Hosea 9:16

הֻכָּ֣ה אֶפְרַ֔יִם שָׁרְשָׁ֥ם יָבֵ֖שׁ פְּרִ֣י בְלִי־יַעֲשׂ֑וּן גַּ֚ם כִּ֣י יֵֽלֵד֔וּן וְהֵמַתִּ֖י מַחֲמַדֵּ֥י בִטְנָֽם׃

Efrayim is struck; their root is dried up, they shall produce no fruit. Even though they bear children, I will slay the precious ones of their womb.

Morphology

1. הֻכָּה (hukkah) – Root: נכה (nakah); Form: Pual perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “is struck” or “has been smitten”; Notes: Expresses divine punishment—Ephrayim has been dealt a severe blow by YHWH.
2. אֶפְרַיִם (Ephrayim) – Root: אפרים (Ephrayim); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Ephrayim”; Notes: Represents the northern kingdom of Yisraʾel, symbolizing its collective downfall and infertility.
3. שָׁרְשָׁם (shorsham) – Root: שרשׁ (shoresh); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 3mp; Translation: “their root”; Notes: Metaphor of life source—refers to the nation’s spiritual and generational foundation now dried up.
4. יָבֵשׁ (yavesh) – Root: יבשׁ (yavash); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “is dried up”; Notes: Indicates total desiccation—symbolizing loss of vitality and divine blessing.
5. פְּרִי (peri) – Root: פרה (parah); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “fruit”; Notes: Represents offspring, prosperity, or good works—all of which cease under judgment.
6. בְלִי־יַעֲשׂוּן (beli-yaʿasun) – Root: עשה (ʿasah); Form: Preposition בְלִי + Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they shall produce no” or “without producing”; Notes: Expresses the futility of effort—no result, no offspring, no yield.
7. גַּם (gam) – Root: גם (gam); Form: Adverb; Translation: “even” or “also”; Notes: Adds emphasis to the coming statement—intensifying the divine decree.
8. כִּי (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “though” or “even if”; Notes: Introduces a concessive clause—granting possibility yet foretelling doom.
9. יֵלֵדוּן (yeledun) – Root: ילד (yalad); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they bear” or “they give birth”; Notes: Despite reproduction, their offspring are doomed—highlighting futility under divine wrath.
10. וְהֵמַתִּי (ve-hematti) – Root: מות (muth); Form: Conjunction וְ + Hiphil perfect 1st person common singular; Translation: “and I will slay”; Notes: A strong declaration from YHWH—the ultimate act of judgment upon the next generation.
11. מַחֲמַדֵּי (maḥamadei) – Root: חמד (ḥamad); Form: Noun masculine plural construct + suffix 1cs; Translation: “the precious ones of”; Notes: Denotes what is beloved or cherished—referring to their treasured children.
12. בִטְנָם (bitnam) – Root: בטן (beten); Form: Noun feminine singular + suffix 3mp; Translation: “their womb”; Notes: Represents the source of life; the curse extends even to the most intimate symbol of creation and continuity.