עַמִּ֛י מֶה־עָשִׂ֥יתִי לְךָ֖ וּמָ֣ה הֶלְאֵתִ֑יךָ עֲנֵ֥ה בִֽי׃
(Micah 6:3)
Literal English Translation
My people, what have I done to you? And how have I wearied you? Answer me.
Word-by-Word Explanation
- עַמִּי – “My people”Noun + possessive suffix.
– עַם = “people”
– י = “my”
This is God addressing Israel in an intimate and personal way—“my people.” - מֶה – “What?”Interrogative pronoun. Asks for explanation or cause.
- עָשִׂיתִי – “have I done”Verb, perfect (completed action), 1st person singular from עָשָׂה (“to do”).
“What have I done…?” - לְךָ – “to you”Preposition + suffix.
– לְ = “to”
– ךָ = “you” (masculine singular)
Together: “to you” - וּמָה – “and how” or “and what”Another question word. Paired with the next verb, it forms: “And how have I…?”
- הֶלְאֵתִיךָ – “have I wearied you”Verb, perfect form, 1st person singular + 2nd person masculine singular suffix.
– Root: ל־א־ה meaning “to be weary” or “to burden.”
– הֶלְאֵתִי = “I have wearied”; ךָ = “you”
Together: “have I wearied you?” - עֲנֵה – “Answer!”Imperative verb from עָנָה, “to answer.”
Singular masculine command: “Answer!” - בִי – “me” / “against me”Preposition + suffix.
– בְ = “in,” “with,” “concerning,” or even “against” depending on context
– י = “me”
Here: “answer me” or “answer concerning me”
Word Order and Sentence Flow
This verse is built on parallel questions followed by a plea:
1. עַמִּי – The tender address: “My people”
2. מֶה עָשִׂיתִי לְךָ – “What have I done to you?”
3. וּמָה הֶלְאֵתִיךָ – “And how have I wearied you?”
4. עֲנֵה בִי – “Answer me”
The Hebrew structure is emotional, rhythmic, and balanced—two accusatory questions followed by an invitation to respond.
Visual Breakdown: The Dialogue of Divine Pain
| Hebrew Phrase | Literal Meaning | Function |
|---|---|---|
| עַמִּי | My people | Opening address |
| מֶה עָשִׂיתִי לְךָ | What have I done to you? | First question |
| וּמָה הֶלְאֵתִיךָ | And how have I wearied you? | Second question |
| עֲנֵה בִי | Answer me | Call for reply |
What This Verse Just Taught You
> “You’ve just felt the pulse of Biblical Hebrew—not just words, but heartache, rhythm, and relationship.”
This verse teaches:
– Direct address with possessive nouns (עַמִּי)
– Perfect tense verbs used in rhetorical questions
– Imperatives to express urgency and emotion
– How Hebrew builds parallel structures to stir the soul
This is more than a verse—it’s a divine lament, voiced in the poetry of the prophets. And you just understood it, one word at a time.
