רְעֵ֧ה עַמְּךָ֣ בְשִׁבְטֶ֗ךָ צֹ֚אן נַֽחֲלָתֶ֔ךָ שֹׁכְנִ֣י לְבָדָ֔ד יַ֖עַר בְּתֹ֣וךְ כַּרְמֶ֑ל יִרְע֥וּ בָשָׁ֛ן וְגִלְעָ֖ד כִּימֵ֥י עֹולָֽם׃
Shepherd Your people with Your staff, the flock of Your inheritance, dwelling alone in a forest in the midst of Karmel; let them graze in Bashan and Gilʿad as in the days of old.
Morphology
- רְעֵ֧ה (reʿeh) — Root: רעה (r-ʿ-h); Form: Qal imperative 2ms; Translation: “Shepherd!”; Notes: Direct appeal to YHWH to act as shepherd.
- עַמְּךָ֣ (ʿammekha) — Root: עם (ʿ-m); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 2ms; Translation: “Your people”; Notes: Covenant identity emphasized.
- בְשִׁבְטֶ֗ךָ (be-shivtekha) — Root: שׁבט (sh-b-ṭ); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular + suffix 2ms; Translation: “with Your staff”; Notes: Symbol of guidance and authority.
- צֹ֚אן (tsoʾn) — Root: צאן (ṣ-ʾ-n); Form: Noun collective; Translation: “flock”; Notes: Metaphor for YHWH’s people.
- נַֽחֲלָתֶ֔ךָ (naḥalatekha) — Root: נחל (n-ḥ-l); Form: Noun feminine singular + suffix 2ms; Translation: “Your inheritance”; Notes: YHWH’s possession.
- שֹׁכְנִ֣י (shokhni) — Root: שׁכן (sh-k-n); Form: Qal participle mp (irregular pointing) with enclitic; Translation: “dwelling”; Notes: Describes the flock’s habitation.
- לְבָדָ֔ד (levadad) — Root: בדד (b-d-d); Form: Preposition לְ + adverb; Translation: “alone”; Notes: Conveys separateness or isolation.
- יַ֖עַר (yaʿar) — Root: יער (y-ʿ-r); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “forest”; Notes: Pasture-like wilderness.
- בְּתֹ֣וךְ (be-tokh) — Root: תוך (t-w-kh); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “in the midst of”; Notes: Spatial location.
- כַּרְמֶ֑ל (Karmel) — Root: כרמל; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Karmel”; Notes: Fertile, symbolic grazing region.
- יִרְע֥וּ (yirʿu) — Root: רעה (r-ʿ-h); Form: Qal imperfect 3mp; Translation: “they will graze”; Notes: Describes future restoration.
- בָשָׁ֛ן (Bashan) — Root: בשׁן; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Bashan”; Notes: Region famous for rich pasture.
- וְגִלְעָ֖ד (ve-Gilʿad) — Root: גלעד; Form: Conjunction ו + proper noun; Translation: “and Gilʿad”; Notes: Another fertile region.
- כִּימֵ֥י (kiymei) — Root: יום (y-w-m); Form: Preposition כְּ + noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “as the days of”; Notes: Introduces comparative phrase.
- עֹולָֽם (ʿolam) — Root: עלם (ʿ-l-m); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “old / ancient time”; Notes: Alludes to earlier flourishing periods.