: Parallel to bread—represents essential life resources.
- צַמְרִי (tsamri) – Root: צמר (ṣ-m-r); Form: Noun masculine singular + 1cs suffix; Translation: “my wool”; Notes: Symbolic of comfort and wealth provided by YHWH, but misattributed to idols.
- וּפִשְׁתִּי (ufishti) – Root: פשת (p-š-t); Form: Noun masculine singular + 1cs suffix; Translation: “and my flax”; Notes: Denotes clothing materials—furthering the imagery of luxury and dependence.
- שַׁמְנִי (shamni) – Root: שׁמן (š-m-n); Form: Noun masculine singular + 1cs suffix; Translation: “my oil”; Notes: Represents abundance and anointing, spiritually twisted into idolatrous indulgence.
- וְשִׁקּוּיָי (veshikkuyai) – Root: שקה (š-q-h); Form: Noun masculine plural + 1cs suffix; Translation: “and my drink” or “libations”; Notes: Possibly refers to luxurious beverages or ritual drink offerings, highlighting excess and spiritual corruption.