לָמָּה־זֶּ֨ה לִ֤י לְבֹונָה֙ מִשְּׁבָ֣א תָבֹ֔וא וְקָנֶ֥ה הַטֹּ֖וב מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מֶרְחָ֑ק עֹלֹֽותֵיכֶם֙ לֹ֣א לְרָצֹ֔ון וְזִבְחֵיכֶ֖ם לֹא־עָ֥רְבוּ לִֽי׃ ס
Why to Me does frankincense come from Sheva, and the good cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, and your sacrifices have not been pleasing to Me.
Morphology
- לָמָּה־זֶּ֨ה (lammah zeh) – Root: מה / זה; Form: Interrogative + demonstrative masculine singular; Translation: “Why this?”; Notes: A rhetorical question expressing rejection or incredulity.
- לִ֤י (li) – Root: אני; Form: Preposition + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “to Me”; Notes: Emphasizes the speaker (YHWH) as recipient.
- לְבֹונָה֙ (levonah) – Root: לבנ; Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “frankincense”; Notes: Used in Temple offerings; symbol of devotion.
- מִשְּׁבָ֣א (mi-Sheva) – Root: שׁבא; Form: Preposition + proper noun; Translation: “from Sheva”; Notes: Sheva is known for its incense trade (likely South Arabia).
- תָבֹ֔וא (tavo) – Root: בוא; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “comes”; Notes: Refers back to levonah, hence feminine agreement.
- וְקָנֶ֥ה (ve-qaneh) – Root: קנה; Form: Conjunction + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and cane”; Notes: Refers to aromatic cane used in incense.
- הַטֹּ֖וב (ha-tov) – Root: טוב; Form: Definite adjective masculine singular; Translation: “the good”; Notes: Describes quality of the qaneh.
- מֵאֶ֣רֶץ (me-erets) – Root: ארץ; Form: Preposition + noun feminine singular construct; Translation: “from a land”; Notes: Construct form links with next word.
- מֶרְחָ֑ק (merḥaq) – Root: רחק; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “far distance”; Notes: Suggests costly effort or devotion from afar.
- עֹלֹֽותֵיכֶם֙ (ʿoloteikhem) – Root: עלה; Form: Noun feminine plural construct + 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “your burnt offerings”; Notes: Key cultic term; complete sacrifice consumed by fire.
- לֹ֣א (lo) – Root: Negative particle; Form: Particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Standard negation.
- לְרָצֹ֔ון (le-ratson) – Root: רצה; Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “for acceptance”; Notes: Liturgical term meaning something pleasing or favorable.
- וְזִבְחֵיכֶ֖ם (ve-zivḥeikhem) – Root: זבח; Form: Conjunction + noun masculine plural construct + 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “and your sacrifices”; Notes: General term for animal offerings.
- לֹא־עָ֥רְבוּ (lo-ʿarvu) – Root: ערב; Form: Negative + Qal perfect 3rd person plural; Translation: “have not been pleasing”; Notes: Indicates rejection; verb often used for agreeable taste or experience.
- לִֽי (li) – Root: אני; Form: Preposition + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “to Me”; Notes: YHWH as recipient of unacceptable offerings.