Hosea 6:6

כִּ֛י חֶ֥סֶד חָפַ֖צְתִּי וְלֹא־זָ֑בַח וְדַ֥עַת אֱלֹהִ֖ים מֵעֹלֹֽות׃

For I desired loyalty and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

Morphology

1. כִּי (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “For”; Notes: Introduces the divine explanation or reason—YHWH’s true desire from His people.
2. חֶסֶד (ḥesed) – Root: חסד (ḥesed); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “loyalty” or “steadfast love”; Notes: Refers to covenantal faithfulness, mercy, or lovingkindness central to Israel’s relationship with YHWH.
3. חָפַצְתִּי (ḥafatzti) – Root: חפץ (ḥafetz); Form: Qal perfect 1st person common singular; Translation: “I desired”; Notes: Indicates YHWH’s deliberate preference or will, contrasting inner devotion with ritual observance.
4. וְלֹא־ (ve-lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Conjunction וְ + negative particle; Translation: “and not”; Notes: Negates the following noun, showing contrast between outward sacrifice and inward faithfulness.
5. זָבַח (zavach) – Root: זבח (zavach); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “sacrifice”; Notes: Refers to ritual offerings in temple worship; here symbolically rejected as insufficient without true devotion.
6. וְדַעַת (ve-daʿat) – Root: ידע (yadaʿ); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “and knowledge”; Notes: Denotes experiential understanding of YHWH, not mere intellectual awareness.
7. אֱלֹהִים (ʾElohim) – Root: אלה (ʾalah); Form: Noun masculine plural (with singular meaning when referring to the true God); Translation: “Elohim”; Notes: Title emphasizing divinity, authority, and judgment.
8. מֵעֹלֹות (me-ʿolot) – Root: עלה (ʿalah); Form: Preposition מִן + noun feminine plural; Translation: “more than burnt offerings”; Notes: The comparative preposition מִן indicates YHWH’s preference—He values relational knowledge over ritual sacrifice.