כֹּוס־זָהָ֤ב בָּבֶל֙ בְּיַד־יְהוָ֔ה מְשַׁכֶּ֖רֶת כָּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ מִיֵּינָהּ֙ שָׁת֣וּ גֹויִ֔ם עַל־כֵּ֖ן יִתְהֹלְל֥וּ גֹויִֽם׃
A goblet of gold is Bavel in the hand of YHWH, making drunk all the earth. From her wine the nations drank; therefore the nations go mad.
Morphology
- כֹּוס־זָהָב (kos-zahav) – Root: כוס, זהב; Form: Noun common feminine singular construct + noun masculine singular absolute; Translation: “a goblet of gold”; Notes: Metaphor for splendor yet dangerous influence.
- בָּבֶל (Bavel) – Root: בבל; Form: Proper noun feminine singular; Translation: “Bavel”; Notes: Babylon symbolized as the golden goblet.
- בְּיַד־יְהוָה (be-yad YHWH) – Root: יד; Form: Preposition בְּ + noun feminine singular construct + divine name; Translation: “in the hand of YHWH”; Notes: Shows divine sovereignty over Babylon’s role.
- מְשַׁכֶּרֶת (meshakkeret) – Root: שׁכר; Form: Piel participle feminine singular; Translation: “making drunk”; Notes: Symbol of leading astray, intoxicating with power.
- כָּל־הָאָרֶץ (kol-ha-aretz) – Root: ארץ; Form: Noun feminine singular with article; Translation: “all the earth”; Notes: Refers to the nations of the world affected by Babylon.
- מִיֵּינָהּ (mi-yeinah) – Root: יין; Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine singular construct + 3rd feminine singular suffix; Translation: “from her wine”; Notes: The intoxicating influence or policies of Babylon.
- שָׁתוּ (shatu) – Root: שׁתה; Form: Qal perfect 3rd masculine plural; Translation: “they drank”; Notes: Refers to the nations imbibing Babylon’s corruption.
- גֹויִם (goyim) – Root: גוי; Form: Noun masculine plural absolute; Translation: “nations”; Notes: Foreign peoples affected by Babylon’s dominion.
- עַל־כֵּן (ʿal-ken) – Root: —; Form: Prepositional phrase; Translation: “therefore”; Notes: Introduces consequence of drinking.
- יִתְהֹלְלוּ (yitholelu) – Root: הלל; Form: Hitpael imperfect 3rd masculine plural; Translation: “they go mad”; Notes: Reflexive—describes nations driven to madness by intoxication.
- גֹויִם (goyim) – Root: גוי; Form: Noun masculine plural absolute; Translation: “nations”; Notes: Repetition stresses widespread impact.