נֹ֣ועַ תָּנ֤וּעַ אֶ֨רֶץ֙ כַּשִּׁכֹּ֔ור וְהִֽתְנֹודְדָ֖ה כַּמְּלוּנָ֑ה וְכָבַ֤ד עָלֶ֨יהָ֙ פִּשְׁעָ֔הּ וְנָפְלָ֖ה וְלֹא־תֹסִ֥יף קֽוּם׃ ס
The earth reels back and forth like a drunkard, and it sways like a hut; and its transgression is heavy upon it, and it shall fall and not rise again.
Morphology
- נֹ֣ועַ (noaʿ) – Root: נוע; Form: Qal infinitive absolute; Translation: “reels”; Notes: Used emphatically before the finite verb to intensify the movement.
- תָּנ֤וּעַ (tanuʿa) – Root: נוע; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “it shall reel”; Notes: Feminine verb agreeing with “earth.”
- אֶ֨רֶץ (ʾerets) – Root: ארץ; Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “earth”; Notes: Subject of the verb, portraying the world as unstable.
- כַּשִּׁכֹּ֔ור (ka-shikkor) – Root: שׁכר; Form: Preposition כְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “like a drunkard”; Notes: Simile expressing disoriented movement and instability.
- וְהִֽתְנֹודְדָ֖ה (ve-hitnodeda) – Root: נוד; Form: Hitpael perfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “and it swayed”; Notes: Reflexive or intensive form indicating staggering or wandering motion.
- כַּמְּלוּנָ֑ה (ka-melunah) – Root: לון; Form: Preposition כְּ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “like a hut”; Notes: A temporary, fragile shelter, symbol of instability.
- וְכָבַ֤ד (ve-khavad) – Root: כבד; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular with vav; Translation: “and it is heavy”; Notes: Indicates oppressive weight or burden.
- עָלֶ֨יהָ֙ (ʿaleha) – Root: על; Form: Preposition עַל + third person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “upon it”; Notes: Refers to the earth bearing the burden.
- פִּשְׁעָ֔הּ (pishʿah) – Root: פשע; Form: Noun masculine singular with 3rd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “its transgression”; Notes: The sin or rebellion causing the earth’s downfall.
- וְנָפְלָ֖ה (ve-nafela) – Root: נפל; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person feminine singular with vav; Translation: “and it shall fall”; Notes: Refers again to the earth’s collapse.
- וְלֹא־תֹסִ֥יף (ve-lo-tosif) – Root: יסף; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person feminine singular with negation; Translation: “and it shall not again”; Notes: Verb of continuation, here negated.
- קוּם (qum) – Root: קום; Form: Qal infinitive construct; Translation: “rise”; Notes: Completes the idea: it will not rise again—utter downfall.