זָנַח֙ עֶגְלֵ֣ךְ שֹֽׁמְרֹ֔ון חָרָ֥ה אַפִּ֖י בָּ֑ם עַד־מָתַ֕י לֹ֥א יוּכְל֖וּ נִקָּיֹֽן׃
He has rejected your calf, Shomeron; My anger is kindled against them. How long will they be incapable of innocence?
Morphology
- זָנַח (zanach) – Root: זנח (zanach); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “has rejected”; Notes: Refers to YHWH’s rejection or repudiation of the idol — an emphatic act of divine disapproval.
- עֶגְלֵךְ (ʿeglekh) – Root: עגל (ʿegel); Form: Noun masculine singular construct + suffix 2fs; Translation: “your calf”; Notes: Refers to the golden calf of Shomeron, symbolizing apostate worship and idolatry.
- שֹׁמְרֹון (Shomeron) – Root: שׁמרון (Shomeron); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Shomeron”; Notes: Capital of the northern kingdom of Yisraʾel, representative of its idolatrous system.
- חָרָה (ḥarah) – Root: חרה (ḥarah); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “is kindled”; Notes: Often used with “anger” (ʾaph) — idiomatically “My anger burns.”
- אַפִּי (appi) – Root: אף (ʾaph); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 1cs; Translation: “My anger”; Notes: Anthropomorphic expression for divine wrath or judgment.
- בָּם (bam) – Root: ב (bet); Form: Preposition בְּ + suffix 3mp; Translation: “against them”; Notes: Indicates direction of divine anger — upon the idolaters themselves.
- עַד־מָתַי (ʿad-matay) – Root: מתי (matay); Form: Preposition עַד + interrogative adverb; Translation: “How long?”; Notes: Expresses divine impatience or lament at persistent sin.
- לֹא (lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Negates the following verb phrase, emphasizing moral incapacity.
- יוּכְלוּ (yukhelu) – Root: יכל (yakhol); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they are able”; Notes: Indicates inability or lack of capacity — moral or spiritual weakness.
- נִקָּיֹן (niqqayon) – Root: נקה (naqah); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “innocence” or “purity”; Notes: Refers to moral cleanness or freedom from guilt — a state Yisraʾel cannot attain due to idolatry.