כֹּֽה־אָמַ֞ר יְהוָ֣ה צְבָאֹ֗ות חֹ֠מֹות בָּבֶ֤ל הָֽרְחָבָה֙ עַרְעֵ֣ר תִּתְעַרְעָ֔ר וּשְׁעָרֶ֥יהָ הַגְּבֹהִ֖ים בָּאֵ֣שׁ יִצַּ֑תּוּ וְיִֽגְע֨וּ עַמִּ֧ים בְּדֵי־רִ֛יק וּלְאֻמִּ֥ים בְּדֵי־אֵ֖שׁ וְיָעֵֽפוּ׃ ס
Thus says YHWH of Hosts: “The broad walls of Bavel shall be utterly broken down, and her high gates shall be set on fire; and peoples shall labor for nothing, and nations for the fire, and they shall be weary.”
Morphology
- כֹּה (koh) – Root: כה (koh); Form: Demonstrative adverb; Translation: “thus”; Notes: Formula introducing divine speech.
- אָמַר (amar) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “said”; Notes: Refers to the prophetic declaration of YHWH.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: Divine Name; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenant God of Israel.
- צְבָאוֹת (tsevaʾot) – Root: צבא (tsavaʾ); Form: Noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “of hosts”; Notes: Military title, ruler of heavenly armies.
- חֹמוֹת (ḥomot) – Root: חמה (ḥomah); Form: Noun feminine plural construct; Translation: “walls of”; Notes: Defensive fortifications of Babylon.
- בָּבֶל (Bavel) – Root: Proper noun; Form: Place name feminine singular; Translation: “Bavel”; Notes: Refers to the empire of Babylon.
- הָרְחָבָה (ha-reḥavah) – Root: רחב (raḥav); Form: Adjective feminine singular with article; Translation: “broad”; Notes: Describes the massive extent of the walls.
- עַרְעֵר (ʿarʿer) – Root: ערר (ʿarar); Form: Infinitive absolute; Translation: “utterly broken down”; Notes: Repetition intensifies the certainty of collapse.
- תִּתְעַרְעָר (titʿarʿar) – Root: ערר (ʿarar); Form: Hitpael imperfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “shall be broken down”; Notes: Refers to the downfall of Babylon’s fortifications.
- וּשְׁעָרֶיהָ (u-sheʿareha) – Root: שער (shaʿar); Form: Noun masculine plural with 3rd person feminine singular suffix + conjunction; Translation: “and her gates”; Notes: Main entryways of the city.
- הַגְּבֹהִים (ha-gevohim) – Root: גבה (gavah); Form: Adjective masculine plural definite; Translation: “the high”; Notes: Emphasizes the lofty, imposing stature of the gates.
- בָּאֵשׁ (ba-esh) – Root: אשׁ (ʾesh); Form: Preposition + noun feminine singular; Translation: “with fire”; Notes: Instrument of destruction.
- יִצַּתוּ (yittatsu) – Root: יצת (yatsat); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they shall be set ablaze”; Notes: Refers to the burning of the gates.
- וְיִגְעוּ (ve-yigʿu) – Root: יגע (yagaʿ); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural with conjunction; Translation: “and they shall labor”; Notes: Nations expend energy pointlessly.
- עַמִּים (ʿammim) – Root: עם (ʿam); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “peoples”; Notes: Refers to the nations involved in Babylon’s works.
- בְּדֵי־רִיק (be-dei-riq) – Root: ריק (req); Form: Preposition + construct phrase; Translation: “for emptiness”; Notes: Denotes futility of labor.
- וּלְאֻמִּים (u-leʾummim) – Root: אום (ʾum); Form: Noun masculine plural with conjunction; Translation: “and nations”; Notes: Parallel to “peoples,” broadening the scope.
- בְּדֵי־אֵשׁ (be-dei-esh) – Root: אשׁ (ʾesh); Form: Preposition + construct phrase; Translation: “for fire”; Notes: Their toil results only in fuel for flames.
- וְיָעֵפוּ (ve-yaʿefu) – Root: יעף (yaʿef); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural with conjunction; Translation: “and they shall be weary”; Notes: Expresses exhaustion and futility of nations’ efforts.