וְקִרְע֤וּ לְבַבְכֶם֙ וְאַל־בִּגְדֵיכֶ֔ם וְשׁ֖וּבוּ אֶל־יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֑ם כִּֽי־חַנּ֤וּן וְרַחוּם֙ ה֔וּא אֶ֤רֶךְ אַפַּ֨יִם֙ וְרַב־חֶ֔סֶד וְנִחָ֖ם עַל־הָרָעָֽה׃
And rend your heart and not your garments, and return to YHWH your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abundant in mercy, and relents concerning the evil.
Morphology
- וְקִרְע֤וּ (ve-qirʿu) – Root: קרע (qaraʿ); Form: Conjunction + Qal imperative 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “and rend”; Notes: Calls for inner repentance rather than external ritual expression.
- לְבַבְכֶם֙ (levavkhem) – Root: לבב (levav); Form: Preposition לְ + noun masculine singular + suffix 2mp; Translation: “your heart”; Notes: Symbol of inner will and emotion—the core of personal transformation.
- וְאַל־ (ve-al) – Root: אל (ʾal); Form: Conjunction + negative particle; Translation: “and not”; Notes: Negates the following command, contrasting outward and inward actions.
- בִּגְדֵיכֶ֔ם (bigdeikhem) – Root: בגד (beged); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine plural construct + suffix 2mp; Translation: “your garments”; Notes: Refers to the traditional external sign of mourning, here replaced by true inner repentance.
- וְשׁ֖וּבוּ (ve-shuvu) – Root: שׁוב (shuv); Form: Conjunction + Qal imperative 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “and return”; Notes: Central prophetic call to repentance and reconciliation with YHWH.
- אֶל־ (el) – Root: אל (ʾel); Form: Preposition; Translation: “to”; Notes: Indicates motion or direction toward the divine.
- יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal relationship with Yisraʾel.
- אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֑ם (ʾEloheikhem) – Root: אלה (ʾeloh); Form: Noun masculine plural construct + suffix 2mp; Translation: “your God”; Notes: Personalizes YHWH’s covenant relationship with His people.
- כִּֽי־ (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces the reason for repentance—YHWH’s merciful character.
- חַנּ֤וּן (ḥannun) – Root: חנן (ḥanan); Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “gracious”; Notes: Describes YHWH’s generous favor and readiness to forgive.
- וְרַחוּם֙ (ve-raḥum) – Root: רחם (raḥam); Form: Conjunction + adjective masculine singular; Translation: “and compassionate”; Notes: Expresses tender mercy, rooted in divine love.
- ה֔וּא (hu) – Root: הוא (hu); Form: Independent pronoun masculine singular; Translation: “He”; Notes: Provides emphasis on the subject YHWH’s nature.
- אֶ֤רֶךְ (ʾerekh) – Root: ארך (ʾarakh); Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “slow to”; Notes: Forms a fixed expression describing patience.
- אַפַּ֨יִם֙ (appayim) – Root: אף (ʾaph); Form: Dual noun masculine; Translation: “anger”; Notes: Literally “nostrils,” idiomatically “anger”—YHWH is slow to anger.
- וְרַב־ (ve-rav) – Root: רבב (ravav); Form: Conjunction + adjective masculine singular construct; Translation: “and abundant in”; Notes: Indicates abundance or greatness.
- חֶ֔סֶד (ḥesed) – Root: חסד (ḥesed); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “mercy” or “steadfast love”; Notes: Central covenantal attribute of YHWH—faithful kindness.
- וְנִחָ֖ם (ve-niḥam) – Root: נחם (naḥam); Form: Conjunction + Nifal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and He relents”; Notes: Indicates compassion or willingness to withhold punishment.
- עַל־ (ʿal) – Root: על (ʿal); Form: Preposition; Translation: “concerning”; Notes: Governs the following noun, showing relation to the action.
- הָרָעָֽה (ha-raʿah) – Root: רעע (raʿaʿ); Form: Definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “the evil”; Notes: Refers to impending disaster or judgment, which YHWH may withhold in mercy.