יָשׁ֣וּבוּ לֹ֣א עָ֗ל הָיוּ֙ כְּקֶ֣שֶׁת רְמִיָּ֔ה יִפְּל֥וּ בַחֶ֛רֶב שָׂרֵיהֶ֖ם מִזַּ֣עַם לְשֹׁונָ֑ם זֹ֥ו לַעְגָּ֖ם בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃
They return, but not to the Most High; they have become like a deceitful bow. Their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue; this shall be their derision in the land of Mitsrayim.
Morphology
- יָשׁוּבוּ (yashuvu) – Root: שׁוב (shuv); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they return”; Notes: Indicates apparent repentance or movement, yet superficial and insincere.
- לֹא (lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Negates the intended direction of repentance — it is false or misdirected.
- עָל (ʿal) – Root: על (ʿal); Form: Preposition; Translation: “to the Most High”; Notes: Elliptical expression referring to YHWH as “the Most High” (ʿElyon), meaning they do not return to Him.
- הָיוּ (hayu) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they have become”; Notes: Denotes transformation of character or condition.
- כְּקֶשֶׁת (ke-queshet) – Root: קשׁת (queshet); Form: Preposition כְּ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “like a bow”; Notes: Comparison imagery — their unreliability likened to a defective weapon.
- רְמִיָּה (remiyyah) – Root: רמה (ramah); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “deceitful”; Notes: Describes treachery or faithlessness — a bow that fails to shoot straight.
- יִפְּלוּ (yipelu) – Root: נפל (nafal); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they shall fall”; Notes: Future or prophetic statement of judgment and downfall.
- בַּחֶרֶב (ba-ḥerev) – Root: חרב (ḥerev); Form: Preposition בְּ + definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “by the sword”; Notes: Symbol of violent death or divine retribution.
- שָׂרֵיהֶם (sareihem) – Root: שר (sar); Form: Noun masculine plural construct + suffix 3mp; Translation: “their princes”; Notes: Refers to leaders or nobles — those chiefly responsible for rebellion.
- מִזַּעַם (mi-zaʿam) – Root: זעם (zaʿam); Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine singular; Translation: “for the rage”; Notes: Causal preposition — punishment resulting from their wrath or insolence.
- לְשֹׁונָם (le-shonam) – Root: לשׁון (lashon); Form: Preposition לְ + noun feminine singular + suffix 3mp; Translation: “of their tongue”; Notes: Indicates their verbal offenses — deceitful or arrogant speech provoking divine judgment.
- זֹו (zo) – Root: זו (zo); Form: Demonstrative feminine singular; Translation: “this”; Notes: Refers to what follows — their disgrace or derision.
- לַעְגָּם (laʿgam) – Root: לעג (laʿag); Form: Preposition לְ + noun masculine singular + suffix 3mp; Translation: “their derision”; Notes: Denotes ridicule or mockery that will fall upon them.
- בְּאֶרֶץ (be-erets) – Root: ארץ (ʾerets); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “in the land”; Notes: Marks the location where their shame will be displayed.
- מִצְרָיִם (Mitsrayim) – Root: מצרים (Mitsrayim); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Mitsrayim”; Notes: Egypt — place of former bondage, here representing misplaced trust and ultimate humiliation.