בְּצֵאתוֹ וּגְבָאָ֛יו וְלֹ֥א יֵרָפְא֖וּ לְמֶ֥לַח נִתָּֽנוּ׃
Its swamps and its marshes shall not be healed; they shall be given for salt.
Morphology
- בְּצֵאתוֹ (be-tseto) – Root: יָצָא (yatsaʾ); Form: Preposition בְּ + infinitive construct with suffix 3ms; Translation: “in its going out” or “as it flows out”; Notes: Refers to the river’s outflowing areas or extremities.
- וּגְבָאָיו (u-gevāʾav) – Root: גָּבַע (gavaʿ); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine plural construct + suffix 3ms; Translation: “and its marshes”; Notes: Describes swampy regions or pools adjacent to the river’s main flow.
- וְלֹא (ve-lo) – Root: לֹא (lo); Form: Conjunction וְ + negative particle; Translation: “and not”; Notes: Negates the following verb, introducing contrast to the healing waters.
- יֵרָפְאוּ (yerāfeʾu) – Root: רָפָא (raphaʾ); Form: Nifal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “shall be healed”; Notes: Passive form—expresses that these parts will remain unpurified or unchanged.
- לְמֶלַח (le-melaḥ) – Root: מֶלַח (melaḥ); Form: Preposition לְ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “for salt”; Notes: Indicates purpose or result—these unhealed areas are designated for salt deposits.
- נִתָּנוּ (nittānu) – Root: נָתַן (natan); Form: Nifal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they were given” or “they shall be given”; Notes: Passive construction meaning the marshes are appointed or assigned for salt, contrasting the fertile river zones.