אַל־תִּֽירְאִי֙ תֹּולַ֣עַת יַֽעֲקֹ֔ב מְתֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אֲנִ֤י עֲזַרְתִּיךְ֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה וְגֹאֲלֵ֖ךְ קְדֹ֥ושׁ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
“Do not fear, worm Yaʿaqov, you men of Yisraʾel. I have helped you,” declares YHWH, “and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Yisraʾel.
Morphology
- אַל (ʾal) – Root: אל (ʾal); Form: Negative particle (jussive); Translation: “Do not”; Notes: Used with jussive verbs to express prohibition.
- תִּֽירְאִי (tirʾi) – Root: ירא (yareʾ); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person feminine singular (jussive); Translation: “fear”; Notes: Directed to feminine subject—Yisraʾel personified.
- תֹּולַעַת (toleʿat) – Root: תולע (toleʿ); Form: Noun feminine singular construct; Translation: “worm of”; Notes: Poetic expression of lowliness or vulnerability.
- יַעֲקֹב (Yaʿaqov) – Root: עקב (ʿaqav); Form: Proper noun masculine singular; Translation: “Yaʿaqov”; Notes: Refers to the people of Yisraʾel through their ancestor.
- מְתֵי (metei) – Root: מות (mot); Form: Noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “men of”; Notes: Archaic poetic term for “men” or “people.”
- יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisraʾel) – Root: שׂרה + אל (sarah + ʾel); Form: Proper noun masculine singular; Translation: “Yisraʾel”; Notes: In apposition to “Yaʿaqov”; emphasizes collective identity.
- אֲנִי (ʾani) – Root: אני (ʾani); Form: Independent pronoun 1st person singular; Translation: “I”; Notes: Emphatic subject of the following verb.
- עֲזַרְתִּיךְ (ʿazartikh) – Root: עזר (ʿazar); Form: Qal perfect 1st person singular + 2nd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “I have helped you”; Notes: Divine assistance directed toward Yisraʾel personified as feminine.
- נְאֻם־יְהוָה (neʾum-YHWH) – Root: נאם (naʾam); Form: Noun masculine singular construct + divine name; Translation: “—declares YHWH”; Notes: Formula introducing a prophetic declaration.
- וְגֹאֲלֵךְ (ve-goʾalekh) – Root: גאל (gaʾal); Form: Qal participle masculine singular + 2nd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “and your Redeemer”; Notes: Participial form indicates ongoing identity of YHWH as the one who redeems.
- קְדֹושׁ (qedosh) – Root: קדשׁ (qadash); Form: Adjective masculine singular in construct; Translation: “Holy One of”; Notes: Divine epithet highlighting separateness and purity.
- יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisraʾel) – Root: שׂרה + אל (sarah + ʾel); Form: Proper noun masculine singular; Translation: “Yisraʾel”; Notes: In construct with “Holy One”—title of YHWH as uniquely belonging to Yisraʾel.