הֵן־אַתֶּ֣ם מֵאַ֔יִן וּפָעָלְכֶ֖ם מֵאָ֑פַע תֹּועֵבָ֖ה יִבְחַ֥ר בָּכֶֽם׃
Behold, you are nothing, and your work is from utter nothingness; an abomination chooses you.
Morphology
- הֵן (hen) – Root: הן (hen); Form: Interjection; Translation: “Behold”; Notes: Used to call attention emphatically to what follows.
- אַתֶּם (atem) – Root: אתם (atem); Form: Independent pronoun, 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you”; Notes: Subject of the clause, addressed to idols or false gods.
- מֵאַיִן (me-ʾayin) – Root: אין (ʾayin); Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “from nothing”; Notes: Indicates ontological nonexistence or worthlessness.
- וּפָעָלְכֶם (u-faʿalḵem) – Root: פעל (paʿal); Form: Noun masculine singular + 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “and your work”; Notes: Refers to deeds or actions attributed to the addressed parties.
- מֵאָפַע (me-ʾafʿa) – Root: אפע (ʾafʿa); Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “from utter nothingness”; Notes: Rare poetic term intensifying the worthlessness.
- תֹּועֵבָה (toʿevah) – Root: תעב (taʿav); Form: Noun feminine singular absolute; Translation: “an abomination”; Notes: Common term for something detestable to YHWH, especially idolatry.
- יִבְחַר (yivḥar) – Root: בחר (baḥar); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “chooses”; Notes: Can express ironic or sarcastic tone: only something abominable would choose them.
- בָּכֶם (bakhem) – Root: בכם (bakhem); Form: Preposition + 2nd person masculine plural pronoun; Translation: “you”; Notes: Completes the object of the verb “chooses.”