יָדַ֥ע שֹׁור֙ קֹנֵ֔הוּ וַחֲמֹ֖ור אֵב֣וּס בְּעָלָ֑יו יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לֹ֣א יָדַ֔ע עַמִּ֖י לֹ֥א הִתְבֹּונָֽן׃
The ox knows its owner and the donkey its master’s manger, but Yisraʾel does not know, My people do not consider.
Morphology
- יָדַע (yadaʿ) – Root: ידע; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “knows”; Notes: Describes instinctive recognition or understanding.
- שֹׁור (shor) – Root: שור; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “ox”; Notes: Symbol of domestic animal with natural loyalty.
- קֹנֵהוּ (qonehu) – Root: קנה; Form: Qal participle masculine singular with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “its owner”; Notes: Expresses possession or acquisition.
- וַחֲמֹור (va-ḥamor) – Root: חמר; Form: Conjunction + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and the donkey”; Notes: Known as a less perceptive animal, yet still recognizing its master.
- אֵב֣וּס (evus) – Root: אבס; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “manger”; Notes: Feeding trough; the donkey knows where it is fed.
- בְּעָלָיו (beʿalav) – Root: בעל; Form: Noun masculine plural with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “its masters”; Notes: Plural form possibly connoting authority or control.
- יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisraʾel) – Root: ישראל; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yisraʾel”; Notes: Represents the people of the covenant; contrast with animals.
- לֹא (lo) – Root: לא; Form: Negative particle; Translation: “does not”; Notes: Used here for emphatic negation.
- יָדַע (yadaʿ) – Root: ידע; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “know”; Notes: Same verb as above, applied here negatively to Yisraʾel.
- עַמִּי (ʿammi) – Root: עם; Form: Noun masculine singular with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “My people”; Notes: Possessive; emphasizes divine relationship.
- לֹא (lo) – Root: לא; Form: Negative particle; Translation: “do not”; Notes: Paired with the verb of understanding.
- הִתְבֹּונָן (hitbonan) – Root: בין; Form: Hitpael perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “considered”; Notes: Reflective verb indicating deliberate perception or insight.