אַ֥ךְ אִ֛ישׁ אַל־יָרֵ֖ב וְאַל־יֹוכַ֣ח אִ֑ישׁ וְעַמְּךָ֖ כִּמְרִיבֵ֥י כֹהֵֽן׃
Yet let no man contend, and let no man reprove, for your people are like those who contend with the priest.
Morphology
- אַךְ (ʾakh) – Root: —; Form: Adverb/particle; Translation: “yet,” “surely,” or “only”; Notes: Introduces a warning or limitation — a shift in tone marking divine restraint or irony amid judgment.
- אִישׁ (ʾish) – Root: אנשׁ (ʾ-n-š); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “man”; Notes: Refers generically to any individual; the context implies that none should argue against YHWH’s charges.
- אַל־יָרֵב (ʾal-yarev) – Root: ריב (r-y-v); Form: Negative particle אַל + Qal imperfect jussive 3ms; Translation: “let no man contend”; Notes: The jussive expresses prohibition; YHWH forbids futile disputation or self-defense against His indictment.
- וְאַל־יֹוכַח (ve-ʾal-yokhaḥ) – Root: יכח (y-k-ḥ); Form: Conjunction וְ + negative particle אַל + Hiphil imperfect jussive 3ms; Translation: “and let no man reprove”; Notes: To “reprove” implies correction or dispute; the phrase signals a collapse of moral authority — none are left righteous enough to judge others.
- אִישׁ (ʾish) – Root: אנשׁ (ʾ-n-š); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “man”; Notes: Repeated for emphasis — universal in scope, reinforcing the silence of all before divine justice.
- וְעַמְּךָ (ve-ʿammekha) – Root: עם (ʿ-m); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine singular construct + 2ms suffix; Translation: “and your people”; Notes: Addressed to the prophet Hosea or to the priesthood — Israel is being described as obstinate and rebellious.
- כִּמְרִיבֵי (kimrivei) – Root: ריב (r-y-v); Form: Preposition כְּ + masculine plural construct participle; Translation: “like those who contend”; Notes: The participial form underscores habitual behavior — the people are continually contentious, echoing courtroom imagery used throughout Hosea.
- כֹהֵן (kohen) – Root: כהן (k-h-n); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “priest”; Notes: The comparison implies rebellion even against the priestly authority ordained to teach Torah. The people’s resistance mirrors Israel’s rejection of YHWH’s instruction through His appointed mediators.