Hosea 8:13

זִבְחֵ֣י הַבְהָבַ֗י יִזְבְּח֤וּ בָשָׂר֙ וַיֹּאכֵ֔לוּ יְהוָ֖ה לֹ֣א רָצָ֑ם עַתָּ֞ה יִזְכֹּ֤ר עֲוֹנָם֙ וְיִפְקֹ֣ד חַטֹּאותָ֔ם הֵ֖מָּה מִצְרַ֥יִם יָשֽׁוּבוּ׃

The sacrifices of My offerings they sacrifice flesh and eat it, but YHWH does not accept them; now He will remember their iniquity and will punish their sins; they shall return to Mitsrayim.

Morphology

1. זִבְחֵי (zivḥei) – Root: זבח (zavaḥ); Form: Noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “the sacrifices of”; Notes: Refers to ritual offerings — here linked to hypocrisy rather than true worship.
2. הַבְהָבַי (ha-vahavai) – Root: בהב (bahav); Form: Definite noun masculine singular with article; Translation: “My offerings” or “My sacrifices”; Notes: A rare form, often understood as “sacrifices of vanity” or “vain offerings” — stressing insincerity in worship.
3. יִזְבְּחוּ (yizbeḥu) – Root: זבח (zavaḥ); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they sacrifice”; Notes: Describes continual ritual action performed by the people, yet devoid of true devotion.
4. בָשָׂר (basar) – Root: בשר (basar); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “flesh”; Notes: Refers to the meat of the sacrifices, which the people consume rather than dedicate spiritually to YHWH.
5. וַיֹּאכֵלוּ (va-yoʾkhelu) – Root: אכל (ʾakhal); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they eat”; Notes: Indicates selfish consumption — the sacrifices serve human appetite rather than divine purpose.
6. יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The divine name, representing the covenant God of Yisraʾel who rejects empty ritual.
7. לֹא (lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Denotes strong divine rejection of insincere worship.
8. רָצָם (ratsam) – Root: רצה (ratsah); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular + suffix 3mp; Translation: “He accepted them”; Notes: Negated by לֹא, meaning “He did not accept them” — divine displeasure with corrupt worship.
9. עַתָּה (ʿattah) – Root: עתה (ʿattah); Form: Adverb; Translation: “now”; Notes: Signals the present consequence — divine remembrance and retribution.
10. יִזְכֹּר (yizkor) – Root: זכר (zakhar); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “He will remember”; Notes: Refers to YHWH recalling their sins to bring judgment, not mercy.
11. עֲוֹנָם (ʿavonam) – Root: עון (ʿavon); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 3mp; Translation: “their iniquity”; Notes: Moral guilt — the cause of divine punishment.
12. וְיִפְקֹד (ve-yifqod) – Root: פקד (paqad); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular with conjunction; Translation: “and He will punish”; Notes: The verb can mean to “visit” or “call to account” — here, a judicial visitation of sin.
13. חַטֹּאותָם (ḥattoʾtam) – Root: חטא (ḥataʾ); Form: Noun feminine plural + suffix 3mp; Translation: “their sins”; Notes: Denotes repeated offenses against YHWH’s covenant.
14. הֵמָּה (hemmah) – Root: הם (hem); Form: Independent pronoun masculine plural; Translation: “they”; Notes: Emphatic subject marker — “they themselves” bear the consequences.
15. מִצְרַיִם (Mitsrayim) – Root: מצרים (Mitsrayim); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Mitsrayim” (Egypt); Notes: Symbol of exile, oppression, and reversal — the people return to a state of bondage.
16. יָשׁוּבוּ (yashuvu) – Root: שוב (shuv); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they shall return”; Notes: May refer literally to exile or metaphorically to returning to servitude and idolatry — undoing the Exodus freedom.