וַיִּשָּׁבַ֨ע לָהֶ֤ם גְּדַלְיָ֨הוּ֙ וּלְאַנְשֵׁיהֶ֔ם וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָהֶ֔ם אַל־תִּֽירְא֖וּ מֵעַבְדֵ֣י הַכַּשְׂדִּ֑ים שְׁב֣וּ בָאָ֗רֶץ וְעִבְד֛וּ אֶת־מֶ֥לֶךְ בָּבֶ֖ל וְיִטַ֥ב לָכֶֽם׃ ס
And Gedalyahu swore to them and to their men and said to them, “Do not be afraid of the servants of the Kasdim. Remain in the land and serve the king of Bavel, and it will go well for you.”
Morphology
- וַיִּשָּׁבַע (va-yishavaʿ) – Root: שׁבע (shavaʿ); Form: Nifal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And he swore”; Notes: A solemn oath, likely invoking the name of YHWH.
- לָהֶם (lahem) – Root: ל־ (to) + הם (them); Form: Preposition + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “to them”; Notes: Refers to the commanders and their men.
- גְּדַלְיָהוּ (Gedalyahu) – Root: Proper noun; Form: Proper noun masculine singular; Translation: “Gedalyahu”; Notes: Governor appointed by the king of Bavel.
- וּלְאַנְשֵׁיהֶם (u-leʾansheihem) – Root: אנשׁ (ʾanash); Form: Conjunction + preposition + construct plural + suffix; Translation: “and to their men”; Notes: Includes their followers or soldiers.
- וַיֹּאמֶר (va-yomer) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he said”; Notes: Introduces Gedalyahu’s speech.
- אַל־תִּירְאוּ (ʾal-tiraʾu) – Root: ירא (yareʾ); Form: Negative particle + Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “Do not be afraid”; Notes: A reassurance command.
- מֵעַבְדֵי (me-ʿavdei) – Root: עבד (ʿavad); Form: Preposition + construct plural masculine; Translation: “of the servants of”; Notes: Refers to Babylonian soldiers or officials.
- הַכַּשְׂדִּים (ha-Kasdim) – Root: כשׂד (Kasdim); Form: Definite noun masculine plural; Translation: “the Kasdim”; Notes: Babylonians, often used as a synonym for Chaldeans.
- שְׁבוּ (shevu) – Root: ישׁב (yashav); Form: Qal imperative 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “remain”; Notes: Command to settle in the land.
- בָּאָרֶץ (ba-ʾaretz) – Root: ארץ (ʾaretz); Form: Preposition + definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “in the land”; Notes: Refers to the land of Yehudah.
- וְעִבְדוּ (ve-ʿivdu) – Root: עבד (ʿavad); Form: Conjunction + Qal imperative 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “and serve”; Notes: Service or allegiance to Babylonian rule.
- אֶת־מֶלֶךְ בָּבֶל (et-melekh Bavel) – Root: מלך, בבל; Form: Direct object marker + construct noun + proper noun; Translation: “the king of Bavel”; Notes: Nevukhadnetstsar.
- וְיִטַב (ve-yitav) – Root: יטב (yatav); Form: Conjunction + Qal jussive 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and it will go well”; Notes: Expresses hope or assurance of benefit.
- לָכֶם (lakhem) – Root: ל־ (to/for) + כם (you); Form: Preposition + 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “for you”; Notes: Concludes the promise of wellbeing.