בַּיהוָ֣ה בָּגָ֔דוּ כִּֽי־בָנִ֥ים זָרִ֖ים יָלָ֑דוּ עַתָּ֛ה יֹאכְלֵ֥ם חֹ֖דֶשׁ אֶת־חֶלְקֵיהֶֽם׃ ס
They have dealt treacherously against YHWH, for they have begotten strange children; now the new moon shall devour them with their portions.
Morphology
- בַּיהוָה (baYHWH) – Root: —; Form: Preposition בְּ + divine proper name; Translation: “against YHWH”; Notes: The preposition בְּ here carries the adversative sense “against,” indicating betrayal of covenant loyalty.
- בָּגָדוּ (bagadu) – Root: בגד (b-g-d); Form: Qal perfect 3mp; Translation: “they have dealt treacherously” or “they have betrayed”; Notes: Conveys covenantal unfaithfulness; used frequently for spiritual adultery against YHWH.
- כִּי (ki) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for” or “because”; Notes: Introduces the cause or evidence of their betrayal.
- בָנִים (banim) – Root: בן (b-n); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “sons” or “children”; Notes: In prophetic context, may refer to apostate offspring—those born into idolatry and unfaithfulness.
- זָרִים (zarim) – Root: זר (z-r); Form: Adjective masculine plural; Translation: “foreign” or “strange”; Notes: Describes alienation from YHWH’s covenant; metaphorically denotes spiritual impurity or illegitimacy.
- יָלָדוּ (yaladu) – Root: ילד (y-l-d); Form: Qal perfect 3mp; Translation: “they have begotten” or “they have borne”; Notes: Refers metaphorically to producing offspring outside covenant faithfulness—spiritual corruption spreading generationally.
- עַתָּה (ʿattah) – Root: —; Form: Adverb; Translation: “now”; Notes: Introduces divine retribution in the prophetic present; emphasizes immediacy of judgment.
- יֹאכְלֵם (yoʾkhem) – Root: אכל (ʾ-k-l); Form: Qal imperfect 3ms + pronominal suffix 3mp; Translation: “it shall consume them”; Notes: Subject is חֹדֶשׁ (“month”), personified as an instrument of destruction or divine wrath.
- חֹדֶשׁ (ḥodesh) – Root: חדשׁ (ḥ-d-sh); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “month” or “new moon”; Notes: Likely refers to a time of festivity turned to judgment; the very calendar of worship now becomes the measure of punishment.
- אֶת־חֶלְקֵיהֶם (ʾet-ḥelqehem) – Root: חלק (ḥ-l-q); Form: Particle of direct object + noun masculine plural construct + pronominal suffix 3mp; Translation: “their portions”; Notes: May refer to their inheritance or allotted wealth—symbolizing total loss of blessing and prosperity.