שָׂרֶ֣יהָ בְקִרְבָּ֔הּ אֲרָיֹ֖ות שֹׁאֲגִ֑ים שֹׁפְטֶ֨יהָ֙ זְאֵ֣בֵי עֶ֔רֶב לֹ֥א גָרְמ֖וּ לַבֹּֽקֶר׃
Her princes in her midst are roaring lions; her judges are wolves of the evening; they have not left until the morning.
Morphology
- שָׂרֶיהָ (sarehah) – Root: שׂרר (sar); Form: Noun masculine plural construct + suffix 3fs; Translation: “her princes”; Notes: Refers to ruling officials within the city.
- בְּקִרְבָּהּ (be-qirbah) – Root: קרב (qerev); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular + suffix 3fs; Translation: “in her midst”; Notes: Indicates internal corruption.
- אֲרָיֹות (arayot) – Root: ארה/ארי (ari); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “lions”; Notes: Symbol of violent, predatory rulers.
- שֹׁאֲגִים (sho’agim) – Root: שׁאג (shaʾag); Form: Qal participle masculine plural; Translation: “roaring”; Notes: Conveys oppressive, terrifying leadership.
- שֹׁפְטֶיהָ (shoftehah) – Root: שׁפט (shafat); Form: Noun masculine plural + suffix 3fs; Translation: “her judges”; Notes: Legal authorities responsible for justice.
- זְאֵבֵי (zeʾevei) – Root: זאב (zeʾev); Form: Noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “wolves of”; Notes: Metaphor for cruelty and devouring behavior.
- עֶרֶב (ʿerev) – Root: ערב (ʿarev); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “evening”; Notes: Wolves hunt at night—enhancing the predatory imagery.
- לֹא (lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Negates the following verb.
- גָרְמוּ (garmu) – Root: גרם (garam); Form: Qal perfect 3cp; Translation: “they left”; Notes: Possibly “gnaw bare,” i.e., leave nothing remaining—reflecting predatory ravaging.
- לַבֹּקֶר (la-boqer) – Root: בקר (boqer); Form: Preposition לְ + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “until the morning”; Notes: Suggests continual devouring: nothing left by dawn.