עַל־מִ֨י אֲדַבְּרָ֤ה וְאָעִ֨ידָה֙ וְיִשְׁמָ֔עוּ הִנֵּה֙ עֲרֵלָ֣ה אָזְנָ֔ם וְלֹ֥א יוּכְל֖וּ לְהַקְשִׁ֑יב הִנֵּ֣ה דְבַר־יְהוָ֗ה הָיָ֥ה לָהֶ֛ם לְחֶרְפָּ֖ה לֹ֥א יַחְפְּצוּ־בֹֽו׃
To whom shall I speak and testify, that they may hear? Behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they are not able to listen. Behold, the word of YHWH has become to them a reproach; they do not delight in it.
Morphology
- עַל־מִ֨י (ʿal-mi) – Root: על, מי; Form: Preposition + interrogative pronoun; Translation: “To whom”; Notes: Introduces a rhetorical question regarding audience.
- אֲדַבְּרָ֤ה (ʾadabberah) – Root: דבר; Form: Piel cohortative 1st person singular; Translation: “shall I speak”; Notes: Expresses intent or desire to speak emphatically.
- וְאָעִ֨ידָה (ve-ʾaʿidah) – Root: עוד; Form: Hifil cohortative 1st person singular with vav; Translation: “and testify”; Notes: Conveys legal or prophetic witness.
- וְיִשְׁמָ֔עוּ (ve-yishmaʿu) – Root: שׁמע; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural with vav; Translation: “that they may hear”; Notes: Desired response to the prophetic message.
- הִנֵּה (hinneh) – Root: Demonstrative particle; Form: Interjection; Translation: “Behold”; Notes: Draws attention to the tragic state of the people.
- עֲרֵלָ֣ה (ʿareláh) – Root: ערל; Form: Adjective feminine singular; Translation: “uncircumcised”; Notes: Figurative for blocked or unresponsive; used for ears here.
- אָזְנָ֔ם (oznam) – Root: אֹזֶן; Form: Noun feminine singular with 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “their ear”; Notes: Ear symbolizing receptivity to God’s word.
- וְלֹ֥א (ve-lo) – Root: לא; Form: Conjunction + negative particle; Translation: “and not”; Notes: Continues the contrast with expected behavior.
- יוּכְל֖וּ (yukhelu) – Root: יכל; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they are able”; Notes: Expresses inability.
- לְהַקְשִׁ֑יב (le-haqshiv) – Root: קשׁב; Form: Hifil infinitive construct; Translation: “to listen attentively”; Notes: Stronger than mere hearing—implies responsive attention.
- הִנֵּ֣ה (hinneh) – Root: Demonstrative particle; Form: Interjection; Translation: “Behold”; Notes: Repetition reinforces emphasis.
- דְבַר־יְהוָ֗ה (devar-YHWH) – Root: דבר; Form: Construct noun masculine singular + divine name; Translation: “the word of YHWH”; Notes: Central theme—God’s revealed message.
- הָיָ֥ה (hayah) – Root: היה; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “has become”; Notes: Indicates change of perception or value.
- לָהֶ֛ם (lahem) – Root: ל + הם; Form: Preposition + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “to them”; Notes: Refers to the disobedient people.
- לְחֶרְפָּ֖ה (le-ḥerpah) – Root: חרף; Form: Preposition + noun feminine singular; Translation: “for a reproach”; Notes: Treated with disdain rather than honor.
- לֹ֥א (lo) – Root: לא; Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Introduces the final act of rejection.
- יַחְפְּצוּ־בֹֽו (yaḥpeṭsu-vo) – Root: חפץ; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural + preposition + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “they do not delight in it”; Notes: Expresses willful rejection of God’s word.