וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ לְכ֨וּ וְנַחְשְׁבָ֣ה עַֽל־יִרְמְיָהוּ֮ מַחֲשָׁבֹות֒ כִּי֩ לֹא־תֹאבַ֨ד תֹּורָ֜ה מִכֹּהֵ֗ן וְעֵצָה֙ מֵֽחָכָ֔ם וְדָבָ֖ר מִנָּבִ֑יא לְכוּ֙ וְנַכֵּ֣הוּ בַלָּשֹׁ֔ון וְאַל־נַקְשִׁ֖יבָה אֶל־כָּל־דְּבָרָֽיו׃
And they said, “Come, and let us devise plans against Yirmeyahu, for the Torah shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor word from the prophet. Come, and let us strike him with the tongue, and let us not listen to any of his words.”
Morphology
- וַיֹּאמְרוּ (va-yomru) – Root: אמר; Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “And they said”; Notes: Introduces the speech of the conspirators.
- לְכוּ (lechu) – Root: הלך; Form: Qal imperative masculine plural; Translation: “Come”; Notes: Call to collective action.
- וְנַחְשְׁבָה (ve-naḥshevah) – Root: חשב; Form: Qal cohortative 1st person plural with prefixed conjunction; Translation: “and let us devise”; Notes: Expresses intention or proposal.
- עַל־יִרְמְיָהוּ (ʿal-Yirmeyahu) – Root: על + ירמיהו; Form: Preposition + proper noun; Translation: “against Yirmeyahu”; Notes: Target of the conspiracy.
- מַחֲשָׁבֹות (maḥashavot) – Root: חשב; Form: Noun feminine plural; Translation: “plans” or “schemes”; Notes: Often used negatively for wicked plotting.
- כִּי (ki) – Root: כי; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces the justification for their plan.
- לֹא־תֹאבַד (lo-toʾavad) – Root: אבד; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person feminine singular with negative particle; Translation: “shall not perish”; Notes: They believe their religious system will remain secure.
- תּוֹרָה (torah) – Root: ירה; Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “Torah” or “instruction”; Notes: Represents the teaching authority of the priest.
- מִכֹּהֵן (mi-kohen) – Root: כהן; Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “from the priest”; Notes: One source of authority and tradition in Israel.
- וְעֵצָה (ve-etsah) – Root: יעץ; Form: Conjunction + noun feminine singular; Translation: “and counsel”; Notes: Refers to wisdom or guidance from the elders or sages.
- מֵחָכָם (me-ḥakham) – Root: חכם; Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “from the wise”; Notes: Another traditional source of guidance.
- וְדָבָר (ve-davar) – Root: דבר; Form: Conjunction + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and word”; Notes: Refers to prophetic speech or declaration.
- מִנָּבִיא (min-navi) – Root: נבא; Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “from the prophet”; Notes: Likely meant ironically here, since they reject Yirmeyahu’s words.
- לְכוּ (lechu) – Root: הלך; Form: Repeated Qal imperative masculine plural; Translation: “Come”; Notes: Resumes the call to action.
- וְנַכֵּהוּ (ve-nakkehu) – Root: נכה; Form: Piel cohortative 1st person plural + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “and let us strike him”; Notes: Expresses desire to attack him verbally or socially.
- בַּלָּשׁוֹן (ba-lashon) – Root: לשׁן; Form: Preposition + definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “with the tongue”; Notes: Implies slander, gossip, or verbal assault.
- וְאַל־נַקְשִׁיבָה (ve-ʾal-naqshivah) – Root: קשׁב; Form: Conjunction + negative particle + Qal cohortative 1st person plural; Translation: “and let us not listen”; Notes: Rejection of his prophetic voice.
- אֶל־כָּל־דְּבָרָיו (el-kol-devarav) – Root: דבר; Form: Preposition + noun masculine plural construct + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “to any of his words”; Notes: Total rejection of Yirmeyahu’s prophetic authority.