Ezekiel 34:23

וַהֲקִמֹתִ֨י עֲלֵיהֶ֜ם רֹעֶ֤ה אֶחָד֙ וְרָעָ֣ה אֶתְהֶ֔ן אֵ֖ת עַבְדִּ֣י דָוִ֑יד ה֚וּא יִרְעֶ֣ה אֹתָ֔ם וְהֽוּא־יִהְיֶ֥ה לָהֶ֖ן לְרֹעֶֽה׃

And I will raise up over them one shepherd, and he will feed them, My servant Dawid; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.

Morphology

1. וַהֲקִמֹתִי (va-haqimoti) – Root: קום (qum); Form: Conjunction וַ + Hiphil perfect 1st person singular; Translation: “and I will raise up”; Notes: Hiphil (causative) expresses divine initiative—YHWH establishes a leader or agent over His people.
2. עֲלֵיהֶם (ʿaleihem) – Root: על (ʿal); Form: Preposition עַל + suffix 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “over them”; Notes: Indicates authority or oversight; the shepherd is placed in leadership over the flock.
3. רֹעֶה (roʿeh) – Root: רעה (raʿah); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “shepherd”; Notes: Metaphor for a ruler or leader who guides, protects, and provides for the people.
4. אֶחָד (eḥad) – Root: אחד (eḥad); Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “one”; Notes: Emphasizes unity and singular leadership—contrasts with the many corrupt shepherds mentioned earlier.
5. וְרָעָה (ve-raʿah) – Root: רעה (raʿah); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he will feed”; Notes: Qal denotes active care and nourishment—depicts a shepherd tending the flock personally.
6. אֶתְהֶן (et-hen) – Root: את (ʾet); Form: Direct object marker + suffix 3rd person feminine plural; Translation: “them”; Notes: Refers to YHWH’s flock, feminine plural, representing His people.
7. אֵת (ʾet) – Root: את (ʾet); Form: Direct object marker; Translation: [untranslated]; Notes: Introduces the direct object “My servant Dawid.”
8. עַבְדִּי (ʿavdi) – Root: עבד (ʿavad); Form: Noun masculine singular construct + suffix 1st person singular; Translation: “My servant”; Notes: Expresses YHWH’s choice and commission of Dawid as His appointed servant.
9. דָוִד (Dawid) – Root: דוד (Dawid); Form: Proper noun, masculine singular; Translation: “Dawid”; Notes: Refers to King Dawid, here symbolizing the ideal shepherd-king or messianic figure.
10. הוּא (hu) – Root: הוא (hu); Form: Independent pronoun, 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he”; Notes: Emphatic use—identifies Dawid as the one to fulfill the shepherding role.
11. יִרְעֶה (yirʿeh) – Root: רעה (raʿah); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “will feed”; Notes: Expresses continuous or habitual care and guidance by Dawid toward YHWH’s people.
12. אֹתָם (ʾotam) – Root: את (ʾet); Form: Direct object pronoun masculine plural; Translation: “them”; Notes: Refers again to the flock—those under Dawid’s pastoral rule.
13. וְהוּא־יִהְיֶה (ve-hu yihyeh) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Conjunction וְ + independent pronoun + Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he shall be”; Notes: Describes Dawid’s enduring role as shepherd and leader.
14. לָהֶן (la-hen) – Root: ל (lamed); Form: Preposition לְ + suffix 3rd person feminine plural; Translation: “for them”; Notes: Indicates benefit or relation—Dawid’s role is for the good of the flock.
15. לְרֹעֶה (le-roʿeh) – Root: רעה (raʿah); Form: Preposition לְ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “as a shepherd”; Notes: Denotes office or function—Dawid serves as the shepherd appointed by YHWH Himself.