וְאֶת־הַנְּסֹוגִ֖ים מֵאַחֲרֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וַאֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹֽא־בִקְשׁ֥וּ אֶת־יְהוָ֖ה וְלֹ֥א דְרָשֻֽׁהוּ׃
And those who turn back from after YHWH, and those who have not sought YHWH and have not inquired of him.”
Morphology
- וְאֶת (ve-et) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction + direct object marker; Translation: —; Notes: Introduces an additional group included in the judgment.
- הַנְּסֹוגִים (ha-nesogim) – Root: סוג (sug); Form: Definite Qal participle masculine plural; Translation: “those who turn back”; Notes: Indicates apostasy from devotion to YHWH.
- מֵאַחֲרֵי (me-’acharei) – Root: אחר (achar); Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “from after”; Notes: Idiom for abandoning one’s allegiance.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Covenant name of Israel’s God.
- וַאֲשֶׁר (va-asher) – Root: אשר (’asher); Form: Conjunction + relative pronoun; Translation: “and those who”; Notes: Introduces a second class of offenders.
- לֹא (lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Negates the verb that follows.
- בִּקְשׁוּ (biqshu) – Root: בקשׁ (baqash); Form: Piel perfect 3cp; Translation: “they sought”; Notes: Piel expresses intensive seeking or deliberate pursuit.
- אֶת (et) – Root: —; Form: Direct object marker; Translation: —; Notes: Marks YHWH as the object of the verb.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Refers to seeking relationship or help from YHWH.
- וְלֹא (ve-lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Conjunction + negative particle; Translation: “and not”; Notes: Links with another verb describing neglect of worship.
- דְרָשֻׁהוּ (derashuhu) – Root: דרשׁ (darash); Form: Qal perfect 3cp + suffix 3ms; Translation: “they inquired of him”; Notes: “To inquire of YHWH” is a technical expression for seeking divine guidance.