וְהָיָה֩ בֵית־יַעֲקֹ֨ב אֵ֜שׁ וּבֵ֧ית יֹוסֵ֣ף לֶהָבָ֗ה וּבֵ֤ית עֵשָׂו֙ לְקַ֔שׁ וְדָלְק֥וּ בָהֶ֖ם וַאֲכָל֑וּם וְלֹֽא־יִֽהְיֶ֤ה שָׂרִיד֙ לְבֵ֣ית עֵשָׂ֔ו כִּ֥י יְהוָ֖ה דִּבֵּֽר׃
And the house of Yaʿaqov shall be fire, and the house of Yosef a flame, and the house of ʿEsav stubble, and they shall burn in them and consume them, and there shall not be a survivor for the house of ʿEsav,” for YHWH has spoken.
Morphology
- וְהָיָה֩ (ve-hayah) – Root: היה (h-y-h); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal perfect 3ms; Translation: “and it shall be”; Notes: Introduces the prophetic declaration.
- בֵית־ (beit) – Root: בית (b-y-t); Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “the house of”; Notes: Refers to the lineage or people of a patriarch.
- יַעֲקֹ֨ב (Yaʿaqov) – Root: יעקב (y-ʿ-q-b); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yaʿaqov”; Notes: Represents the nation of Yisraʾel.
- אֵ֜שׁ (ʾesh) – Root: אשׁ (ʾ-sh); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “fire”; Notes: Symbolizes consuming power.
- וּבֵ֧ית (u-beit) – Root: בית (b-y-t); Form: Conjunction וּ + noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “and the house of”; Notes: Coordinates a second metaphor.
- יֹוסֵ֣ף (Yosef) – Root: יסף (y-s-f); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yosef”; Notes: Represents the northern tribes.
- לֶהָבָ֗ה (lehavah) – Root: להב (l-h-b); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “a flame”; Notes: Intensifies the image of destructive power.
- וּבֵ֤ית (u-beit) – Root: בית (b-y-t); Form: Conjunction וּ + noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “and the house of”; Notes: Introduces the contrast with ʿEsav.
- עֵשָׂו֙ (ʿEsav) – Root: עשׂו (ʿ-s-w); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “ʿEsav”; Notes: Represents Edom, Israel’s hostile brother nation.
- לְקַ֔שׁ (le-qash) – Root: קשׁ (q-sh); Form: Preposition לְ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “as stubble”; Notes: Stubble is highly flammable—symbol of destruction.
- וְדָלְק֥וּ (ve-dalku) – Root: דלק (d-l-q); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal perfect 3mp; Translation: “and they shall burn”; Notes: Refers to the houses of Yaʿaqov and Yosef.
- בָהֶ֖ם (bahem) – Root: הם (h-m); Form: Preposition בְ + suffix 3mp; Translation: “in them / among them”; Notes: Indicates burning within or upon Edom.
- וַאֲכָל֑וּם (va-ʾakhalum) – Root: אכל (ʾ-k-l); Form: Conjunction וַ + Qal perfect 3mp + suffix 3mp; Translation: “and they shall consume them”; Notes: Complete destruction of ʿEsav’s house.
- וְלֹֽא־ (ve-lo) – Root: לא (l-ʾ); Form: Conjunction וְ + negative particle; Translation: “and not”; Notes: Begins a statement of total eradication.
- יִֽהְיֶ֤ה (yihyeh) – Root: היה (h-y-h); Form: Qal imperfect 3ms; Translation: “there shall be”; Notes: Expresses future nonexistence.
- שָׂרִיד֙ (sarid) – Root: שרד (sh-r-d); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “a survivor / remnant”; Notes: The fate is total annihilation.
- לְבֵ֣ית (le-beit) – Root: בית (b-y-t); Form: Preposition לְ + noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “for the house of”; Notes: Specifies who will have no survivor.
- עֵשָׂ֔ו (ʿEsav) – Root: עשׂו (ʿ-s-w); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “ʿEsav”; Notes: Edom’s destruction is complete.
- כִּ֥י (ki) – Root: כי (k-y); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Gives the reason for the certainty of the prophecy.
- יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה (y-h-w-h); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Divine authority guarantees fulfillment.
- דִּבֵּֽר (dibber) – Root: דבר (d-b-r); Form: Piel perfect 3ms; Translation: “has spoken”; Notes: Emphatic: YHWH’s word is irrevocable.