סָ֖ר סָבְאָ֑ם הַזְנֵ֣ה הִזְנ֔וּ אָהֲב֥וּ הֵב֛וּ קָלֹ֖ון מָגִנֶּֽיהָ׃
Their drink is turned aside; in whoredom they have utterly gone astray; they love shame more than their protectors.
Morphology
- סָר (sar) – Root: סור (s-w-r); Form: Qal perfect 3ms; Translation: “is turned aside” or “has departed”; Notes: Indicates deviation or moral decline; often used metaphorically for turning from YHWH’s path.
- סָבְאָם (savʾam) – Root: סבא (s-b-ʾ); Form: Noun masculine singular + pronominal suffix 3mp; Translation: “their drink” or “their wine”; Notes: Represents intoxication both literal and spiritual—symbolizing moral confusion caused by indulgence.
- הַזְנֵה (hazneh) – Root: זנה (z-n-h); Form: Hiphil infinitive absolute; Translation: “whoring” or “to commit harlotry”; Notes: The infinitive absolute intensifies the following verb—“they have utterly prostituted themselves.”
- הִזְנ֔וּ (hiznu) – Root: זנה (z-n-h); Form: Hiphil perfect 3mp; Translation: “they have committed whoredom”; Notes: The Hiphil stem implies causative nuance—Yisraʾel actively led itself into unfaithfulness.
- אָהֲבוּ (ʾahavu) – Root: אהב (ʾ-h-b); Form: Qal perfect 3mp; Translation: “they have loved”; Notes: Indicates deliberate affection or devotion; in context, love misdirected toward shameful acts and idolatrous pleasures.
- הֵבוּ (hevu) – Root: יהב (y-h-b); Form: Qal imperative 2mp (or archaic perfect 3mp); Translation: “they love (give themselves to)” or “they give”; Notes: The form reflects idiomatic expression—“they love, they give themselves to shame.”
- קָלֹון (qalon) – Root: קלן (q-l-n); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “shame” or “disgrace”; Notes: Denotes moral humiliation and loss of honor, especially in cultic and sexual defilement.
- מָגִנֶּיהָ (maginneha) – Root: מגן (m-g-n); Form: Noun masculine plural + pronominal suffix 3fs; Translation: “her protectors” or “her shields”; Notes: Likely refers metaphorically to leaders or princes who should defend the nation but are themselves disgraced.