וּבְחֹרֵ֥ב הִקְצַפְתֶּ֖ם אֶת־יְהוָ֑ה וַיִּתְאַנַּ֧ף יְהוָ֛ה בָּכֶ֖ם לְהַשְׁמִ֥יד אֶתְכֶֽם׃ (Deuteronomy 9:8)
And at Ḥoreb you provoked the LORD to anger, and the LORD was enraged with you to destroy you.
Word-by-Word Explanation
- וּבְחֹרֵב — “and at Ḥoreb.” Conjunction ו (“and”) + preposition בְ (“in/at”) + proper noun חֹרֵב (“Ḥoreb,” another name for Sinai).
- הִקְצַפְתֶּם — “you provoked to anger.” Hifil perfect 2mp from קָצַף (“to be angry”), causative: “you caused wrath.”
- אֶת־יְהוָה — “the LORD.” Object marker אֶת introducing the divine name.
- וַיִּתְאַנַּף — “and He was enraged.” Hitpael wayyiqtol 3ms from אָנַף (“to be angry”). Reflexive/intensive: a heightened expression of wrath.
- יְהוָה — “the LORD.” Subject of the verb.
- בָּכֶם — “with you.” Preposition ב + suffix -כֶם (“you,” masculine plural).
- לְהַשְׁמִיד — “to destroy.” Infinitive construct Hifil from שָׁמַד (“to destroy, annihilate”). Purpose clause.
- אֶתְכֶם — “you.” Direct object marker + suffix -כֶם (“you,” masculine plural).
Word Order and Sentence Flow
The verse moves from Israel’s action to YHWH’s reaction:
- וּבְחֹרֵב הִקְצַפְתֶּם אֶת־יְהוָה — “And at Ḥoreb you provoked the LORD to anger.”
- וַיִּתְאַנַּף יְהוָה בָּכֶם — “And the LORD was enraged with you…”
- לְהַשְׁמִיד אֶתְכֶם — “…to destroy you.”
This progression illustrates a typical Hebrew cause–effect chain: human sin → divine anger → threatened consequence.
Cause–Effect Chart
| Location | Human Action | Divine Response | Intended Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| וּבְחֹרֵב at Ḥoreb |
הִקְצַפְתֶּם אֶת־יְהוָה you provoked the LORD |
וַיִּתְאַנַּף יְהוָה the LORD was enraged |
לְהַשְׁמִיד אֶתְכֶם to destroy you |
How the Sentence Works (Beginner’s View)
- Causative verb: הִקְצַפְתֶּם shows how Hebrew makes the subject responsible for “causing” anger.
- Reflexive intensity: וַיִּתְאַנַּף heightens the image of wrath beyond simple “anger.”
- Infinitive of purpose: לְהַשְׁמִיד tells us why — the anger had a goal: destruction.
Brick by Brick: Building Hebrew Understanding
From just a few verbs, Hebrew paints a dramatic moment: provocation, wrath, and threatened annihilation. You’ve seen how causatives and intensives sharpen the language, and how infinitives explain purpose. With this single verse, you’ve stepped deeper into the rhythm of Biblical Hebrew narrative and its power to show consequence in compact form.
“Hebrew often uses strong verbs to show emotion — anger, wrath, mercy — painted in just a few strokes.”
