Amos 9:3

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out thence; and though they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the sea, thence will I command the serpent, and it shall bite them.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וְאִם־יֵחָֽבְאוּ֙ בְּרֹ֣אשׁ הַכַּרְמֶ֔ל מִשָּׁ֥ם אֲחַפֵּ֖שׂ וּלְקַחְתִּ֑ים וְאִם־יִסָּ֨תְר֜וּ מִנֶּ֤גֶד עֵינַי֙ בְּקַרְקַ֣ע הַיָּ֔ם מִשָּׁ֛ם אֲצַוֶּ֥ה אֶת־הַנָּחָ֖שׁ וּנְשָׁכָֽם׃

Transliteration

wəʾim-yēḥābəʾû bərōʾš hakkarmel miššām ʾăḥappēś ûləqaḥtîm wəʾim-yissātərû minneged ʿênay bəqarqaʿ hayyām miššām ʾăṣawweh ʾēt-hannāḥāš ûnəšākām

Grammar Details

• *wəʾim*: waw conjunction + conditional particle - and if
• *yēḥābəʾû*: Niphal imperfect 3rd masculine plural - they hide themselves
• *bərōʾš*: preposition + noun masculine construct - on top of
• *hakkarmel*: definite article + noun masculine singular - the Carmel (mountain)
• *miššām*: preposition + adverb - from there
• *ʾăḥappēś*: Piel imperfect 1st person singular - I will search
• *ûləqaḥtîm*: waw conjunction + Qal perfect 1st person singular + 3rd masculine plural suffix - and I will take them
• *yissātərû*: Niphal imperfect 3rd masculine plural - they hide themselves
• *minneged*: preposition - from before/from in front of
• *ʿênay*: noun feminine dual construct + 1st person singular suffix - my eyes
• *bəqarqaʿ*: preposition + noun masculine singular construct - in the bottom/floor of
• *hayyām*: definite article + noun masculine singular - the sea
• *ʾăṣawweh*: Piel imperfect 1st person singular - I will command
• *hannāḥāš*: definite article + noun masculine singular - the serpent
• *ûnəšākām*: waw conjunction + Qal perfect 3rd masculine singular + 3rd masculine plural suffix - and it will bite them

Word Meanings

• *yēḥābəʾû*: they hide themselves/conceal themselves
• *bərōʾš*: on the top of/summit of
• *hakkarmel*: the Carmel/the fruitful land
• *ʾăḥappēś*: I will search/seek thoroughly
• *ûləqaḥtîm*: and I will take/seize them
• *yissātərû*: they hide themselves/conceal themselves
• *minneged*: from before/from the sight of
• *bəqarqaʿ*: in the bottom/floor/depths of
• *ʾăṣawweh*: I will command/order
• *hannāḥāš*: the serpent/snake/sea monster
• *ûnəšākām*: and it will bite/sting them

Referenced Verses

• Jer 16:16 : 16 Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith Jehovah, and they shall fish them up; and afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the clefts of the rocks.
• Job 34:22 : 22 There is no darkness, nor thick gloom, Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
• Isa 27:1 : 1 In that day Jehovah with his hard and great and strong sword will punish leviathan the swift serpent, and leviathan the crooked serpent; and he will slay the monster that is in the sea.
• Ps 139:9-9 : 9 If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, And thy right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall overwhelm me, And the light about me shall be night;
• Jer 23:23-24 : 23 Am I a God at hand, saith Jehovah, and not a God afar off? 24 Can any hide himself in secret places so that I shall not see him? saith Jehovah. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith Jehovah.
• Amos 1:2 : 2 And he said, Jehovah will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the pastures of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither.