הַמְעַ֣ט מִכֶּ֗ם הַמִּרְעֶ֤ה הַטֹּוב֙ תִּרְע֔וּ וְיֶ֨תֶר֙ מִרְעֵיכֶ֔ם תִּרְמְס֖וּ בְּרַגְלֵיכֶ֑ם וּמִשְׁקַע־מַ֣יִם תִּשְׁתּ֔וּ וְאֵת֙ הַנֹּ֣ותָרִ֔ים בְּרַגְלֵיכֶ֖ם תִּרְפֹּשֽׂוּן׃
Is it a small thing for you to feed on the good pasture, that you must trample down the rest of your pasture with your feet? And to drink the clear waters, that you must foul the remaining waters with your feet?
Morphology
- הַמְעַט (ha-meʿat) – Root: מעט (maʿat); Form: Definite article הַ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “is it a small thing”; Notes: Rhetorical question expressing moral indignation at the selfish behavior of the flock’s leaders.
- מִכֶּם (mi-kem) – Root: אתם (ʾatem); Form: Preposition מִן + pronoun 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “from you”; Notes: Denotes source or reference—“is it from you” or “is it too little for you.”
- הַמִּרְעֶה (ha-mirʿeh) – Root: רעָה (raʿah); Form: Definite article הַ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “the pasture”; Notes: Symbol of provision or blessing provided by YHWH.
- הַטֹּוב (ha-tov) – Root: טוב (tov); Form: Definite article הַ + adjective masculine singular; Translation: “the good”; Notes: Qualifies the pasture as rich and desirable.
- תִּרְע֔וּ (tirʿu) – Root: רעָה (raʿah); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you feed”; Notes: The addressed subjects are consuming what is best for themselves alone.
- וְיֶתֶר (ve-yeter) – Root: יתר (yeter); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and the rest” or “the remainder”; Notes: Refers to what remains of the pasture after the strong sheep have fed.
- מִרְעֵיכֶם (mirʿeikhem) – Root: רעָה (raʿah); Form: Noun masculine singular construct + suffix 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “of your pasture”; Notes: Indicates possession—pasture belonging to the addressed group.
- תִּרְמְסוּ (tirmesu) – Root: רמס (ramas); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you trample”; Notes: Suggests destructive behavior, ruining what others could benefit from.
- בְּרַגְלֵיכֶם (be-ragleikhem) – Root: רגל (regel); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun feminine plural construct + suffix 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “with your feet”; Notes: Denotes deliberate or careless damage caused by their actions.
- וּמִשְׁקַע־מַיִם (u-mishqaʿ-mayim) – Root: שׁקע (shaqaʿ); Form: Conjunction וּ + noun masculine singular construct + noun masculine plural; Translation: “and clear waters” or “the settled waters”; Notes: Refers to pure, still water suitable for drinking.
- תִּשְׁתּוּ (tishteu) – Root: שתה (shatah); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you drink”; Notes: Implies that they consume the best portions before others can.
- וְאֵת (ve-ʾet) – Root: את (ʾet); Form: Conjunction וְ + direct object marker; Translation: “and”; Notes: Introduces the second direct object in parallel with the first clause.
- הַנֹּותָרִים (ha-notarim) – Root: יתר (yatar); Form: Definite article הַ + Nifal participle masculine plural; Translation: “the remaining”; Notes: Refers to what is left behind after the privileged have drunk their fill.
- בְּרַגְלֵיכֶם (be-ragleikhem) – Root: רגל (regel); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun feminine plural construct + suffix 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “with your feet”; Notes: Repetition emphasizes their contemptuous treatment of what others need.
- תִּרְפֹּשׂוּן (tirposun) – Root: רפס (rafas); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you foul” or “you muddy”; Notes: Conveys the corruption of good resources by the selfish actions of the powerful, symbolizing injustice and exploitation.