וְהֵ֕מָּה כְּאָדָ֖ם עָבְר֣וּ בְרִ֑ית שָׁ֖ם בָּ֥גְדוּ בִֽי׃
But they, like Adam, transgressed the covenant; there they dealt treacherously against Me.
Morphology
- וְהֵמָּה (ve-hemmah) – Root: הם (hem); Form: Conjunction וְ + independent pronoun masculine plural; Translation: “But they”; Notes: Functions as the subject contrasting the people’s behavior with YHWH’s faithfulness.
- כְּאָדָם (ke-ʾadam) – Root: אדם (ʾadam); Form: Preposition כְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “like Adam”; Notes: May refer to the first man (Adam) or to mankind in general; context suggests parallel between Adam’s fall and Israel’s covenant violation.
- עָבְרוּ (ʿavru) – Root: עבר (ʿavar); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they transgressed”; Notes: Literally “they crossed over,” used idiomatically for violating a command or covenant boundary.
- בְרִית (berit) – Root: ברית (berit); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “covenant”; Notes: Refers to the formal relationship established between YHWH and His people, involving obligations and faithfulness.
- שָׁם (sham) – Root: שם (sham); Form: Adverb of place; Translation: “there”; Notes: Indicates a specific location of rebellion, possibly recalling historical covenant violations (e.g., at Adam, a place east of the Jordan).
- בָּגְדוּ (bagdu) – Root: בגד (bagad); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they dealt treacherously”; Notes: The term implies betrayal or deceit within a covenant relationship—willful infidelity toward YHWH.
- בִי (bi) – Root: אני (ʾani); Form: Preposition בְּ + suffix 1st person singular; Translation: “against Me”; Notes: Directs the accusation personally toward YHWH, emphasizing the relational breach of covenant faithfulness.