חַטָּֽאת׃

Alphabet Analysis

The word

1. word🔊 חַטָּֽאת׃

   kha-TAT

   is sin
2. phraseyour reading level🔊 לְאֻמִּ֣ים חַטָּֽאת׃

   le-um-MIM kha-TAT

   for peoples is sin
3. clause🔊 וְחֶ֖סֶד לְאֻמִּ֣ים חַטָּֽאת׃

   ve-KHE-sed le-um-MIM kha-TAT

   but kindness for peoples is sin
4. sentence🔊 צְדָקָ֥ה תְרֽוֹמֵֽם־גּ֑וֹי וְחֶ֖סֶד לְאֻמִּ֣ים חַטָּֽאת׃

   tse-da-KA te-ro-MEM-GOY ve-KHE-sed le-um-MIM kha-TAT

   righteousness exalts a nation but kindness for peoples is sin

Exegesis

The correlative vachetah {וְחֵטְאָה | wə-ḥē-ṭāh} ‘but sin’ introduces the second line, where the prepositional phrase leummim {לְאֻמִּים | lə-um-mîm} ‘to peoples’ frames chatat {חַטָּאת | ḥa-ṭāṯ} ‘sin’ as the consequence. The maqqef linking teromem–goy emphasizes the inseparable nature of the action and its beneficiary. This structure underscores cause and effect: righteous conduct yields national exaltation, whereas sin results in communal reproach.

Root and etymology

ḥ-t-ʼ🔊 ח־ט־אḥ–t–ʼ

“to err”