וְאִ֖ם לֹ֣א יִשְׁמָ֑עוּ וְנָ֨תַשְׁתִּ֜י אֶת־הַגֹּ֥וי הַה֛וּא נָתֹ֥ושׁ וְאַבֵּ֖ד נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃ ס
But if they will not listen, then I will uproot that nation, uprooting and destroying,” declares YHWH.
Morphology
- וְאִם (ve-im) – Root: אם; Form: Conjunction + conditional particle; Translation: “But if”; Notes: Introduces the alternative condition—disobedience.
- לֹא (lo) – Root: לא; Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Negates the following verb.
- יִשְׁמָעוּ (yishmeʿu) – Root: שׁמע; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they will listen”; Notes: Refers to obedience or heeding YHWH’s words.
- וְנָתַשְׁתִּי (ve-natashti) – Root: נתש; Form: Qal perfect 1st person singular with vav-consecutive; Translation: “then I will uproot”; Notes: Continuation of the condition—divine judgment action.
- אֶת־הַגֹּוי (et-ha-goy) – Root: גוי; Form: Direct object marker + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “that nation”; Notes: The disobedient nation in question.
- הַהוּא (ha-hu) – Root: הוא; Form: Demonstrative adjective masculine singular; Translation: “that”; Notes: Specifies the nation under threat.
- נָתֹושׁ (natosh) – Root: נתש; Form: Qal infinitive absolute; Translation: “uprooting”; Notes: Emphasizes the totality and intensity of the action—used for emphasis.
- וְאַבֵּד (ve-abbed) – Root: אבד; Form: Piel imperfect 1st person singular; Translation: “and I will destroy”; Notes: Strong verb of annihilation—Piel intensifies the loss.
- נְאֻם־יְהוָה (neʾum-YHWH) – Root: נאם; Form: Construct noun + proper divine name; Translation: “declares YHWH”; Notes: Formal prophetic seal confirming divine authority.