בְּצֹאנָ֣ם וּבִבְקָרָ֗ם יֵֽלְכ֛וּ לְבַקֵּ֥שׁ אֶת־יְהוָ֖ה וְלֹ֣א יִמְצָ֑אוּ חָלַ֖ץ מֵהֶֽם׃
With their flocks and with their herds they shall go to seek YHWH, but they shall not find Him; He has withdrawn from them.
Morphology
- בְּצֹאנָם (betsonam) – Root: צאן (ts-ʾ-n); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun feminine singular (collective) + pronominal suffix 3mp; Translation: “with their flocks”; Notes: Refers to animals used for sacrificial offerings—symbolic of hypocritical worship attempts.
- וּבִבְקָרָם (uvivkaram) – Root: בקר (b-q-r); Form: Conjunction + preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular (collective) + pronominal suffix 3mp; Translation: “and with their herds”; Notes: Complements “flocks,” denoting the fullness of their sacrificial wealth offered in vain.
- יֵלְכוּ (yelkhu) – Root: הלך (h-l-k); Form: Qal imperfect 3mp; Translation: “they shall go”; Notes: Conveys deliberate action—pilgrimage to seek divine favor, yet lacking true repentance.
- לְבַקֵּשׁ (levaqesh) – Root: בקשׁ (b-q-sh); Form: Preposition לְ + Piel infinitive construct; Translation: “to seek”; Notes: The Piel form intensifies the sense of searching earnestly; ironically, their zeal is futile due to inner corruption.
- אֶת־יְהוָה (ʾet-YHWH) – Root: —; Form: Particle of direct object + divine proper name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Object of the search—implying worship or petition for help. Highlights misplaced ritual without moral restoration.
- וְלֹא (velo) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction + negative particle; Translation: “but not”; Notes: Introduces contrastive result—despite effort, divine absence persists.
- יִמְצָאוּ (yimtseʾu) – Root: מצא (m-ts-ʾ); Form: Qal imperfect 3mp; Translation: “they shall find”; Notes: Denotes success in pursuit; negated here, symbolizing divine withdrawal due to covenant breach.
- חָלַץ (ḥalats) – Root: חלץ (ḥ-l-ts); Form: Qal perfect 3ms; Translation: “He has withdrawn” or “He has departed”; Notes: Conveys removal or extraction; YHWH has “pulled away” His presence or favor.
- מֵהֶם (mehem) – Root: —; Form: Preposition מִן + pronominal suffix 3mp; Translation: “from them”; Notes: Emphasizes relational distance—divine presence once near is now absent due to persistent infidelity.