כָּרְת֤וּ יַעְרָהּ֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה כִּ֖י לֹ֣א יֵֽחָקֵ֑ר כִּ֤י רַבּוּ֙ מֵֽאַרְבֶּ֔ה וְאֵ֥ין לָהֶ֖ם מִסְפָּֽר׃
“They have cut down her forest,” declares YHWH, “for it cannot be searched, for they are more than the locust, and there is no number to them.
Morphology
- כָּרְתוּ (kartu) – Root: כרת; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person common plural; Translation: “they have cut down”; Notes: Refers to destructive devastation likened to felling trees.
- יַעְרָהּ (yaʿrah) – Root: יער; Form: Noun masculine singular + 3fs suffix; Translation: “her forest”; Notes: Egypt personified as possessing a great forest, metaphor for strength or population.
- נְאֻם־יְהוָה (neʾum-YHWH) – Root: נאם; Form: Construct noun + divine name; Translation: “declares YHWH”; Notes: Prophetic formula affirming authority.
- כִּי (ki) – Root: כי; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces explanation.
- לֹא (lo) – Root: Negative particle; Form: Adverb of negation; Translation: “not”; Notes: Negates the following verb.
- יֵחָקֵר (yeḥaqer) – Root: חקר; Form: Niphal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “can be searched / explored”; Notes: Expresses impossibility of measurement.
- כִּי (ki) – Root: כי; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Second reason clause.
- רַבּוּ (rabu) – Root: רבה; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person common plural; Translation: “they are many”; Notes: Refers to the invaders’ vast multitude.
- מֵאַרְבֶּה (me-arbeh) – Root: ארבה; Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “than locust”; Notes: Comparative phrase stressing overwhelming numbers.
- וְאֵין (ve-ein) – Root: אין; Form: Conjunction + particle of non-existence; Translation: “and there is no”; Notes: Denial of countability.
- לָהֶם (lahem) – Root: לה; Form: Preposition + 3mp suffix; Translation: “to them”; Notes: Refers to the invading multitude.
- מִסְפָּר (mispar) – Root: ספר; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “number”; Notes: Expresses innumerability, beyond calculation.