וְהָיְתָ֤ה בָבֶל֙ צְבִ֣י מַמְלָכֹ֔ות תִּפְאֶ֖רֶת גְּאֹ֣ון כַּשְׂדִּ֑ים כְּמַהְפֵּכַ֣ת אֱלֹהִ֔ים אֶת־סְדֹ֖ם וְאֶת־עֲמֹרָֽה׃
And Bavel, the glory of kingdoms, the splendor of the pride of the Kasdim, shall be as when God overthrew Sedom and ʿAmora.
Morphology
- וְהָיְתָה (ve-hayetah) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person feminine singular with vav; Translation: “And it shall be”; Notes: Prophetic perfect, anticipating a future state.
- בָבֶל (Bavel) – Root: Proper noun; Form: Feminine singular; Translation: “Bavel”; Notes: Refers to Babylon, the central empire under judgment.
- צְבִי (tsevi) – Root: צבי (tsevi); Form: Noun masculine singular in construct; Translation: “glory” or “beauty of”; Notes: Refers to desirability or splendor.
- מַמְלָכֹות (mamlekhot) – Root: מלך (malakh); Form: Noun feminine plural; Translation: “kingdoms”; Notes: Represents imperial domains under Babylon’s control.
- תִּפְאֶרֶת (tifʾeret) – Root: פאר (paʾar); Form: Noun feminine singular construct; Translation: “splendor of”; Notes: Conveys magnificence or majesty.
- גְּאֹון (geʾon) – Root: גאה (gaʾah); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “pride”; Notes: Often with a negative connotation—arrogance or self-exaltation.
- כַּשְׂדִּים (Kasdim) – Root: Proper noun; Form: Masculine plural; Translation: “Kasdim” (Chaldeans); Notes: Ethnic term for Babylonian ruling elite.
- כְּמַהְפֵּכַת (ke-mahpēkhat) – Root: הפך (haphakh); Form: Preposition + noun feminine singular construct; Translation: “as the overthrow of”; Notes: Refers to total destruction, particularly by divine judgment.
- אֱלֹהִים (Elohim) – Root: Divine name; Form: Masculine plural with singular meaning; Translation: “Elohim”; Notes: The supreme God, subject of the comparison.
- אֶת־סְדֹם (et-Sedom) – Root: Proper noun; Form: Direct object marker + proper noun; Translation: “Sedom”; Notes: Referencing the biblical city destroyed for its wickedness.
- וְאֶת־עֲמֹרָה (ve-et-ʿAmorah) – Root: Proper noun; Form: Conjunction + direct object marker + proper noun; Translation: “and ʿAmorah”; Notes: Twin city to Sedom, similarly destroyed by fire and brimstone.