יֶ֤תֶר הַגָּזָם֙ אָכַ֣ל הָֽאַרְבֶּ֔ה וְיֶ֥תֶר הָאַרְבֶּ֖ה אָכַ֣ל הַיָּ֑לֶק וְיֶ֣תֶר הַיֶּ֔לֶק אָכַ֖ל הֶחָסִֽיל׃
What the cutting locust left, the swarming locust has eaten; and what the swarming locust left, the crawling locust has eaten; and what the crawling locust left, the consuming locust has eaten.
Morphology
- יֶתֶר (yeter) – Root: יתר; Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “remainder,” “what is left”; Notes: Introduces a sequence of devastation—each plague consumes what the previous left behind.
- הַגָּזָם (ha-gazam) – Root: גזם; Form: Definite noun masculine singular with article הַ; Translation: “the cutting locust”; Notes: Refers to one species or developmental stage of locust known for cutting down vegetation.
- אָכַל (akhal) – Root: אכל; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “has eaten”; Notes: Denotes completed action, emphasizing the total consumption of the crops.
- הָאַרְבֶּה (ha-arbeh) – Root: ארבה; Form: Definite noun masculine singular with article הַ; Translation: “the swarming locust”; Notes: Represents another type of locust, highlighting the progressive nature of the plague.
- וְיֶתֶר (ve-yeter) – Root: יתר; Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “and what was left of”; Notes: Connects the successive stages of destruction.
- הָאַרְבֶּה (ha-arbeh) – Root: ארבה; Form: Definite noun masculine singular with article הַ; Translation: “the swarming locust”; Notes: Repeated term for continuity in the narrative sequence.
- אָכַל (akhal) – Root: אכל; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “has eaten”; Notes: Repetition reinforces the complete devastation of the harvest.
- הַיָּלֶק (ha-yeleq) – Root: ילק; Form: Definite noun masculine singular with article הַ; Translation: “the crawling locust”; Notes: Possibly a young locust stage; one of several species or phases in the locust swarm.
- וְיֶתֶר (ve-yeter) – Root: יתר; Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “and what was left of”; Notes: Continues the progression of devastation.
- הַיֶּלֶק (ha-yeleq) – Root: ילק; Form: Definite noun masculine singular with article הַ; Translation: “the crawling locust”; Notes: Same term as before, emphasizing continuity of destructive phases.
- אָכַל (akhal) – Root: אכל; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “has eaten”; Notes: Maintains the repetitive rhythm characteristic of Hebrew poetic parallelism.
- הֶחָסִיל (he-ḥasil) – Root: חסל; Form: Definite noun masculine singular with article הֶ; Translation: “the consuming locust”; Notes: The final stage of the destructive sequence; name derived from a root meaning “to destroy” or “consume.”