אֶת־סְדֹ֖ם

Alphabet Analysis

The word

1. word🔊 אֶת־סְדֹ֖ם

   et-se-DOM

   Sodom {direct object marker + Sodom}
2. clause🔊 כְּמַהְפֵּכַ֣ת אֱלֹהִ֔ים אֶת־סְדֹ֖ם וְאֶת־עֲמֹרָֽה׃

   ke-ma-pe-KHAT e-lo-HIM et-se-DOM ve-et-a-mo-RA

   like the overthrow of God Sodom {direct object marker + Sodom} and Gomorrah {and direct object marker + Gomorrah}
3. sentence🔊 וְהָיְתָ֤ה בָבֶל֙ צְבִ֣י מַמְלָכ֔וֹת תִּפְאֶ֖רֶת גְּא֣וֹן כַּשְׂדִּ֑ים כְּמַהְפֵּכַ֣ת אֱלֹהִ֔ים אֶת־סְדֹ֖ם וְאֶת־עֲמֹרָֽה׃

   ve-ha-ye-TA va-VEL tse-VI mam-la-KHOT tif-e-RET ge-ON kas-dim ke-ma-pe-KHAT e-lo-HIM et-se-DOM ve-et-a-mo-RA

   and she will be Babylon splendor of kingdoms beauty or glory pride Chaldeans like the overthrow of God Sodom {direct object marker + Sodom} and Gomorrah {and direct object marker + Gomorrah}

Exegesis

The comparison is introduced by kemahpechat {כְּמַהְפֵּכַ֣ת | kəmahpēḵaṯ} ‘like the overthrow,’ a simile that is specified as an act associated with elohim {אֱלֹהִ֔ים | ʾĕlōhîm} ‘God,’ and anchored by the classic judgment example et-sedom ve'et-amorah {אֶת־סְדֹ֖ם וְאֶת־עֲמֹרָֽה | ʾeṯ-səḏōm wəʾeṯ-ʿă-mōrāh} ‘Sodom and Gomorrah.’ In English, the construct chains are rendered as descriptive appositions to preserve the cumulative emphasis, while “like the overthrow by God” clarifies that the “overthrow” is God’s decisive act, not merely an abstract disaster.