Joel 4:3 (Joel 3:3)

וְאֶל־עַמִּ֖י יַדּ֣וּ גֹורָ֑ל וַיִּתְּנ֤וּ הַיֶּ֨לֶד֙ בַּזֹּונָ֔ה וְהַיַּלְדָּ֛ה מָכְר֥וּ בַיַּ֖יִן וַיִּשְׁתּֽוּ׃

And for My people they cast lots, and they gave the boy for a prostitute, and sold the girl for wine, and they drank.

Morphology

1. וְאֶל־ (ve-ʾel) – Root: אל (ʾel); Form: Conjunction + preposition; Translation: “and for” or “and against”; Notes: Introduces the object toward whom the following action is directed.
2. עַמִּ֖י (ʿammi) – Root: עם (ʿam); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 1cs; Translation: “My people”; Notes: Refers to YHWH’s covenant people, Yisraʾel, who are the victims of the nations’ cruelty.
3. יַדּ֣וּ (yaddu) – Root: ידה (yadah) or ידד (yadad); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they cast”; Notes: Indicates the act of distributing or assigning by lot, symbolizing dehumanization of the captives.
4. גֹורָ֑ל (goral) – Root: גורל (goral); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “lot”; Notes: Refers to the practice of dividing spoils or captives by casting lots, showing contempt for human dignity.
5. וַיִּתְּנ֤וּ (va-yittenu) – Root: נתן (natan); Form: Conjunction + Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they gave”; Notes: Depicts a shameful transaction involving enslaved children.
6. הַיֶּ֨לֶד֙ (ha-yeled) – Root: ילד (yeled); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the boy”; Notes: Refers to a young male child, representing innocence and vulnerability.
7. בַּזֹּונָ֔ה (ba-zonah) – Root: זנה (zanah); Form: Preposition בְּ + definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “for the prostitute”; Notes: Indicates an immoral exchange, highlighting moral corruption.
8. וְהַיַּלְדָּ֛ה (ve-ha-yaldah) – Root: ילד (yeled); Form: Conjunction + definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “and the girl”; Notes: Refers to a young female child; paired with the boy to underscore total exploitation.
9. מָכְר֥וּ (makhru) – Root: מכר (makhar); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they sold”; Notes: Describes the act of selling human beings as property, a mark of oppression and degradation.
10. בַיַּ֖יִן (ba-yayin) – Root: יין (yayin); Form: Preposition בְּ + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “for wine”; Notes: Indicates the exchange value—children were sold for indulgence and pleasure.
11. וַיִּשְׁתּֽוּ (va-yishtu) – Root: שתה (shatah); Form: Conjunction + Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they drank”; Notes: Implies reckless consumption, underscoring the nations’ moral depravity and disregard for human life.