אֶרְפָּא֙ מְשׁ֣וּבָתָ֔ם אֹהֲבֵ֖ם נְדָבָ֑ה כִּ֛י שָׁ֥ב אַפִּ֖י מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃
I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely, for My anger has turned away from him.
Morphology
- אֶרְפָּא (ʾerpa) – Root: רָפָא (raphaʾ); Form: Qal imperfect 1st person common singular; Translation: “I will heal”; Notes: Denotes restoration—YHWH promises to heal Yisraʾel’s spiritual illness (apostasy) through divine forgiveness and renewal.
- מְשׁוּבָתָם (meshubatam) – Root: שׁוּב (shuv); Form: Noun feminine singular with suffix 3mp; Translation: “their backsliding”; Notes: Refers to apostasy or repeated turning away from YHWH—literally “turning back.” The healing is moral and covenantal.
- אֹהֲבֵם (ʾohavem) – Root: אָהַב (ʾahav); Form: Qal participle 1st person common singular + suffix 3mp; Translation: “I will love them”; Notes: Expresses enduring affection. The participle emphasizes continuous action—God’s steadfast love overcoming judgment.
- נְדָבָה (nedavah) – Root: נָדַב (nadav); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “freely” or “generously”; Notes: Indicates voluntary, unearned love—YHWH’s grace is self-initiated, not merited by Yisraʾel’s repentance.
- כִּי (ki) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for” or “because”; Notes: Introduces the reason for YHWH’s mercy: His anger has been turned away.
- שָׁב (shav) – Root: שׁוּב (shuv); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “has turned away”; Notes: Describes divine reversal—YHWH’s wrath has retreated, signaling the end of punishment and the dawn of reconciliation.
- אַפִּי (appi) – Root: אַף (ʾaf); Form: Noun masculine singular construct + suffix 1cs; Translation: “My anger”; Notes: The Hebrew word for “nose” or “anger” conveys emotional intensity. Here, divine wrath subsides completely.
- מִמֶּנּוּ (mimmennu) – Root: —; Form: Preposition מִן + suffix 3ms; Translation: “from him”; Notes: Refers to Yisraʾel personified as a single individual. The preposition marks separation—God’s wrath has withdrawn its presence and effect.