וְלֹא־יִהְי֨וּ עֹ֥וד בַּז֙ לַגֹּויִ֔ם וְחַיַּ֥ת הָאָ֖רֶץ לֹ֣א תֹאכְלֵ֑ם וְיָשְׁב֥וּ לָבֶ֖טַח וְאֵ֥ין מַחֲרִֽיד׃
And they shall no longer be a prey for the nations, and the beast of the earth shall not devour them; and they shall dwell securely, and none shall make them afraid.
Morphology
- וְלֹא־יִהְיוּ (ve-lo yihyu) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Conjunction וְ + negative particle לֹא + Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they shall not be”; Notes: Introduces the negated future condition—Israel will no longer face exploitation.
- עֹוד (ʿod) – Root: עוד (ʿod); Form: Adverb; Translation: “anymore”; Notes: Adds temporal emphasis—marks permanent change in status.
- בַּז (baz) – Root: בזז (bazaz); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “prey”; Notes: Denotes those subject to plunder or victimization—YHWH’s people will no longer be exploited by other nations.
- לַגֹּויִם (la-goyim) – Root: גוי (goy); Form: Preposition לְ + definite noun masculine plural; Translation: “for the nations”; Notes: Refers to foreign powers—those who previously oppressed or consumed Yisraʾel.
- וְחַיַּת (ve-ḥayyat) – Root: חי (ḥay); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun feminine singular construct; Translation: “and the beast”; Notes: Represents literal wild animals or metaphorical hostile nations symbolized as predators.
- הָאָרֶץ (ha-ʾaretz) – Root: ארץ (ʾerets); Form: Definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “of the earth”; Notes: Refers either to the land of Yisraʾel or the world at large from which danger is removed.
- לֹא (lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Used here to negate the subsequent verb “devour.”
- תֹאכְלֵם (toʾkhelēm) – Root: אכל (ʾakhal); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person feminine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “shall devour them”; Notes: The beast (feminine subject) will no longer consume or destroy the people of YHWH.
- וְיָשְׁבוּ (ve-yashvu) – Root: ישׁב (yashav); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal perfect 3rd person plural; Translation: “and they shall dwell”; Notes: Denotes stable habitation and peaceful settlement in the land.
- לָבֶטַח (la-vetach) – Root: בטח (bataḥ); Form: Preposition לְ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “securely” or “in safety”; Notes: Signifies complete confidence and absence of fear—key covenantal motif in Ezekiel.
- וְאֵין (ve-ʾein) – Root: אין (ʾein); Form: Conjunction וְ + particle of nonexistence; Translation: “and none”; Notes: Introduces the clause describing total absence of fear or threat.
- מַחֲרִיד (maḥarid) – Root: חרד (ḥarad); Form: Hiphil participle masculine singular active; Translation: “one making afraid”; Notes: Literally “one causing trembling”—denotes complete peace and freedom from terror under divine protection.