שָׂרַ֣יִךְ סֹורְרִ֗ים וְחַבְרֵי֙ גַּנָּבִ֔ים כֻּלֹּו֙ אֹהֵ֣ב שֹׁ֔חַד וְרֹדֵ֖ף שַׁלְמֹנִ֑ים יָתֹום֙ לֹ֣א יִשְׁפֹּ֔טוּ וְרִ֥יב אַלְמָנָ֖ה לֹֽא־יָבֹ֥וא אֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ פ
Your princes are rebellious and companions of thieves; all of them love a bribe and pursue rewards. The orphan they do not judge, and the widow’s case does not come to them.
Morphology
- שָׂרַיִךְ (sarayikh) – Root: שרר; Form: Noun masculine plural with 2nd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “your princes”; Notes: Refers to ruling officials of the city, addressed as feminine (i.e., Tsiyyon).
- סֹורְרִים (sorerim) – Root: סרר; Form: Qal participle masculine plural; Translation: “rebellious”; Notes: Characterizes the leaders as disobedient and defiant.
- וְחַבְרֵי (ve-ḥavrei) – Root: חבר; Form: Conjunction + noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “and companions of”; Notes: Introduces corrupt associations.
- גַּנָּבִים (gannavim) – Root: גנב; Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “thieves”; Notes: Highlights the leaders’ moral corruption.
- כֻּלּוֹ (kullo) – Root: כלל; Form: Noun masculine singular with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “all of him” or “every one of them”; Notes: Emphatic totality of corruption.
- אֹהֵב (ohev) – Root: אהב; Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “lover of”; Notes: Indicates strong preference or pursuit.
- שֹׁחַד (shoḥad) – Root: שׁחד; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “bribe”; Notes: Symbol of injustice and corruption in leadership.
- וְרֹדֵף (ve-rodef) – Root: רדף; Form: Conjunction + Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “and pursuer of”; Notes: Intensifies their greed for illicit gain.
- שַׁלְמֹנִים (shalmonim) – Root: שׁלם; Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “rewards” or “payments”; Notes: Possibly parallel to bribes, gained unjustly.
- יָתוֹם (yatom) – Root: יתם; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “orphan”; Notes: Represents vulnerable members of society.
- לֹא (lo) – Root: לא; Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Strong negation of moral responsibility.
- יִשְׁפֹּטוּ (yishpotu) – Root: שׁפט; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they judge”; Notes: Lack of justice shown toward the orphan.
- וְרִיב (ve-riv) – Root: ריב; Form: Conjunction + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and the case” or “and the dispute”; Notes: Refers to legal matter or plea.
- אַלְמָנָה (almanah) – Root: אלמן; Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “widow”; Notes: Another symbol of the defenseless in society.
- לֹא־יָבֹא (lo-yavo) – Root: בוא; Form: Negative particle + Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “does not come”; Notes: The widow’s case is excluded from judicial attention.
- אֲלֵיהֶם (aleihem) – Root: אל; Form: Preposition with 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “to them”; Notes: Refers to the corrupt leaders.