כִּ֛י ר֥וּחַ יִזְרָ֖עוּ וְסוּפָ֣תָה יִקְצֹ֑רוּ קָמָ֣ה אֵֽין־לֹ֗ו צֶ֚מַח בְּלִ֣י יַֽעֲשֶׂה־קֶּ֔מַח אוּלַ֣י יַֽעֲשֶׂ֔ה זָרִ֖ים יִבְלָעֻֽהוּ׃
For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind; a standing stalk has no growth, it shall yield no flour; and if it should yield, strangers shall swallow it up.
Morphology
- כִּי (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces the reason or explanation for the preceding judgment.
- רוּחַ (ruaḥ) – Root: רוח (ruaḥ); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “wind”; Notes: Symbolizes futility — they invest effort in what yields nothing.
- יִזְרָעוּ (yizraʿu) – Root: זרע (zaraʿ); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they sow”; Notes: Figurative of actions or pursuits — they sow what is empty and vain.
- וְסוּפָתָה (ve-sufatah) – Root: סופה (sufah); Form: Conjunction + noun feminine singular with paragogic ending; Translation: “and the whirlwind”; Notes: Indicates intensified outcome — reaping destruction from their folly.
- יִקְצֹרוּ (yiqtseru) – Root: קצר (qatsar); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they shall reap”; Notes: Agricultural metaphor — what they harvest is far worse than what they sowed.
- קָמָה (qamah) – Root: קמה (qamah); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “standing stalk” or “grain stalk”; Notes: Refers to the visible growth that should yield fruit — but here it is barren.
- אֵין־לֹו (ʾein-lo) – Root: אין (ʾein); Form: Particle of nonexistence + preposition לְ + suffix 3ms; Translation: “it has none”; Notes: Denotes total absence — the stalk is lifeless and fruitless.
- צֶמַח (tsemach) – Root: צמח (tsamach); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “growth” or “yield”; Notes: Refers to productive outcome — absent due to divine judgment.
- בְּלִי (beli) – Root: בלי (beli); Form: Preposition; Translation: “without”; Notes: Expresses negation — without capacity or result.
- יַעֲשֶׂה (yaʿaseh) – Root: עשה (ʿasah); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “it shall produce” or “make”; Notes: Denotes productivity — the stalk fails to yield grain.
- קֶּמַח (qemach) – Root: קמח (qamaḥ); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “flour”; Notes: Symbolizes sustenance and prosperity — lacking due to judgment.
- אוּלַי (ʾulay) – Root: אולי (ʾulay); Form: Adverb; Translation: “perhaps”; Notes: Expresses uncertainty or hypothetical possibility — even if productivity were possible.
- יַעֲשֶׂה (yaʿaseh) – Root: עשה (ʿasah); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “it should produce”; Notes: Repetition underscores the improbability of success.
- זָרִים (zarim) – Root: זר (zar); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “strangers”; Notes: Refers to foreign invaders or nations benefiting from Yisraʾel’s labor.
- יִבְלָעֻהוּ (yivlaʿuhu) – Root: בלע (balaʿ); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural + suffix 3ms; Translation: “they shall swallow it up”; Notes: Figurative for consuming or taking possession — foreigners will consume Yisraʾel’s fruit.