וַיִּשְׁכַּ֨ח יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל אֶת־עֹשֵׂ֗הוּ וַיִּ֨בֶן֙ הֵיכָלֹ֔ות וִֽיהוּדָ֕ה הִרְבָּ֖ה עָרִ֣ים בְּצֻרֹ֑ות וְשִׁלַּחְתִּי־אֵ֣שׁ בְּעָרָ֔יו וְאָכְלָ֖ה אַרְמְנֹתֶֽיהָ׃
And Yisraʾel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces, and Yehuda has multiplied fortified cities; but I will send fire upon his cities, and it shall devour her palaces.
Morphology
- וַיִּשְׁכַּח (va-yishkaḥ) – Root: שׁכח (shakhaḥ); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he forgot”; Notes: Describes Yisraʾel’s deliberate spiritual neglect of YHWH, their Creator and sustainer.
- יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisraʾel) – Root: ישראל (Yisraʾel); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yisraʾel”; Notes: Refers to the northern kingdom, representing apostate worship and misplaced trust in human achievement.
- אֶת (ʾet) – Root: את (ʾet); Form: Direct object marker; Translation: (no direct translation); Notes: Marks the following word as the direct object of the verb “forgot.”
- עֹשֵׂהוּ (ʿosehu) – Root: עשה (ʿasah); Form: Qal participle masculine singular + suffix 3ms; Translation: “his Maker”; Notes: Refers to YHWH as the Creator — highlighting irony in Yisraʾel forgetting the very One who formed them.
- וַיִּבֶן (va-yiven) – Root: בנה (banah); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he built”; Notes: Implies self-reliance — constructing earthly power instead of trusting YHWH.
- הֵיכָלֹות (heikhalot) – Root: היכל (heikhal); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “palaces” or “temples”; Notes: Can denote both royal buildings and sanctuaries — showing both political and religious arrogance.
- וִיהוּדָה (vi-Yehudah) – Root: יהודה (Yehudah); Form: Conjunction + proper noun; Translation: “and Yehudah”; Notes: Refers to the southern kingdom, included in the condemnation for misplaced security.
- הִרְבָּה (hirbah) – Root: רבה (ravah); Form: Hifil perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “has multiplied”; Notes: Expresses deliberate increase — the building of many fortified cities as a false source of safety.
- עָרִים (ʿarim) – Root: עיר (ʿir); Form: Noun feminine plural; Translation: “cities”; Notes: Refers to defensive urban centers established for protection instead of trust in YHWH.
- בְּצֻרֹות (be-tsurot) – Root: בצר (batsar); Form: Preposition בְּ + adjective feminine plural; Translation: “fortified”; Notes: Describes cities protected by strong walls — representing human reliance on fortifications rather than faith.
- וְשִׁלַּחְתִּי (ve-shillaḥti) – Root: שלח (shalaḥ); Form: Piel perfect 1st person common singular with conjunction; Translation: “and I will send”; Notes: YHWH’s action — sending judgment symbolized by fire upon their cities.
- אֵשׁ (ʾesh) – Root: אשׁ (ʾesh); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “fire”; Notes: Symbol of divine judgment and destruction — consuming pride and false security.
- בְּעָרָיו (be-ʿarav) – Root: עיר (ʿir); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun feminine plural + suffix 3ms; Translation: “upon his cities”; Notes: Refers to the urban centers of Yisraʾel or Yehudah, targets of divine retribution.
- וְאָכְלָה (ve-okhlah) – Root: אכל (ʾakhal); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person feminine singular with conjunction; Translation: “and it shall devour”; Notes: The fire is personified as an agent of divine punishment.
- אַרְמְנֹתֶיהָ (armenoteha) – Root: ארמון (armon); Form: Noun masculine plural + suffix 3fs; Translation: “her palaces”; Notes: Refers to royal or elite structures — symbols of wealth and pride, all to be consumed by divine fire.