לֹ֥א יֵשְׁב֖וּ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ יְהוָ֑ה וְשָׁ֤ב אֶפְרַ֨יִם֙ מִצְרַ֔יִם וּבְאַשּׁ֖וּר טָמֵ֥א יֹאכֵֽלוּ׃
They shall not dwell in the land of YHWH, but Efrayim shall return to Mitsrayim, and in Ashshur they shall eat what is unclean.
Morphology
- לֹא (lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Expresses the negation of residence in YHWH’s land — divine expulsion as punishment for sin.
- יֵשְׁבוּ (yeshvu) – Root: ישׁב (yashav); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they shall dwell”; Notes: Denotes permanent habitation — forbidden here as Yisraʾel faces exile.
- בְּאֶרֶץ (be-erets) – Root: ארץ (ʾerets); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “in the land”; Notes: Refers to the covenant land promised by YHWH — from which they will be expelled.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenant name of God — the land belongs to Him, symbolizing His rule and presence.
- וְשָׁב (ve-shav) – Root: שׁוב (shuv); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “but he shall return”; Notes: Indicates reversal — Ephrayim’s exile, returning to bondage like that in Mitsrayim.
- אֶפְרַיִם (Ephrayim) – Root: אפרים (Ephrayim); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Ephrayim”; Notes: Represents the northern kingdom of Yisraʾel, here personified as the disobedient son facing exile.
- מִצְרַיִם (Mitsrayim) – Root: מצרים (Mitsrayim); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Mitsrayim” (Egypt); Notes: Symbol of bondage and oppression — a return to Egypt represents regression into slavery and idolatry.
- וּבְאַשּׁוּר (u-ve-Ashshur) – Root: אשׁור (Ashshur); Form: Conjunction וְ + preposition בְּ + proper noun; Translation: “and in Ashshur” (Assyria); Notes: The nation destined to conquer and exile Yisraʾel — the place of judgment and impurity.
- טָמֵא (tameʾ) – Root: טמא (tameʾ); Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “unclean”; Notes: Refers to ritually defiled food — a sign of spiritual and physical defilement in exile.
- יֹאכֵלוּ (yoʾkhelu) – Root: אכל (ʾakhal); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they shall eat”; Notes: Indicates their state in exile — forced to eat unclean food, symbolic of loss of covenantal purity.