כִּֽי־הִנֵּ֤ה הָֽלְכוּ֙ מִשֹּׁ֔ד מִצְרַ֥יִם תְּקַבְּצֵ֖ם מֹ֣ף תְּקַבְּרֵ֑ם מַחְמַ֣ד לְכַסְפָּ֗ם קִמֹּושׂ֙ יִֽירָשֵׁ֔ם חֹ֖וחַ בְּאָהֳלֵיהֶֽם׃
For behold, they have gone because of destruction; Mitsrayim shall gather them up, Mof shall bury them; the precious things of their silver, nettles shall possess them; thorns shall be in their tents.
Morphology
- כִּי (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces an explanatory or causal clause — announcing the consequence of divine judgment.
- הִנֵּה (hinneh) – Root: הנה (hinneh); Form: Interjection; Translation: “behold”; Notes: Draws attention to the imminent reality — the people’s exile and devastation.
- הָלְכוּ (halekhu) – Root: הלך (halakh); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they have gone”; Notes: Indicates departure — likely into exile or flight due to destruction.
- מִשֹּׁד (mi-shod) – Root: שׁוד (shod); Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine singular; Translation: “because of destruction”; Notes: Expresses cause — they flee or are removed because of violence or ruin.
- מִצְרַיִם (Mitsrayim) – Root: מצרים (Mitsrayim); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Mitsrayim” (Egypt); Notes: Symbol of exile and bondage — representing a return to foreign dependence.
- תְּקַבְּצֵם (teqabbetsēm) – Root: קבץ (qavats); Form: Piel imperfect 3rd person feminine singular + suffix 3mp; Translation: “shall gather them”; Notes: Egypt personified as a woman — gathering the exiles, possibly for burial or captivity.
- מֹף (Moph) – Root: —; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Moph” (Memphis); Notes: Egyptian city known for tombs — fittingly, it becomes their burial place.
- תְּקַבְּרֵם (teqabbrem) – Root: קבר (qavar); Form: Piel imperfect 3rd person feminine singular + suffix 3mp; Translation: “shall bury them”; Notes: Suggests death in exile — not honored burial in the land of YHWH.
- מַחְמַד (maḥmad) – Root: חמד (ḥamad); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “precious thing” or “delight”; Notes: Refers to valuable or desirable possessions, here likely wealth or treasures.
- לְכַסְפָּם (le-khaspam) – Root: כסף (kesef); Form: Preposition לְ + noun masculine singular + suffix 3mp; Translation: “of their silver” or “their silver’s”; Notes: Highlights material wealth — soon to be overtaken by weeds, symbolizing decay.
- קִמֹּושׂ (qimmos) – Root: קמשׂ (qamas); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “nettles”; Notes: Symbol of desolation — what once was rich now overgrown with weeds.
- יִירָשֵׁם (yirashēm) – Root: ירשׁ (yarash); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular + suffix 3mp; Translation: “shall possess them”; Notes: Inverts expectation — weeds inherit the wealth once owned by humans.
- חֹוחַ (ḥoʿaḥ) – Root: חוח (ḥoʿaḥ); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “thorn”; Notes: Symbol of curse and ruin — arises where prosperity once stood.
- בְּאָהֳלֵיהֶם (be-ʾaholehhem) – Root: אהל (ʾohel); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine plural construct + suffix 3mp; Translation: “in their tents”; Notes: Represents domestic life — even their homes will be overtaken by thorns, signifying total desolation.