Hosea 9:11

אֶפְרַ֕יִם כָּעֹ֖וף יִתְעֹופֵ֣ף כְּבֹודָ֑ם מִלֵּדָ֥ה וּמִבֶּ֖טֶן וּמֵהֵרָיֹֽון׃

Efrayim—like a bird their glory shall fly away, from birth, from the womb, and from conception.

Morphology

1. אֶפְרַיִם (Ephrayim) – Root: אפרים (Ephrayim); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Ephrayim”; Notes: Represents the northern kingdom of Yisraʾel — once blessed but now facing loss of blessing and fertility.
2. כָּעֹוף (ka-ʿof) – Root: עוף (ʿof); Form: Preposition כְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “like a bird”; Notes: Simile of swiftness and flight — their glory departs as quickly as a bird takes wing.
3. יִתְעֹופֵף (yitʿofef) – Root: עוף (ʿuf); Form: Hitpolel imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “shall fly away”; Notes: Denotes continual motion or fluttering — the departure of honor, prosperity, or divine favor.
4. כְּבֹודָם (kevodam) – Root: כבד (kaved); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 3mp; Translation: “their glory”; Notes: Refers to Yisraʾel’s dignity, blessings, and divine favor — now disappearing due to sin.
5. מִלֵּדָה (mi-ledah) – Root: ילד (yalad); Form: Preposition מִן + noun feminine singular; Translation: “from birth”; Notes: Indicates total loss — barrenness from the very act of giving birth.
6. וּמִבֶּטֶן (u-mi-beten) – Root: בטן (beten); Form: Conjunction וְ + preposition מִן + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and from the womb”; Notes: Extends the scope of loss — infertility even before birth.
7. וּמֵהֵרָיֹון (u-me-herayon) – Root: הרה (harah); Form: Conjunction וְ + preposition מִן + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and from conception”; Notes: Completes the progression — judgment from the very beginning of life, symbolizing total cutoff of fertility and blessing.