אֶת־הָאֹבֶ֤דֶת אֲבַקֵּשׁ֙ וְאֶת־הַנִּדַּ֣חַת אָשִׁ֔יב וְלַנִּשְׁבֶּ֣רֶת אֶחֱבֹ֔שׁ וְאֶת־הַחֹולָ֖ה אֲחַזֵּ֑ק וְאֶת־הַשְּׁמֵנָ֧ה וְאֶת־הַחֲזָקָ֛ה אַשְׁמִ֖יד אֶרְעֶ֥נָּה בְמִשְׁפָּֽט׃
“The lost I will seek, and the scattered I will bring back, and the broken I will bind up, and the sick I will strengthen; but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with judgment.
Morphology
- אֶת־הָאֹבֶדֶת (ʾet-ha-ʾovedet) – Root: אבד (ʾavad); Form: Direct object marker + definite noun feminine singular participle (Qal); Translation: “the lost one”; Notes: Refers to those who have strayed or perished; the participle emphasizes their ongoing lost state.
- אֲבַקֵּשׁ (avaqqesh) – Root: בקשׁ (baqash); Form: Piel imperfect 1st person singular; Translation: “I will seek”; Notes: Piel intensifies the action—YHWH will diligently pursue the lost.
- וְאֶת־הַנִּדַּחַת (ve-ʾet-ha-niddachat) – Root: נדח (nadach); Form: Conjunction וְ + direct object marker + definite noun feminine singular participle (Nifal); Translation: “and the scattered one”; Notes: Nifal indicates the passive sense—those who were driven away.
- אָשִׁיב (ʾashiv) – Root: שׁוב (shuv); Form: Hiphil imperfect 1st person singular; Translation: “I will bring back”; Notes: Causative—YHWH will actively restore those who have been exiled or displaced.
- וְלַנִּשְׁבֶּרֶת (ve-la-nishberet) – Root: שׁבר (shavar); Form: Conjunction וְ + preposition לְ + definite noun feminine singular participle (Nifal); Translation: “and to the broken one”; Notes: Refers to those crushed in body or spirit; preposition לְ marks indirect object.
- אֶחֱבֹשׁ (eḥebosh) – Root: חבשׁ (ḥavash); Form: Qal imperfect 1st person singular; Translation: “I will bind up”; Notes: Denotes healing and restoration—imagery of medical or pastoral care.
- וְאֶת־הַחֹולָה (ve-ʾet-ha-ḥolah) – Root: חלה (ḥalah); Form: Conjunction וְ + direct object marker + definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “and the sick one”; Notes: Refers to those weakened physically or spiritually.
- אֲחַזֵּק (aḥazzeq) – Root: חזק (ḥazaq); Form: Piel imperfect 1st person singular; Translation: “I will strengthen”; Notes: Piel form expresses firm support—YHWH will restore vitality and stability.
- וְאֶת־הַשְּׁמֵנָה (ve-ʾet-ha-shemenah) – Root: שׁמן (shaman); Form: Conjunction וְ + direct object marker + definite adjective feminine singular; Translation: “and the fat one”; Notes: Symbolizes those who are self-satisfied or exploit others.
- וְאֶת־הַחֲזָקָה (ve-ʾet-ha-ḥazaqah) – Root: חזק (ḥazaq); Form: Conjunction וְ + direct object marker + definite adjective feminine singular; Translation: “and the strong one”; Notes: Parallels the “fat” sheep—representing the powerful and oppressive.
- אַשְׁמִיד (ʾashmid) – Root: שׁמד (shamad); Form: Hiphil imperfect 1st person singular; Translation: “I will destroy”; Notes: Causative—YHWH will bring judgment upon the proud and exploitative.
- אֶרְעֶנָּה (erʿenah) – Root: רעָה (raʿah); Form: Qal imperfect 1st person singular + suffix 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “I will feed them”; Notes: Refers to the flock collectively—YHWH provides guidance and sustenance.
- בְמִשְׁפָּט (be-mishpat) – Root: שׁפט (shafat); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “with judgment”; Notes: Indicates just and righteous governance—YHWH will rule with fairness and equity.