וַיִּשָּׁבַ֨ע לָהֶ֜ם גְּדַלְיָ֨הוּ בֶן־אֲחִיקָ֤ם בֶּן־שָׁפָן֙ וּלְאַנְשֵׁיהֶ֣ם לֵאמֹ֔ר אַל־תִּֽירְא֖וּ מֵעֲבֹ֣וד הַכַּשְׂדִּ֑ים שְׁב֣וּ בָאָ֗רֶץ וְעִבְד֛וּ אֶת־מֶ֥לֶךְ בָּבֶ֖ל וְיִיטַ֥ב לָכֶֽם׃
And Gedalyahu son of Aḥiqam son of Shafan swore to them and to their men, saying, “Do not fear serving the Kasdim; dwell in the land and serve the king of Bavel, and it shall be well with you.
Morphology
- וַיִּשָּׁבַע (va-yishavaʿ) – Root: שׁבע (shavaʿ); Form: Nifal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And he swore”; Notes: Formal oath of assurance.
- לָהֶם (la-hem) – Root: הם (hem); Form: Preposition ל + third person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “to them”; Notes: Direct object of the oath.
- גְּדַלְיָהוּ (Gedalyahu) – Root: גדליהו (Gedalyahu); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Gedalyahu”; Notes: The governor appointed by the king of Bavel.
- בֶן־אֲחִיקָם (ben-Aḥiqam) – Root: אחיקם (Aḥiqam); Form: Construct phrase; Translation: “son of Aḥiqam”; Notes: Genealogical identification.
- בֶן־שָׁפָן (ben-Shaphan) – Root: שׁפן (Shaphan); Form: Construct phrase; Translation: “son of Shaphan”; Notes: Further genealogy.
- וּלְאַנְשֵׁיהֶם (u-leʾanshehem) – Root: אישׁ (ʾish); Form: Conjunction + preposition ל + construct plural noun + suffix 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and to their men”; Notes: The soldiers under the commanders.
- לֵאמֹר (leʾemor) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Infinitive construct with ל; Translation: “saying”; Notes: Introduces direct speech.
- אַל (ʾal) – Root: אל (ʾal); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “do not”; Notes: Used with jussive/imperfect for prohibition.
- תִּירְאוּ (tireʾu) – Root: ירא (yareʾ); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural jussive; Translation: “fear”; Notes: Prohibition directed to the commanders and men.
- מֵעֲבֹוד (me-ʿavod) – Root: עבד (ʿavad); Form: Preposition מ + Qal infinitive construct; Translation: “serving”; Notes: Refers to vassal service under Babylon.
- הַכַּשְׂדִּים (ha-Kasdim) – Root: כשׂד (Kasdim); Form: Definite noun masculine plural; Translation: “the Kasdim”; Notes: Refers to the Chaldeans/Babylonians.
- שְׁבוּ (shevu) – Root: ישׁב (yashav); Form: Qal imperative masculine plural; Translation: “dwell”; Notes: Command to remain settled in the land.
- בָּאָרֶץ (ba-aretz) – Root: ארץ (ʾerets); Form: Preposition ב + definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “in the land”; Notes: Refers to Yehudah.
- וְעִבְדוּ (ve-ʿivdu) – Root: עבד (ʿavad); Form: Qal imperative masculine plural; Translation: “and serve”; Notes: Submit to Babylonian authority.
- אֶת־מֶלֶךְ (et-melekh) – Root: מלך (melekh); Form: Direct object marker + noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “the king of”; Notes: Object of the verb “serve.”
- בָּבֶל (Bavel) – Root: בבל (Bavel); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Bavel”; Notes: Refers to the Babylonian empire.
- וְיִיטַב (ve-yitab) – Root: יטב (yatav); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular with conversive; Translation: “and it shall be well”; Notes: Promise of benefit for obedience.
- לָכֶם (lakhem) – Root: אתם (ʾatem, implied); Form: Preposition ל + second person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “with you”; Notes: Marks recipients of the assurance.