כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֖ר יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהָ֑י רְעֵ֖ה אֶת־צֹ֥אן הַהֲרֵגָֽה׃
Thus said YHWH my God: “Shepherd the flock of slaughter.
Morphology
- כֹּה (koh) – Root: —; Form: Adverb; Translation: “thus”; Notes: Formulaic particle introducing a direct divine utterance.
- אָמַר (ʾamar) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “said”; Notes: Prophetic reporting verb introducing YHWH’s command.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Proper divine name masculine singular; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Covenant name of the God of Yisraʾel.
- אֱלֹהָי (ʾelohai) – Root: אלה (ʾeloah); Form: Noun masculine singular with 1st person common singular suffix; Translation: “my God”; Notes: Expresses the prophet’s personal covenant relationship with YHWH.
- רְעֵה (reʿeh) – Root: רעה (raʿah); Form: Qal imperative masculine singular; Translation: “shepherd”; Notes: Direct command assigning pastoral responsibility.
- אֶת (ʾet) – Root: —; Form: Direct object marker; Translation: —; Notes: Marks the definite direct object of the imperative.
- צֹאן (tsoʾn) – Root: צאן (tsoʾn); Form: Noun feminine collective singular; Translation: “flock”; Notes: Collective term for sheep and goats, often metaphorical for a people.
- הַהֲרֵגָה (ha-haregah) – Root: הרג (harag); Form: Definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “the slaughter”; Notes: Defines the flock as destined for killing, underscoring judgment and vulnerability.