וְרָע֞וּ אֶת־אֶ֤רֶץ אַשּׁוּר֙ בַּחֶ֔רֶב וְאֶת־אֶ֥רֶץ נִמְרֹ֖ד בִּפְתָחֶ֑יהָ וְהִצִּיל֙ מֵֽאַשּׁ֔וּר כִּֽי־יָבֹ֣וא בְאַרְצֵ֔נוּ וְכִ֥י יִדְרֹ֖ךְ בִּגְבוּלֵֽנוּ׃ ס
And they shall shepherd the land of Ashshur with the sword and the land of Nimrod in her entrances and he shall rescue from Ashshur when he comes into our land and when he treads in our borders.
Morphology
- וְרָעוּ (ve-raʿu) — Root: רעה (raʿah); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they shall shepherd / rule”; Notes: Figurative shepherding—dominion through force.
- אֶת (et) — Root: את (’et); Form: Object marker; Translation: (no English rendering); Notes: Introduces the direct object.
- אֶרֶץ (erets) — Root: ארץ (erets); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “land”; Notes: Literal territory.
- אַשּׁוּר (Ashshur) — Root: אשׁור (Ashshur); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Ashshur”; Notes: The Assyrian empire.
- בַּחֶרֶב (ba-ḥerev) — Root: חרב (ḥerev); Form: Preposition בְּ + definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “with the sword”; Notes: Instrument of conquest.
- וְאֶת (ve-et) — Root: את (’et); Form: Conjunction וְ + object marker; Translation: (no English rendering); Notes: Introduces a second direct object.
- אֶרֶץ (erets) — Root: ארץ (erets); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “land”; Notes: Second region under judgment.
- נִמְרֹד (Nimrod) — Root: נמרד (Nimrod); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Nimrod”; Notes: Symbolic name for a powerful enemy realm.
- בִּפְתָחֶיהָ (bi-ftacheha) — Root: פתח (pataḥ); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine plural + suffix 3fs; Translation: “in her entrances”; Notes: Strategic access points to the land of Nimrod.
- וְהִצִּיל (ve-hitsil) — Root: נצל (natsal); Form: Conjunction וְ + Hiphil perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he shall rescue”; Notes: YHWH’s intervention through the ruler.
- מֵאַשּׁוּר (me-Ashshur) — Root: אשׁור (Ashshur); Form: Preposition מִן + proper noun; Translation: “from Ashshur”; Notes: Deliverance from the Assyrian threat.
- כִּי (ki) — Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “when”; Notes: Introduces the condition of invasion.
- יָבֹוא (yavo) — Root: בוא (bo); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he comes”; Notes: Assyrian entry into the land.
- בְּאַרְצֵנוּ (be-artseinu) — Root: ארץ (erets); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun feminine singular + suffix 1cp; Translation: “into our land”; Notes: Invading Yisraʾel’s territory.
- וְכִי (ve-ki) — Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction וְ + כִּי; Translation: “and when”; Notes: Parallels the first invasion clause.
- יִדְרֹךְ (yidrokh) — Root: דרך (darakh); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he treads”; Notes: Violent marching within borders.
- בִּגְבוּלֵנוּ (bi-gevuleinu) — Root: גבול (gevul); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine plural + suffix 1cp; Translation: “in our borders”; Notes: Outer edges of the land subject to invasion.