Malachi 3:14

אֲמַרְתֶּ֕ם שָׁ֖וְא עֲבֹ֣ד אֱלֹהִ֑ים וּמַה־בֶּ֗צַע כִּ֤י שָׁמַ֨רְנוּ֙ מִשְׁמַרְתֹּ֔ו וְכִ֤י הָלַ֨כְנוּ֙ קְדֹ֣רַנִּ֔ית מִפְּנֵ֖י יְהוָ֥ה צְבָאֹֽות׃

You have said, ‘In vain to serve God, and what profit that we have kept His charge and that we have walked in mourning before YHWH of Hosts?

Morphology

1. אֲמַרְתֶּם (ʾamartem) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal perfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “You have said”; Notes: Introduces quoted complaint.
2. שָׁוְא (shavʾ) – Root: שׁוא (shavʾ); Form: Noun masculine singular used adverbially; Translation: “in vain”; Notes: Expresses futility.
3. עֲבֹד (ʿavod) – Root: עבד (ʿavad); Form: Qal infinitive construct; Translation: “to serve”; Notes: Functions as subject complement after שָׁוְא.
4. אֱלֹהִים (Elohim) – Root: אלה (ʾelah); Form: Noun masculine plural with singular reference; Translation: “God”; Notes: Refers to the God of Yisraʾel.
5. וּמַה־ (u-mah) – Root: מה; Form: Conjunction וּ + interrogative pronoun; Translation: “and what”; Notes: Continues rhetorical question.
6. בֶּצַע (betsiʿa) – Root: בצע (batsaʿ); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “profit” or “gain”; Notes: Material or practical advantage.
7. כִּי (ki) – Root: כי; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “that”; Notes: Introduces subordinate clause.
8. שָׁמַרְנוּ (shamarnu) – Root: שׁמר (shamar); Form: Qal perfect 1st person common plural; Translation: “we have kept”; Notes: Refers to covenant observance.
9. מִשְׁמַרְתֹּו (mishmarto) – Root: שׁמר (shamar); Form: Noun feminine singular construct + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “His charge”; Notes: Obligation or command entrusted.
10. וְכִי (ve-ki) – Root: כי; Form: Conjunction וְ + conjunction; Translation: “and that”; Notes: Adds parallel clause.
11. הָלַכְנוּ (halakhnu) – Root: הלך (halakh); Form: Qal perfect 1st person common plural; Translation: “we have walked”; Notes: Metaphor for conduct.
12. קְדֹרַנִּית (qedorannit) – Root: קדר (qadar); Form: Adverbial form feminine singular; Translation: “in mourning” or “in gloom”; Notes: Describes somber demeanor.
13. מִפְּנֵי (mi-penei) – Root: פנה (panah); Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “before”; Notes: Literally “from the face of.”
14. יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: הוה (havah); Form: Proper noun masculine singular; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Covenant name of the God of Yisraʾel.
15. צְבָאֹות (Tsevaʾot) – Root: צבא (tsava); Form: Noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “Hosts”; Notes: Emphasizes divine sovereignty.