וְאִם־תְּמָאֲנ֖וּ וּמְרִיתֶ֑ם חֶ֣רֶב תְּאֻכְּל֔וּ כִּ֛י פִּ֥י יְהוָ֖ה דִּבֵּֽר׃ ס
But if you refuse and rebel, by the sword you shall be devoured; for the mouth of YHWH has spoken.”
Morphology
- וְאִם (ve-im) – Root: אם; Form: Conjunction + conditional particle; Translation: “but if”; Notes: Introduces the alternative condition to blessing.
- תְּמָאֲנוּ (temaʾanu) – Root: מאן; Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you refuse”; Notes: Denotes rejection or unwillingness to obey.
- וּמְרִיתֶם (u-meritem) – Root: מרה; Form: Qal perfect 2nd person masculine plural with vav conjunctive; Translation: “and rebel”; Notes: Indicates active disobedience or defiance.
- חֶרֶב (ḥerev) – Root: חרב; Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “sword”; Notes: Symbol of divine judgment or warfare.
- תְּאֻכְּלוּ (teʾukkelu) – Root: אכל; Form: Pual imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you shall be devoured”; Notes: Passive form highlighting divine judgment executed upon the people.
- כִּי (ki) – Root: כי; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces reason or confirmation.
- פִּי (pi) – Root: פה; Form: Noun masculine singular with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “the mouth of”; Notes: Emphasizes direct divine speech.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: הוה; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The speaker and judge.
- דִּבֵּר (dibber) – Root: דבר; Form: Piel perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “has spoken”; Notes: Conveys finality and authority of God’s declaration.