תַּהֲר֥וּ חֲשַׁ֖שׁ תֵּ֣לְדוּ קַ֑שׁ רוּחֲכֶ֕ם אֵ֖שׁ תֹּאכַלְכֶֽם׃
You conceive chaff, you give birth to stubble; your breath is a fire that shall consume you.
Morphology
- תַּהֲר֥וּ (taharu) – Root: הרה; Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you conceive”; Notes: Often used metaphorically for plans or intentions brought forth.
- חֲשַׁ֖שׁ (ḥashash) – Root: חששׁ; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “chaff”; Notes: Light, worthless debris from threshing, symbol of futility.
- תֵּ֣לְדוּ (teled·u) – Root: ילד; Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you give birth to”; Notes: Parallel to “conceive,” continuing the metaphor of unproductive labor.
- קַ֑שׁ (qash) – Root: קשׁ; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “stubble”; Notes: Dry, brittle plant matter, often used as an image of judgment.
- רוּחֲכֶ֕ם (ruḥakhem) – Root: רוח; Form: Noun feminine singular with 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “your breath” or “your spirit”; Notes: Can mean literal breath or internal disposition; context favors destructive breath.
- אֵ֖שׁ (ʾesh) – Root: אשׁ; Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “fire”; Notes: Used symbolically here for divine or self-inflicted judgment.
- תֹּאכַלְכֶֽם (toʾkhalkhem) – Root: אכל; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person feminine singular + 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “it shall consume you”; Notes: The fire is the subject; a warning of destruction.