חִגְר֨וּ וְסִפְד֜וּ הַכֹּהֲנִ֗ים הֵילִ֨ילוּ֙ מְשָׁרְתֵ֣י מִזְבֵּ֔חַ בֹּ֚אוּ לִ֣ינוּ בַשַּׂקִּ֔ים מְשָׁרְתֵ֖י אֱלֹהָ֑י כִּ֥י נִמְנַ֛ע מִבֵּ֥ית אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֖ם מִנְחָ֥ה וָנָֽסֶךְ׃
Gird yourselves and lament, O priests; wail, O ministers of the altar; come, spend the night in sackcloth, O ministers of my God, for grain offering and drink offering are withheld from the house of your God.
Morphology
- חִגְרוּ (ḥigru) – Root: חגר; Form: Qal imperative 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “gird yourselves”; Notes: Command to put on sackcloth as a sign of mourning and repentance.
- וְסִפְדוּ (ve-sifdu) – Root: ספד; Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal imperative 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “and lament”; Notes: Invites open mourning, typically expressed in public weeping or dirge.
- הַכֹּהֲנִים (ha-kohanim) – Root: כהן; Form: Definite noun masculine plural with article הַ; Translation: “the priests”; Notes: The addressees of the prophetic call; those who serve in YHWH’s temple.
- הֵילִילוּ (heylilu) – Root: ילל; Form: Piel imperative 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “wail”; Notes: A stronger command than “lament,” expressing deep anguish.
- מְשָׁרְתֵי (mesharthei) – Root: שרת; Form: Piel participle masculine plural construct; Translation: “ministers of”; Notes: Describes those who serve or attend—here referring to priests serving at the altar.
- מִזְבֵּחַ (mizbeaḥ) – Root: זבח; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “altar”; Notes: The central place of sacrifice in temple worship; now silent because offerings have ceased.
- בֹּאוּ (boʾu) – Root: בוא; Form: Qal imperative 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “come”; Notes: An invitation or command for immediate action—to enter the sanctuary in mourning.
- לִינוּ (linu) – Root: לון; Form: Qal imperative 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “spend the night”; Notes: Command to remain in the temple overnight as part of the priests’ lamentation and intercession.
- בַּשַּׂקִּים (ba-saqim) – Root: שׂק; Form: Preposition בְּ + definite plural noun with article הַ (assimilated); Translation: “in sackcloth”; Notes: Mourning attire made of coarse fabric, symbolizing repentance and grief.
- מְשָׁרְתֵי (mesharthei) – Root: שרת; Form: Piel participle masculine plural construct; Translation: “ministers of”; Notes: Repeated for emphasis, underlining their sacred duty toward God even in times of calamity.
- אֱלֹהָי (eloḥai) – Root: אלה; Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “my God”; Notes: Expresses the prophet’s personal relationship with the divine, underscoring the urgency of the call.
- כִּי (ki) – Root: כי; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for,” “because”; Notes: Introduces the cause for lamentation and priestly mourning.
- נִמְנַע (nimnaʿ) – Root: מנע; Form: Niphal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “has been withheld,” “is restrained”; Notes: Passive verb describing the cessation of ritual offerings in the temple.
- מִבֵּית (mi-beit) – Root: בית; Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “from the house of”; Notes: Refers specifically to the Temple as the dwelling place of YHWH.
- אֱלֹהֵיכֶם (eloheikhem) – Root: אלה; Form: Noun masculine plural construct + suffix 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “your God”; Notes: Addresses the priests directly, connecting their service to their divine calling.
- מִנְחָה (minḥah) – Root: מנח; Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “grain offering”; Notes: Non-blood offering, often of flour or grain, presented to YHWH as part of temple worship.
- וָנָסֶךְ (va-nasekh) – Root: נסך; Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and drink offering”; Notes: Refers to the poured-out libation of wine, complementary to the grain offering; its absence signifies complete suspension of temple service.