Zephaniah 3:4 in Hebrew
נְבִיאֶ֨יהָ֙ פֹּֽחֲזִ֔ים אַנְשֵׁ֖י בֹּֽגְדֹ֑ות כֹּהֲנֶ֨יהָ֙ חִלְּלוּ־קֹ֔דֶשׁ חָמְס֖וּ תֹּורָֽה׃
Introduction to the Construct Chain
In Zephaniah 3:4, we encounter multiple instances of סְמִיכוּת (smikhut), also known as the construct chain, a grammatical structure in Biblical Hebrew where two or more nouns are linked together, with the first noun being in the construct state and the second noun determining its meaning.
The construct chain in Hebrew is similar to the genitive (“of”) relationship in English but is expressed through word order and specific changes in noun forms.
Examples of Construct Chains in Zephaniah 3:4
1. נְבִיאֶ֨יהָ֙ פֹּֽחֲזִ֔ים
– נְבִיאֶ֨יהָ (nəviʾēhā) – “her prophets”
– פֹּֽחֲזִ֔ים (pōḥăzīm) – “reckless”
– Structure: The noun נְבִיאֶ֨יהָ is in the construct state, meaning “prophets of her.” The possessive suffix -הָ (-hā) indicates “her” (referring to the city of Jerusalem).
– Meaning: “Her prophets are reckless.”
2. אַנְשֵׁ֖י בֹּֽגְדֹ֑ות
– אַנְשֵׁ֖י (ʾanšē) – “men of” (construct form of אֲנָשִׁים, “men”)
– בֹּֽגְדֹ֑ות (bōgədōṯ) – “treachery”
– Structure: The noun אַנְשֵׁי is in the construct state, requiring a second noun to complete the meaning.
– Meaning: “Men of treachery” (i.e., treacherous men).
3. כֹּהֲנֶ֨יהָ֙ חִלְּלוּ־קֹ֔דֶשׁ
– כֹּהֲנֶ֨יהָ (kōhănēhā) – “her priests” (construct form of כֹּהֲנִים, “priests”)
– קֹ֔דֶשׁ (qōdeš) – “holiness” or “sacred things”
– Structure: כֹּהֲנֶ֨יהָ is in construct state, meaning “priests of her,” and קֹדֶשׁ is the absolute noun defining what belongs to the priests.
– Meaning: “Her priests profaned holiness” (or “profaned what is holy”).
Understanding the Construct Chain in Context
The construct chain in Zephaniah 3:4 helps define who is being condemned and their specific sins:
– נְבִיאֶ֨יהָ פֹּֽחֲזִ֔ים – “Her prophets are reckless.”
– אַנְשֵׁ֖י בֹּֽגְדֹ֑ות – “Men of treachery.”
– כֹּהֲנֶ֨יהָ חִלְּלוּ־קֹ֔דֶשׁ – “Her priests profaned holiness.”
The construct state allows these nouns to form relationships that define how these religious leaders failed in their duties. Each construct phrase points to the corruption of Jerusalem’s leadership, emphasizing their moral failure.
Key Features of Construct Chains in Biblical Hebrew
– The first noun is in construct form and is dependent on the second noun to complete its meaning.
– The second noun determines the full meaning of the phrase (e.g., “men of treachery” instead of just “men”).
– In possessive relationships, the construct noun often takes a pronominal suffix (e.g., נְבִיאֶ֨יהָ = “her prophets”).
– The definiteness of the phrase is determined by the second noun. If the second noun has the definite article ה (ha-), the whole construct chain is definite.
The Role of Construct Chains in Zephaniah 3:4
The use of construct chains in Zephaniah 3:4 strengthens the prophetic condemnation by clearly linking the subjects (prophets, priests, men) with their sins (recklessness, treachery, and profaning holiness). This grammatical structure makes the accusations direct, forceful, and poetic.
By understanding construct chains, we can see how Biblical Hebrew conveys relationships between words in a compact and impactful way, shaping the meaning of prophetic rebukes and historical narratives alike.
