הֵ֣ן לְרִ֤יב וּמַצָּה֙ תָּצ֔וּמוּ וּלְהַכֹּ֖ות בְּאֶגְרֹ֣ף רֶ֑שַׁע לֹא־תָצ֣וּמוּ כַיֹּ֔ום לְהַשְׁמִ֥יעַ בַּמָּרֹ֖ום קֹולְכֶֽם׃
Behold, for strife and contention you fast, and to strike with a wicked fist. You do not fast today to make your voice heard on high.
Morphology
- הֵן (hen) – Root: הן (hen); Form: Interjection/demonstrative particle; Translation: “Behold”; Notes: Draws attention to a rebuke or contrast.
- לְרִיב (le-riv) – Root: ריב (riv); Form: Preposition לְ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “for strife”; Notes: Indicates hostile intentions behind their fasting.
- וּמַצָּה (u-matsah) – Root: נצה (natsah); Form: Conjunction + noun feminine singular; Translation: “and contention”; Notes: Intensifies the combative nature of their fast.
- תָּצ֔וּמוּ (tatsumu) – Root: צום (tzum); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you fast”; Notes: Describes ongoing or habitual action with negative connotation.
- וּלְהַכֹּות (u-lehakot) – Root: נכה (nakah); Form: Conjunction + Hiphil infinitive construct; Translation: “and to strike”; Notes: Points to violent behavior inconsistent with true fasting.
- בְּאֶגְרֹף (be-ʾegrof) – Root: אגרף (ʾegrof); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “with a fist”; Notes: Symbol of physical aggression.
- רֶשַׁע (reshaʿ) – Root: רשע (reshaʿ); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “wickedness”; Notes: Characterizes the striking as morally corrupt.
- לֹא־תָצ֣וּמוּ (lo-tatsumu) – Root: צום (tzum); Form: Negative particle + Qal imperfect 2mp; Translation: “you do not fast”; Notes: Contrast between their behavior and true intent of fasting.
- כַיֹּום (ka-yom) – Root: יום (yom); Form: Preposition כְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “as this day” or “as today”; Notes: Possibly ironical—on the very day of fasting, they act unjustly.
- לְהַשְׁמִיעַ (le-hashmiʿa) – Root: שׁמע (shamaʿ); Form: Hiphil infinitive construct; Translation: “to cause to be heard”; Notes: Causative—refers to making one’s voice audible to God.
- בַּמָּרֹום (ba-maron) – Root: מרום (marom); Form: Preposition בְּ + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “on high”; Notes: Refers to the heavenly realm—i.e., God’s abode.
- קֹולְכֶם (qol-khem) – Root: קול (qol); Form: Noun masculine singular with 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “your voice”; Notes: Ironically, despite their outward piety, their voice is not heard above.