וְשָׁ֤בוּ דְמֵיהֶם֙ בְּרֹ֣אשׁ יֹואָ֔ב וּבְרֹ֥אשׁ זַרְעֹ֖ו לְעֹלָ֑ם וּלְדָוִ֡ד וּ֠לְזַרְעֹו וּלְבֵיתֹ֨ו וּלְכִסְאֹ֜ו יִהְיֶ֥ה שָׁלֹ֛ום עַד־עֹולָ֖ם מֵעִ֥ם יְהוָֽה׃
And their blood shall return upon the head of Yoʾav and upon the head of his offspring forever, but to Dawid, and to his offspring, and to his house, and to his throne, there shall be peace forever from YHWH.
Morphology
- וְשָׁ֤בוּ (ve-shavu) – Root: שׁוב; Form: Conjunction + Qal perfect 3rd person plural; Translation: “And they shall return”; Notes: Refers to the return of guilt or consequence.
- דְמֵיהֶם֙ (demeihem) – Root: דם; Form: Noun masculine plural construct + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “their blood”; Notes: Refers to the innocent blood of Avner and ʿAmasa.
- בְּרֹ֣אשׁ (be-rosh) – Root: ראשׁ; Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “upon the head of”; Notes: Idiomatic for responsibility or guilt.
- יֹואָ֔ב (Yoʾav) – Root: יואב; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yoʾav”; Notes: The one held accountable.
- וּבְרֹ֥אשׁ (u-ve-rosh) – Root: ראשׁ; Form: Conjunction + preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and upon the head of”; Notes: Parallel to previous phrase.
- זַרְעֹ֖ו (zarʿo) – Root: זרע; Form: Noun masculine singular with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “his offspring”; Notes: Refers to Yoʾav’s descendants.
- לְעֹלָ֑ם (le-ʿolam) – Root: עולם; Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “forever”; Notes: Indicates perpetual judgment.
- וּלְדָוִ֡ד (u-le-Dawid) – Root: דוד; Form: Conjunction + preposition + proper noun; Translation: “and to Dawid”; Notes: Contrast with Yoʾav, blessing upon Dawid.
- וּלְזַרְעֹ֠ו (u-le-zarʿo) – Root: זרע; Form: Conjunction + preposition + noun masculine singular with suffix; Translation: “and to his offspring”; Notes: Dawid’s descendants.
- וּלְבֵיתֹ֨ו (u-le-veito) – Root: בית; Form: Conjunction + preposition + noun masculine singular with suffix; Translation: “and to his house”; Notes: His royal household.
- וּלְכִסְאֹ֜ו (u-le-khisʾo) – Root: כסא; Form: Conjunction + preposition + noun masculine singular with suffix; Translation: “and to his throne”; Notes: Symbol of kingship.
- יִהְיֶ֥ה (yihyeh) – Root: היה; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “there shall be”; Notes: Future blessing declared.
- שָׁלֹ֛ום (shalom) – Root: שלום; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “peace”; Notes: Symbolizes divine favor and stability.
- עַד־עֹולָ֖ם (ʿad-ʿolam) – Root: עד, עולם; Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “forever”; Notes: Emphasizes enduring nature of the peace.
- מֵעִ֥ם (me-ʿim) – Root: עם; Form: Preposition; Translation: “from with”; Notes: Denotes source or origin.
- יְהוָֽה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The source of the peace given to Dawid’s house.