וְעֹודֶ֣נּוּ לֹֽא־יָשׁ֗וּב וְשֻׁ֡בָה אֶל־גְּדַלְיָ֣ה בֶן־אֲחִיקָ֣ם בֶּן־שָׁפָ֡ן אֲשֶׁר֩ הִפְקִ֨יד מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֜ל בְּעָרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֗ה וְשֵׁ֤ב אִתֹּו֙ בְּתֹ֣וךְ הָעָ֔ם אֹ֠ו אֶל־כָּל־הַיָּשָׁ֧ר בְּעֵינֶ֛יךָ לָלֶ֖כֶת לֵ֑ךְ וַיִּתֶּן־לֹ֧ו רַב־טַבָּחִ֛ים אֲרֻחָ֥ה וּמַשְׂאֵ֖ת וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵֽהוּ׃
And while he had not yet turned, he said, “Return to Gedalyahu son of Aḥiqam son of Shafan, whom the king of Bavel has appointed over the cities of Yehuda, and dwell with him in the midst of the people, or to wherever it is right in your eyes to go, go.” And the Rav-tabbaḥim gave him provisions and a gift, and sent him away.
Morphology
- וְעֹודֶנּוּ (ve-ʿodennu) – Root: עוד (ʿod); Form: Conjunction + adverb with pronominal suffix 3rd masculine singular; Translation: “and while he still”; Notes: Expresses continuation of an action not yet completed.
- לֹא (lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Negates the verb following.
- יָשׁוּב (yashuv) – Root: שׁוב (shuv); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he had turned/returned”; Notes: Refers to Yirmeyahu’s movement before decision.
- וְשֻׁבָה (ve-shuvah) – Root: שׁוב (shuv); Form: Qal imperative masculine singular paragogic; Translation: “return”; Notes: Command form, urging him to return to Gedalyahu.
- אֶל־גְּדַלְיָה (el-Gedalyahu) – Root: גדליה (Gedalyahu); Form: Preposition + proper noun; Translation: “to Gedalyahu”; Notes: The Babylonian-appointed governor of Yehudah.
- בֶּן־אֲחִיקָם (ben-Aḥiqam) – Root: אחיקם (Aḥiqam); Form: Construct phrase; Translation: “son of Aḥiqam”; Notes: Genealogical identification.
- בֶּן־שָׁפָן (ben-Shafan) – Root: שׁפן (Shaphan); Form: Construct phrase; Translation: “son of Shaphan”; Notes: Further genealogical detail.
- אֲשֶׁר (ʾasher) – Root: אשר (ʾasher); Form: Relative particle; Translation: “whom”; Notes: Introduces relative clause.
- הִפְקִיד (hifqid) – Root: פקד (paqad); Form: Hifil perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “has appointed”; Notes: Refers to official Babylonian installation of Gedalyahu.
- מֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶל (melekh-Bavel) – Root: מלך (melekh), בבל (Bavel); Form: Construct phrase; Translation: “king of Bavel”; Notes: Refers to Nebuchadrezzar.
- בְּעָרֵי (be-ʿarei) – Root: עיר (ʿir); Form: Preposition + plural construct noun; Translation: “over the cities of”; Notes: Marks Gedalyahu’s jurisdiction.
- יְהוּדָה (Yehudah) – Root: יהודה (Yehudah); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yehudah”; Notes: Refers to the southern kingdom.
- וְשֵׁב (ve-shev) – Root: ישׁב (yashav); Form: Qal imperative masculine singular; Translation: “and dwell”; Notes: Instruction to stay under Gedalyahu’s governance.
- אִתּוֹ (itto) – Root: את (ʾet); Form: Preposition + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “with him”; Notes: Refers to Gedalyahu.
- בְּתוֹךְ (be-tokh) – Root: תוך (tokh); Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “in the midst of”; Notes: Among the population.
- הָעָם (ha-ʿam) – Root: עם (ʿam); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the people”; Notes: Refers to the remnant of Yehudah.
- אוֹ (ʾo) – Root: או (ʾo); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “or”; Notes: Introduces alternative choice.
- אֶל־כָּל־הַיָּשָׁר (el-kol-ha-yashar) – Root: ישׁר (yashar); Form: Preposition + construct phrase with definite adjective; Translation: “to wherever it is right”; Notes: Refers to acceptable or suitable place.
- בְּעֵינֶיךָ (be-ʿeineikha) – Root: עין (ʿayin); Form: Preposition + noun dual construct + suffix; Translation: “in your eyes”; Notes: Idiom for personal judgment.
- לָלֶכֶת (laleḵet) – Root: הלך (halakh); Form: Infinitive construct with prefixed ל; Translation: “to go”; Notes: Expresses option of movement.
- לֵךְ (lekh) – Root: הלך (halakh); Form: Qal imperative masculine singular; Translation: “go”; Notes: Direct command granting freedom of choice.
- וַיִּתֶּן־לוֹ (va-yitten-lo) – Root: נתן (natan); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine singular + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “and he gave to him”; Notes: Act of provision by the Rab-tabbaḥim.
- רַב־טַבָּחִים (rav-tabbaḥim) – Root: טבח (tabbaḥ); Form: Construct phrase; Translation: “the Rab-tabbaḥim (chief of guards)”; Notes: Babylonian official title.
- אֲרֻחָה (arukhah) – Root: ארח (ʾaraḥ); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “provisions”; Notes: Refers to food rations.
- וּמַשְׂאֵת (u-masaʾet) – Root: נשא (nasaʾ); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “a gift”; Notes: Likely refers to additional supplies or gift of honor.
- וַיְשַׁלְּחֵהוּ (va-yeshalleḥehu) – Root: שלח (shalach); Form: Piel wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine singular + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “and he sent him away”; Notes: Nebuzar-adan releasing Yirmeyahu with dignity.