וָֽאֶרְעֶה֙ אֶת־צֹ֣אן הַֽהֲרֵגָ֔ה לָכֵ֖ן עֲנִיֵּ֣י הַצֹּ֑אן וָאֶקַּֽח־לִ֞י שְׁנֵ֣י מַקְלֹ֗ות לְאַחַ֞ד קָרָ֤אתִי נֹ֨עַם֙ וּלְאַחַד֙ קָרָ֣אתִי חֹֽבְלִ֔ים וָאֶרְעֶ֖ה אֶת־הַצֹּֽאן׃
And I shepherded the flock of slaughter, therefore the afflicted of the flock, and I took for myself two staffs; to the one I called Pleasantness, and to the one I called Bindings, and I shepherded the flock.
Morphology
- וָאֶרְעֶה (va-ʾerʿeh) – Root: רעה (raʿah); Form: Conjunction וָ + Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 1st person common singular; Translation: “and I shepherded”; Notes: Narrative action describing the prophet’s enacted role.
- אֶת־צֹאן (ʾet-tsoʾn) – Root: צאן (tsoʾn); Form: Direct object marker אֶת + noun feminine collective singular; Translation: “the flock”; Notes: Collective term for the people portrayed as sheep.
- הַהֲרֵגָה (ha-haregah) – Root: הרג (harag); Form: Definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “of the slaughter”; Notes: Defines the flock as destined for killing.
- לָכֵן (lakhen) – Root: —; Form: Adverb; Translation: “therefore”; Notes: Signals consequence or explanation.
- עֲנִיֵּי (ʿaniyyei) – Root: ענה (ʿanah); Form: Adjective masculine plural construct; Translation: “the afflicted”; Notes: Characterizes a subset within the flock.
- הַצֹּאן (ha-tsoʾn) – Root: צאן (tsoʾn); Form: Definite noun feminine collective singular; Translation: “of the flock”; Notes: Completes the construct phrase identifying the afflicted ones.
- וָאֶקַּח־לִי (va-ʾeqqaḥ-li) – Root: לקח (laqach); Form: Conjunction וָ + Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 1st person common singular + preposition לְ + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “and I took for myself”; Notes: Emphasizes intentional personal action.
- שְׁנֵי (shenei) – Root: שׁנה (shanah); Form: Numeral masculine construct; Translation: “two”; Notes: Governs the following noun.
- מַקְלֹות (maqlot) – Root: מקל (maql); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “staffs”; Notes: Shepherd’s implements with symbolic significance.
- לְאַחַד (le-ʾaḥad) – Root: אחד (ʾeḥad); Form: Preposition לְ + numeral masculine singular; Translation: “to the one”; Notes: Introduces the naming of the first staff.
- קָרָאתִי (qaraʾti) – Root: קרא (qaraʾ); Form: Qal perfect 1st person common singular; Translation: “I called”; Notes: Naming action confers symbolic meaning.
- נֹעַם (noʿam) – Root: נעם (naʿam); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “Pleasantness”; Notes: Symbolizes favor or graciousness.
- וּלְאַחַד (u-le-ʾaḥad) – Root: אחד (ʾeḥad); Form: Conjunction וְ + preposition לְ + numeral masculine singular; Translation: “and to the one”; Notes: Introduces the second staff.
- קָרָאתִי (qaraʾti) – Root: קרא (qaraʾ); Form: Qal perfect 1st person common singular; Translation: “I called”; Notes: Repetition reinforces deliberate symbolic naming.
- חֹבְלִים (ḥovlim) – Root: חבל (ḥaval); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “Bindings”; Notes: Conveys restraint or union, later associated with rupture.
- וָאֶרְעֶה (va-ʾerʿeh) – Root: רעה (raʿah); Form: Conjunction וָ + Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 1st person common singular; Translation: “and I shepherded”; Notes: Resumes the enacted shepherding action.
- אֶת־הַצֹּאן (ʾet-ha-tsoʾn) – Root: צאן (tsoʾn); Form: Direct object marker אֶת + definite noun feminine collective singular; Translation: “the flock”; Notes: Concludes the verse by restating the object of care.