לָכֵ֗ן הִנֵּ֤ה אָֽנֹכִי֙ מְפַתֶּ֔יהָ וְהֹֽלַכְתִּ֖יהָ הַמִּדְבָּ֑ר וְדִבַּרְתִּ֖י עַל לִבָּֽהּ׃
Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and I will bring her into the wilderness, and I will speak to her heart.
Morphology
- לָכֵן (lakhen) – Root: —; Form: Adverb; Translation: “therefore”; Notes: Marks the divine response to Israel’s unfaithfulness; introduces a turning point from judgment to mercy.
- הִנֵּה (hinneh) – Root: —; Form: Interjection; Translation: “behold”; Notes: A demonstrative particle drawing attention to the following divine action—often used to signal prophetic emphasis.
- אָֽנֹכִי (ʾanokhi) – Root: —; Form: Independent pronoun 1cs; Translation: “I”; Notes: Expresses divine self-reference, emphasizing YHWH’s personal involvement and initiative.
- מְפַתֶּיהָ (mefatteha) – Root: פתה (p-t-h); Form: Piel participle masculine singular + 3fs suffix; Translation: “alluring her” or “enticing her”; Notes: Piel conveys intensive persuasion—YHWH’s tender invitation to win back His unfaithful people.
- וְהֹלַכְתִּיהָ (ve-holakhtiha) – Root: הלך (h-l-k); Form: Hifil perfect 1cs + 3fs suffix with conjunction וְ; Translation: “and I will bring her”; Notes: The Hifil expresses causative action—YHWH leads her deliberately into solitude, symbolizing renewal through trial.
- הַמִּדְבָּר (ha-midbar) – Root: דבר (d-b-r); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the wilderness”; Notes: Represents both punishment and restoration—where Israel will again encounter YHWH in dependence and intimacy.
- וְדִבַּרְתִּי (ve-dibbarti) – Root: דבר (d-b-r); Form: Piel perfect 1cs with conjunction וְ; Translation: “and I will speak”; Notes: The Piel form conveys deliberate, persuasive speech—YHWH’s loving communication of reconciliation.
- עַל (ʿal) – Root: —; Form: Preposition; Translation: “to” or “upon”; Notes: Idiomatic usage “to the heart” (עַל־לֵב) implies affectionate persuasion rather than confrontation.
- לִבָּהּ (libbah) – Root: לבב (l-b-b); Form: Noun masculine singular + 3fs suffix; Translation: “her heart”; Notes: Symbolizes emotion, will, and spiritual receptivity; YHWH’s speech aims at renewal of inner devotion and covenantal love.