וְיִתְכַּסּ֣וּ שַׂקִּ֗ים הָֽאָדָם֙ וְהַבְּהֵמָ֔ה וְיִקְרְא֥וּ אֶל־אֱלֹהִ֖ים בְּחָזְקָ֑ה וְיָשֻׁ֗בוּ אִ֚ישׁ מִדַּרְכֹּ֣ו הָֽרָעָ֔ה וּמִן־הֶחָמָ֖ס אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּכַפֵּיהֶֽם׃
And let them cover themselves with sackcloth, the man and the beast, and let them call to God with strength, and let each man turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in their palms.
Morphology
- וְיִתְכַּסּוּ (ve-yitkassu) – Root: כסס (kassas); Form: Conjunction וְ + Hitpael imperfect 3mp; Translation: “and let them cover themselves”; Notes: Reflexive—putting sackcloth on their own bodies.
- שַׂקִּים (saqqim) – Root: שׂק (saq); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “sackcloths”; Notes: Garments of mourning and repentance.
- הָאָדָם (ha-adam) – Root: אדם (adam); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the man”; Notes: Refers collectively to human beings.
- וְהַבְּהֵמָה (ve-ha-behemah) – Root: בהם (baham); Form: Conjunction וְ + definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “and the beast”; Notes: Includes livestock in the acts of penitence.
- וְיִקְרְאוּ (ve-yikreʾu) – Root: קרא (qaraʾ); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal imperfect 3mp; Translation: “and let them call”; Notes: Imperatival use—urging communal prayer.
- אֶל (el) – Root: אל (ʾel); Form: Preposition אֶל; Translation: “to”; Notes: Marks direction of prayer.
- אֱלֹהִים (elohim) – Root: אלוה (eloah); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “God”; Notes: Refers to the true God acknowledged by Nineweh.
- בְּחָזְקָה (be-ḥazqah) – Root: חזק (ḥazaq); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “with strength”; Notes: Denotes intensity or earnestness in prayer.
- וְיָשֻׁבוּ (ve-yashuvu) – Root: שׁוב (shuv); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal imperfect 3mp; Translation: “and let them turn”; Notes: Repentance—turning away from wrongdoing.
- אִישׁ (ish) – Root: אישׁ (ish); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “each man”; Notes: Individual responsibility emphasized.
- מִדַּרְכּוֹ (mi-darko) – Root: דרך (derekh); Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine singular + suffix 3ms; Translation: “from his way”; Notes: Personal conduct or lifestyle.
- הָרָעָה (ha-raʿah) – Root: רעע (raʿaʿ); Form: Definite adjective feminine singular used substantively; Translation: “the evil”; Notes: Refers to moral corruption.
- וּמִן (u-min) – Root: מן (min); Form: Conjunction וְ + preposition מִן; Translation: “and from”; Notes: Extends the command to another object.
- הֶחָמָס (he-ḥamas) – Root: חמס (ḥamas); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the violence”; Notes: Refers to wrongdoing, oppression, or injustice.
- אֲשֶׁר (asher) – Root: אשר (ʾasher); Form: Relative particle; Translation: “that”; Notes: Introduces the relative clause.
- בְּכַפֵּיהֶם (be-kappeihem) – Root: כף (kaf); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun feminine plural + suffix 3mp; Translation: “in their palms”; Notes: Idiom for actions they commit.