עַמִּ֛י מֶה־עָשִׂ֥יתִי לְךָ֖ וּמָ֣ה הֶלְאֵתִ֑יךָ עֲנֵ֥ה בִֽי׃
My people, what have I done to you, and how have I wearied you? Answer Me.
Morphology
- עַמִּי (ʿammi) — Root: עם (ʿam); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 1cs; Translation: “My people”; Notes: A direct, intimate address from YHWH to His covenant people.
- מֶה (mah) — Root: מה (mah); Form: Interrogative pronoun; Translation: “what”; Notes: Introduces YHWH’s probing question.
- עָשִׂיתִי (ʿasiti) — Root: עשה (ʿasah); Form: Qal perfect 1cs; Translation: “I have done”; Notes: YHWH asks why His actions would elicit complaint.
- לְךָ (le-kha) — Root: לך (lekh); Form: Preposition לְ + suffix 2ms; Translation: “to you”; Notes: Marks the indirect object of YHWH’s actions.
- וּמָה (u-mah) — Root: מה (mah); Form: Conjunction וְ + interrogative pronoun; Translation: “and what”; Notes: Introduces a second, related question.
- הֶלְאֵתִיךָ (hel’eitkha) — Root: לאה (la’ah); Form: Hifil perfect 1cs + suffix 2ms; Translation: “have I wearied you”; Notes: YHWH challenges the idea that His commands were burdensome.
- עֲנֵה (ʿaneh) — Root: ענה (ʿanah); Form: Qal imperative 2ms; Translation: “Answer”; Notes: YHWH demands a response to the covenant accusation.
- בִי (bi) — Root: בי (bi); Form: Preposition בְּ + suffix 1cs; Translation: “me”; Notes: “Answer me” underscores the direct dialogue between YHWH and His people.