עִזְב֤וּ עָרִים֙ וְשִׁכְנ֣וּ בַּסֶּ֔לַע יֹשְׁבֵ֖י מֹואָ֑ב וִֽהְי֣וּ כְיֹונָ֔ה תְּקַנֵּ֖ן בְּעֶבְרֵ֥י פִי־פָֽחַת׃
Abandon cities and dwell in the rock, O inhabitants of Moʾav, and be like a dove that makes her nest in the sides of the mouth of the pit.
Morphology
- עִזְבוּ (ʿizvū) – Root: עזב; Form: Qal imperative 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “Abandon!”; Notes: Addressed to the people of Moʾav, commanding them to forsake their cities.
- עָרִים (ʿarim) – Root: עיר; Form: Noun feminine plural absolute; Translation: “cities”; Notes: The urban centers of Moʾav being deserted.
- וְשִׁכְנוּ (ve-shikhnu) – Root: שׁכן; Form: Qal imperative 2nd person masculine plural with prefixed conjunction; Translation: “and dwell!”; Notes: Command to take refuge elsewhere.
- בַּסֶּלַע (ba-selaʿ) – Root: סלע; Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular with article; Translation: “in the rock”; Notes: Indicates fleeing to the natural fortresses of rocky terrain.
- יֹשְׁבֵי (yoshevei) – Root: ישׁב; Form: Qal participle masculine plural construct; Translation: “inhabitants of”; Notes: Construct participle describing the people of Moʾav.
- מֹואָב (Moʾav) – Root: —; Form: Proper noun, nation/people; Translation: “Moʾav”; Notes: The target of the prophetic command.
- וִהְיוּ (vihyū) – Root: היה; Form: Qal imperative 2nd person masculine plural with prefixed conjunction; Translation: “and be!”; Notes: Calls for adopting a posture of vulnerability and hiding.
- כְיֹונָה (ke-yonah) – Root: יונה; Form: Preposition כְ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “like a dove”; Notes: Symbol of timidity or vulnerability.
- תְּקַנֵּן (teqannen) – Root: קנן; Form: Piel imperfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “that makes her nest”; Notes: Piel intensifies the action, depicting the dove actively constructing her nest.
- בְּעֶבְרֵי (be-ʿivrei) – Root: עבר; Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “in the sides of”; Notes: Indicates location along the edges or ledges.
- פִי־ (fi) – Root: פה; Form: Noun masculine singular construct with maqaf; Translation: “the mouth of”; Notes: Construct term preparing for “pit.”
- פָחַת (paḥat) – Root: פחת; Form: Noun masculine singular absolute; Translation: “pit”; Notes: A crevice or deep hole, emphasizing danger and seclusion.