הֹ֣וי רֹעִ֤י הָֽאֱלִיל֙ עֹזְבִ֣י הַצֹּ֔אן חֶ֥רֶב עַל־זְרֹועֹ֖ו וְעַל־עֵ֣ין יְמִינֹ֑ו זְרֹעֹו֙ יָבֹ֣ושׁ תִּיבָ֔שׁ וְעֵ֥ין יְמִינֹ֖ו כָּהֹ֥ה תִכְהֶֽה׃ ס
Woe to the worthless shepherd, abandoning the flock. A sword is upon his arm and upon his right eye. His arm shall surely wither, and his right eye shall surely grow dim.”
Morphology
- הֹוי (hoy) – Root: —; Form: Interjection; Translation: “woe”; Notes: Prophetic cry announcing judgment.
- רֹעִי (roʿi) – Root: רעה (raʿah); Form: Noun masculine singular with suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “my shepherd”; Notes: Ironically possessive, highlighting responsibility.
- הָאֱלִיל (ha-ʾelil) – Root: אלל (ʾelal); Form: Definite adjective masculine singular; Translation: “the worthless”; Notes: Denotes moral emptiness and ineffectiveness.
- עֹזְבִי (ʿozvi) – Root: עזב (ʿazav); Form: Qal active participle masculine singular with plural sense; Translation: “abandoning”; Notes: Describes habitual neglect.
- הַצֹּאן (ha-tsoʾn) – Root: צאן (tsoʾn); Form: Definite noun common gender collective; Translation: “the flock”; Notes: Metaphor for the people.
- חֶרֶב (ḥerev) – Root: חרב (ḥerev); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “a sword”; Notes: Instrument of judgment.
- עַל־זְרֹועֹו (ʿal-zeroʿo) – Root: זרוע (zeroaʿ); Form: Preposition עַל + noun feminine singular with suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “upon his arm”; Notes: The arm symbolizes strength and action.
- וְעַל־עֵין (ve-ʿal-ʿein) – Root: עין (ʿayin); Form: Conjunction וְ + preposition עַל + noun feminine singular; Translation: “and upon the eye”; Notes: Adds a second target of judgment.
- יְמִינֹו (yemino) – Root: ימין (yamin); Form: Noun feminine singular with suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “his right”; Notes: The right side symbolizes power and skill.
- זְרֹעֹו (zeroʿo) – Root: זרוע (zeroaʿ); Form: Noun feminine singular with suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “his arm”; Notes: Repeated for emphasis.
- יָבֹושׁ (yavosh) – Root: יבשׁ (yavesh); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “shall wither”; Notes: Predicts loss of strength.
- תִּיבָשׁ (tivash) – Root: יבשׁ (yavesh); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “shall surely wither”; Notes: Feminine agreement referring to the arm.
- וְעֵין (ve-ʿein) – Root: עין (ʿayin); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “and the eye”; Notes: Parallel element of judgment.
- יְמִינֹו (yemino) – Root: ימין (yamin); Form: Noun feminine singular with suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “his right”; Notes: Repetition intensifies the curse.
- כָּהֹה (kahoh) – Root: כהה (kahah); Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “dim”; Notes: Loss of sight and perception.
- תִכְהֶה (tikhheh) – Root: כהה (kahah); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “shall grow dim”; Notes: Feminine agreement with “eye,” completing the judgment.