אֶפְרַ֕יִם בָּעַמִּ֖ים ה֣וּא יִתְבֹּולָ֑ל אֶפְרַ֛יִם הָיָ֥ה עֻגָ֖ה בְּלִ֥י הֲפוּכָֽה׃
Efrayim is mixed among the peoples; Efrayim has become a cake not turned.
Morphology
- אֶפְרַיִם (Ephrayim) – Root: אפרים (Ephrayim); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Ephrayim”; Notes: Represents the northern kingdom of Yisraʾel, often used collectively for its tribes.
- בָּעַמִּים (ba-ʿammim) – Root: עם (ʿam); Form: Preposition בְּ + definite noun masculine plural; Translation: “among the peoples”; Notes: Indicates assimilation or loss of distinct identity among foreign nations.
- הוּא (hu) – Root: הוא (hu); Form: Independent pronoun masculine singular; Translation: “he”; Notes: Emphasizes Ephrayim’s individual responsibility and condition.
- יִתְבֹּולָל (yitbolal) – Root: בלל (balal); Form: Hitpael imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “shall be mixed” or “is mingled”; Notes: The reflexive stem conveys self-assimilation, losing purity or distinctiveness.
- אֶפְרַיִם (Ephrayim) – Root: אפרים (Ephrayim); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Ephrayim”; Notes: Repetition adds emphasis to the prophetic judgment.
- הָיָה (hayah) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “has become”; Notes: Indicates a completed transformation or change of state.
- עֻגָה (ʿugah) – Root: עוג (ʿug); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “cake”; Notes: Refers to a flat cake baked on coals, symbolizing incompleteness or half-baked character.
- בְּלִי (beli) – Root: בלי (beli); Form: Preposition; Translation: “without”; Notes: Denotes lack or absence of a necessary action or quality.
- הֲפוּכָה (hafukhah) – Root: הפך (hafakh); Form: Noun feminine singular passive (from participial root); Translation: “turning” or “being turned”; Notes: The phrase “cake not turned” symbolizes neglect, moral incompleteness, and spiritual imbalance.