וְעַתָּ֞ה הִנֵּ֧ה פִתַּחְתִּ֣יךָ הַיֹּ֗ום מִֽן־הָאזִקִּים֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־יָדֶךָ֒ אִם־טֹ֨וב בְּעֵינֶ֜יךָ לָבֹ֧וא אִתִּ֣י בָבֶ֗ל בֹּ֚א וְאָשִׂ֤ים אֶת־עֵינִי֙ עָלֶ֔יךָ וְאִם־רַ֧ע בְּעֵינֶ֛יךָ לָבֹֽוא־אִתִּ֥י בָבֶ֖ל חֲדָ֑ל רְאֵה֙ כָּל־הָאָ֣רֶץ לְפָנֶ֔יךָ אֶל־טֹ֨וב וְאֶל־הַיָּשָׁ֧ר בְּעֵינֶ֛יךָ לָלֶ֥כֶת שָׁ֖מָּה לֵֽךְ׃
And now, behold, I have set you free today from the fetters that are upon your hands. If it is good in your eyes to come with me to Bavel, come, and I will set my eye upon you; but if it is evil in your eyes to come with me to Bavel, refrain. Behold, all the land is before you; wherever it is good and right in your eyes to go, there go.”
Morphology
- וְעַתָּה (ve-ʿattah) – Root: עת (ʿet); Form: Conjunction + adverb; Translation: “and now”; Notes: Marks transition to present situation.
- הִנֵּה (hinneh) – Root: הן (hen); Form: Interjection; Translation: “behold”; Notes: Introduces emphasis on current reality.
- פִתַּחְתִּיךָ (pittaḥtikha) – Root: פתח (pataḥ); Form: Piel perfect 1st person common singular + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “I have set you free”; Notes: Refers to release from captivity.
- הַיּוֹם (ha-yom) – Root: יום (yom); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “today”; Notes: Specifies the time of release.
- מִן־הָאֲזִקִּים (min-ha-ʾaziqqim) – Root: אזק (ʾezeq); Form: Preposition + definite noun masculine plural; Translation: “from the fetters”; Notes: Refers to the chains or shackles binding Yirmeyahu.
- אֲשֶׁר (ʾasher) – Root: אשר (ʾasher); Form: Relative particle; Translation: “that/which”; Notes: Introduces relative clause.
- עַל־יָדֶךָ (ʿal-yadekha) – Root: יד (yad); Form: Preposition + noun feminine singular + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “upon your hands”; Notes: Refers to physical restraint.
- אִם־טוֹב (im-tov) – Root: טוב (tov); Form: Conditional particle + adjective masculine singular; Translation: “if good”; Notes: Conditional clause of choice.
- בְּעֵינֶיךָ (be-ʿeineikha) – Root: עין (ʿayin); Form: Preposition + noun dual construct + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “in your eyes”; Notes: Idiomatic for personal judgment or opinion.
- לָבֹוא (lavo) – Root: בוא (boʾ); Form: Infinitive construct with prefixed ל; Translation: “to come”; Notes: Indicates motion.
- אִתִּי (itti) – Root: את (ʾet); Form: Preposition + 1st person common singular suffix; Translation: “with me”; Notes: Refers to accompanying Nebuzar-adan.
- בָּבֶל (Bavel) – Root: בבל (Bavel); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Bavel”; Notes: Refers to Babylon, the destination.
- בֹּא (bo) – Root: בוא (boʾ); Form: Qal imperative masculine singular; Translation: “come”; Notes: Invitation to accompany.
- וְאָשִׂים (ve-ʾasim) – Root: שׂים (sim); Form: Qal imperfect 1st person common singular with conversive; Translation: “and I will set”; Notes: YHWH or Nebuzar-adan promising protection.
- אֶת־עֵינִי (et-ʿeini) – Root: עין (ʿayin); Form: Direct object marker + noun dual + 1st person common singular suffix; Translation: “my eye”; Notes: Idiom meaning to watch over or protect.
- עָלֶיךָ (ʿalekha) – Root: על (ʿal); Form: Preposition + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “upon you”; Notes: Marks the object of protective gaze.
- וְאִם־רַע (ve-im-raʿ) – Root: רעע (raʿaʿ); Form: Conjunction + conditional particle + adjective masculine singular; Translation: “but if evil”; Notes: Contrasts the alternative choice.
- בְּעֵינֶיךָ (be-ʿeineikha) – Root: עין (ʿayin); Form: Preposition + noun dual construct + suffix; Translation: “in your eyes”; Notes: Again indicates perception or judgment.
- לָבֹוא־אִתִּי (lavo-itti) – Root: בוא (boʾ); Form: Infinitive construct + preposition with suffix; Translation: “to come with me”; Notes: Alternative condition.
- בָבֶל (Bavel) – Root: בבל (Bavel); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “to Bavel”; Notes: Destination repeated.
- חֲדָל (ḥadal) – Root: חדל (ḥadal); Form: Qal imperative masculine singular; Translation: “refrain”; Notes: Release from obligation to follow.
- רְאֵה (reʾeh) – Root: ראה (raʾah); Form: Qal imperative masculine singular; Translation: “behold/see”; Notes: Emphatic introduction of freedom of choice.
- כָּל־הָאָרֶץ (kol-ha-aretz) – Root: ארץ (ʾerets); Form: Noun construct + definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “all the land”; Notes: Offers full choice of dwelling place.
- לְפָנֶיךָ (lefanekha) – Root: פן (panim); Form: Preposition + plural construct noun + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “before you”; Notes: Indicates full availability.
- אֶל־טוֹב (el-tov) – Root: טוב (tov); Form: Preposition + adjective masculine singular; Translation: “to the good”; Notes: Refers to desirable location.
- וְאֶל־הַיָּשָׁר (ve-el-ha-yashar) – Root: ישׁר (yashar); Form: Conjunction + preposition + adjective definite masculine singular; Translation: “and to the right”; Notes: Connotes what is proper or fitting.
- בְּעֵינֶיךָ (be-ʿeineikha) – Root: עין (ʿayin); Form: Preposition + noun dual construct + suffix; Translation: “in your eyes”; Notes: Repeated idiom of subjective choice.
- לָלֶכֶת (laleḵet) – Root: הלך (halakh); Form: Infinitive construct with prefixed ל; Translation: “to go”; Notes: Expresses direction of action.
- שָׁמָּה (shammah) – Root: שם (sham); Form: Adverb of place; Translation: “there”; Notes: Specifies destination of choice.
- לֵךְ (lekh) – Root: הלך (halakh); Form: Qal imperative masculine singular; Translation: “go”; Notes: Final directive granting complete freedom.