וְהָאָ֥רֶץ חָנְפָ֖ה תַּ֣חַת יֹשְׁבֶ֑יהָ כִּֽי־עָבְר֤וּ תֹורֹת֙ חָ֣לְפוּ חֹ֔ק הֵפֵ֖רוּ בְּרִ֥ית עֹולָֽם׃
And the land was defiled under its inhabitants, for they transgressed teachings, they changed statute, they broke the everlasting covenant.
Morphology
- וְהָאָ֥רֶץ (ve-haʾaretz) – Root: ארץ; Form: Conjunction + definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “And the land”; Notes: Subject of the clause; refers to the land of Yisraʾel or earth generally.
- חָנְפָ֖ה (ḥanfah) – Root: חנף; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “was defiled”; Notes: Conveys a sense of moral or ritual corruption.
- תַּ֣חַת (taḥat) – Root: תחת; Form: Preposition; Translation: “under”; Notes: Indicates causality or responsibility of the inhabitants.
- יֹשְׁבֶ֑יהָ (yoshvehah) – Root: ישׁב; Form: Qal active participle masculine plural with 3rd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “its inhabitants”; Notes: Describes the dwellers of the land, causing its defilement.
- כִּֽי (ki) – Root: כי; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces the reason for the defilement of the land.
- עָבְר֤וּ (ʿavru) – Root: עבר; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they transgressed”; Notes: Indicates violation or overstepping of law.
- תֹורֹת (torot) – Root: תורה; Form: Noun feminine plural; Translation: “teachings”; Notes: Plural of torah, often referring to divine instructions or laws.
- חָ֣לְפוּ (ḥalfu) – Root: חלף; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they changed”; Notes: Conveys the idea of altering or violating what was established.
- חֹ֔ק (ḥoq) – Root: חקק; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “statute”; Notes: Refers to a fixed ordinance or decree.
- הֵפֵ֖רוּ (heferu) – Root: פרר; Form: Hifil perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they broke”; Notes: Common term for violating a covenant or promise.
- בְּרִ֥ית (berit) – Root: ברית; Form: Noun feminine singular in construct; Translation: “covenant of”; Notes: A binding agreement, especially between YHWH and His people.
- עֹולָֽם (ʿolam) – Root: עולם; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “everlasting”; Notes: Qualifies “covenant” to emphasize its permanence and divine nature.