הֹבִ֣ישׁוּ חֲכָמִ֔ים חַ֖תּוּ וַיִּלָּכֵ֑דוּ הִנֵּ֤ה בִדְבַר־יְהוָה֙ מָאָ֔סוּ וְחָכְמַֽת־מֶ֖ה לָהֶֽם׃ ס
The wise men are put to shame, they are dismayed and taken. Behold, they have rejected the word of YHWH, so what wisdom do they have?
Morphology
- הֹבִישׁוּ (hovishu) – Root: בושׁ (bosh); Form: Hiphil perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they have brought to shame” or “are put to shame”; Notes: Causative—indicates disgrace falling upon the wise.
- חֲכָמִים (ḥakhamim) – Root: חכם (ḥakham); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “wise men”; Notes: Subject of the clause; typically leaders or teachers.
- חַתּוּ (ḥattu) – Root: חתת (ḥatat); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they are dismayed” or “terrified”; Notes: Expresses psychological collapse or panic.
- וַיִּלָּכֵדוּ (va-yillakedu) – Root: לכד (lakad); Form: Nifal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they were taken”; Notes: Passive verb form, connotes defeat or entrapment.
- הִנֵּה (hinneh) – Root: —; Form: Demonstrative particle; Translation: “behold”; Notes: Highlights the following shocking or pivotal claim.
- בִדְבַר־יְהוָה (bidvar-YHWH) – Root: דבר (davar); Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular construct + divine proper name; Translation: “the word of YHWH”; Notes: Refers to prophetic revelation or divine instruction.
- מָאֲסוּ (ma’asu) – Root: מאס (maʾas); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they have rejected”; Notes: Conveys strong disapproval and disobedience.
- וְחָכְמַת־מֶה (ve-ḥokhmat meh) – Root: חכם (ḥakham); Form: Conjunction + noun feminine singular construct + interrogative; Translation: “and what wisdom”; Notes: Introduces a rhetorical question, exposing their lack of true understanding.
- לָהֶם (lahem) – Root: ל־ (le) + הם (hem); Form: Preposition + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “to them”; Notes: Closes the rhetorical question, implying the absence of divine wisdom.