שִׁמְע֤וּ שָׁמַ֨יִם֙ וְהַאֲזִ֣ינִי אֶ֔רֶץ כִּ֥י יְהוָ֖ה דִּבֵּ֑ר בָּנִים֙ גִּדַּ֣לְתִּי וְרֹומַ֔מְתִּי וְהֵ֖ם פָּ֥שְׁעוּ בִֽי׃
Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, for YHWH has spoken: “Sons I have reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against Me.
Morphology
- שִׁמְעוּ (shimʿu) – Root: שמע; Form: Qal imperative masculine plural; Translation: “Hear”; Notes: Addressed to the heavens; call to witness.
- שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) – Root: שׁמי; Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “heavens”; Notes: Plural form used in reference to the sky or celestial realm.
- וְהַאֲזִינִי (ve-haʾazini) – Root: אזן; Form: Hifil imperative 2nd person feminine singular with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “and give ear to me”; Notes: Feminine form matches the word “earth” which is grammatically feminine.
- אֶרֶץ (ʾerets) – Root: ארץ; Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “earth”; Notes: Paired with “heavens” in a cosmic call to attention.
- כִּי (ki) – Root: כי; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces reason for the preceding call.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: הוה; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The Tetragrammaton, divine speaker.
- דִּבֵּר (dibber) – Root: דבר; Form: Piel perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “has spoken”; Notes: Emphatic form indicating solemn speech or declaration.
- בָּנִים (banim) – Root: בן; Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “sons”; Notes: Refers metaphorically to the people of Yisraʾel as children of YHWH.
- גִּדַּלְתִּי (giddalti) – Root: גדל; Form: Piel perfect 1st person singular; Translation: “I have reared”; Notes: Emphasizes nurturing or bringing up with care.
- וְרֹומַמְתִּי (ve-romamti) – Root: רום; Form: Piel perfect 1st person singular; Translation: “and I have brought up”; Notes: Expresses elevation, possibly socially or spiritually.
- וְהֵם (ve-hem) – Root: הם; Form: Conjunction וְ + independent pronoun masculine plural; Translation: “but they”; Notes: Marks a contrast with divine action.
- פָּשְׁעוּ (pashʿu) – Root: פשע; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “rebelled”; Notes: Rebellion here implies covenantal disloyalty.
- בִּי (bi) – Root: בְּ + אני; Form: Preposition with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “against Me”; Notes: Shows direct opposition to YHWH.