כִּ֣י עַ֤ם מְרִי֙ ה֔וּא בָּנִ֖ים כֶּחָשִׁ֑ים בָּנִ֕ים לֹֽא־אָב֥וּ שְׁמֹ֖ועַ תֹּורַ֥ת יְהוָֽה׃
For it is a rebellious people, lying children, children who are not willing to hear the instruction of YHWH.
Morphology
- כִּ֣י (ki) – Root: כי; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “For”; Notes: Introduces the reason for judgment or condemnation.
- עַ֤ם (ʿam) – Root: עם; Form: Noun masculine singular absolute; Translation: “people”; Notes: Refers to the nation of Yisraʾel.
- מְרִי֙ (meri) – Root: מרה; Form: Noun masculine singular in construct; Translation: “rebellion”; Notes: Qualifies the kind of people being described.
- ה֔וּא (hu) – Root: הוא; Form: Independent pronoun, 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “it is”; Notes: Resumes and emphasizes the subject “people.”
- בָּנִ֖ים (banim) – Root: בן; Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “children”; Notes: Used metaphorically for the people.
- כֶּחָשִׁ֑ים (keḥashim) – Root: כחש; Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “lying”; Notes: Describes the moral character of the people.
- בָּנִ֕ים (banim) – Root: בן; Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “children”; Notes: Repetition adds emphasis.
- לֹֽא־אָב֥וּ (lo-ʾavu) – Root: אבה; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural + negative particle; Translation: “they were not willing”; Notes: Indicates deliberate refusal.
- שְׁמֹ֖ועַ (shmoaʿ) – Root: שמע; Form: Infinitive construct; Translation: “to hear”; Notes: Complements “not willing.”
- תֹּורַ֥ת (torat) – Root: ירה; Form: Noun feminine singular in construct; Translation: “instruction of”; Notes: Refers to divine teaching, not just “law.”
- יְהוָֽה (YHWH) – Root: Divine Name; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenant name of Israel’s God.