וְחָלָ֥ה חֶ֨רֶב֙ בְּעָרָ֔יו וְכִלְּתָ֥ה בַדָּ֖יו וְאָכָ֑לָה מִֽמֹּעֲצֹ֖ותֵיהֶֽם׃
And the sword shall rage in his cities, and it shall consume his bars, and devour because of their counsels.
Morphology
- וְחָלָה (ve-ḥalah) – Root: חלל (ḥalal); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal imperfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “and shall rage”; Notes: Refers to the sword as the subject—depicting violent destruction sweeping through the land.
- חֶרֶב (ḥerev) – Root: חרב (ḥerev); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “sword”; Notes: A symbol of divine judgment and warfare, representing YHWH’s instrument of punishment through invading armies.
- בְּעָרָיו (be-ʿarav) – Root: עיר (ʿir); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun feminine plural + suffix 3ms; Translation: “in his cities”; Notes: Indicates the territorial scope of devastation—the urban centers of Yisraʾel under siege.
- וְכִלְּתָה (ve-killtah) – Root: כלה (kalah); Form: Conjunction וְ + Piel perfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “and it shall consume”; Notes: The feminine subject continues to be “sword,” expressing complete annihilation or exhaustion of resources and defense.
- בַדָּיו (badav) – Root: בד (bad); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine plural + suffix 3ms; Translation: “his bars”; Notes: Likely refers to the city gates or defenses—metaphorically describing the breaking down of Yisraʾel’s strength and fortifications.
- וְאָכָלָה (ve-akhalah) – Root: אכל (ʾakhal); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal perfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “and it shall devour”; Notes: Again, the sword is personified as a devouring force consuming everything before it.
- מִמֹּעֲצֹותֵיהֶם (mimmoʿatsoteyhem) – Root: עצה (ʿetsah); Form: Preposition מִן + noun feminine plural construct + suffix 3mp; Translation: “because of their counsels”; Notes: Indicates the cause of judgment—Yisraʾel’s corrupt decisions and rebellious political alliances that provoked divine wrath.