כְּצֹ֣אן קָֽדָשִׁ֗ים כְּצֹ֤אן יְרוּשָׁלִַ֨ם֙ בְּמֹ֣ועֲדֶ֔יהָ כֵּ֤ן תִּהְיֶ֨ינָה֙ הֶעָרִ֣ים הֶחֳרֵבֹ֔ות מְלֵאֹ֖ות צֹ֣אן אָדָ֑ם וְיָדְע֖וּ כִּֽי־אֲנִ֥י יְהוָֽה׃ ס
Like the flock of holy offerings, like the flock of Yerushalayim in her appointed feasts, so shall the ruined cities be filled with flocks of men; and they shall know that I am YHWH.”’”
Morphology
- כְּצֹאן (ke-tson) – Root: צאן (tson); Form: Preposition כְּ + noun common collective; Translation: “like the flock”; Notes: Introduces a simile comparing the future human population to a flock of animals in abundance.
- קָדָשִׁים (qadashim) – Root: קדשׁ (qadash); Form: Adjective masculine plural; Translation: “holy”; Notes: Refers to consecrated offerings or animals set apart for sacred use in the Temple.
- כְּצֹאן (ke-tson) – Root: צאן (tson); Form: Preposition כְּ + noun common collective; Translation: “like the flock”; Notes: Repetition strengthens the image of divine blessing and fullness.
- יְרוּשָׁלִַם (Yerushalayim) – Root: ירושלים (Yerushalayim); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yerushalayim”; Notes: The capital and spiritual center of Yisraʾel, symbolizing holiness and joy.
- בְּמֹועֲדֶיהָ (be-moʿadeha) – Root: מועד (moʿed); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine plural + suffix 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “in her appointed feasts”; Notes: Refers to pilgrimage festivals when Yerushalayim overflowed with sacrificial flocks.
- כֵּן (ken) – Root: —; Form: Adverb; Translation: “so”; Notes: Introduces the result of the comparison—what will happen to the cities.
- תִּהְיֶינָה (tihyenah) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person feminine plural; Translation: “shall be”; Notes: Future indicative—describes the restored state of the cities.
- הֶעָרִים (he-ʿarim) – Root: עיר (ʿir); Form: Definite noun feminine plural; Translation: “the cities”; Notes: Refers to previously desolate urban centers now restored and thriving.
- הֶחֳרֵבֹות (he-ḥorevot) – Root: חרב (ḥarav); Form: Definite noun feminine plural; Translation: “the ruined”; Notes: Describes cities that had been destroyed but will now be renewed and inhabited.
- מְלֵאֹות (meleʾot) – Root: מלא (maleʾ); Form: Qal participle feminine plural; Translation: “filled”; Notes: Indicates abundance—cities teeming with life and people as a mark of divine blessing.
- צֹאן (tson) – Root: צאן (tson); Form: Noun common collective; Translation: “flock”; Notes: Continues the metaphor of human population as a flock under YHWH’s care.
- אָדָם (adam) – Root: אדם (adam); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “men” or “people”; Notes: Indicates that the “flock” refers figuratively to human inhabitants rather than animals.
- וְיָדְעוּ (ve-yadʿu) – Root: ידע (yadaʿ); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal perfect 3rd person plural; Translation: “and they shall know”; Notes: Expresses recognition of YHWH’s identity through His acts of restoration.
- כִּי (ki) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “that”; Notes: Introduces the reason or content of the nations’ knowledge.
- אֲנִי (ʾani) – Root: —; Form: Independent pronoun 1st person singular; Translation: “I”; Notes: Stresses divine agency and personal involvement.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Proper divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenantal name of God—His identity recognized through the restoration of Yisraʾel.