כֹּה־אָמַ֞ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֗ה הִנְנִ֨י אֶֽל־הָרֹעִ֜ים וְֽדָרַשְׁתִּ֧י אֶת־צֹאנִ֣י מִיָּדָ֗ם וְהִשְׁבַּתִּים֙ מֵרְעֹ֣ות צֹ֔אן וְלֹא־יִרְע֥וּ עֹ֛וד הָרֹעִ֖ים אֹותָ֑ם וְהִצַּלְתִּ֤י צֹאנִי֙ מִפִּיהֶ֔ם וְלֹֽא־תִהְיֶ֥יןָ לָהֶ֖ם לְאָכְלָֽה׃ ס
Thus says the Lord YHWH: “Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require My flock at their hand, and I will cause them to cease from feeding the flock, and the shepherds shall no more feed themselves, and I will deliver My flock from their mouth, and they shall not be food for them any longer.”’”
Morphology
- כֹּה (koh) – Root: כה (koh); Form: Adverb; Translation: “thus”; Notes: Introduces a prophetic declaration formula.
- אָמַר (ʾamar) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “says”; Notes: Typical verb in prophetic oracles, expressing divine speech.
- אֲדֹנָי (ʾadonai) – Root: אדן (ʾadon); Form: Noun masculine plural with 1st person singular suffix used as divine title; Translation: “the Lord”; Notes: Honorific title of YHWH denoting sovereignty.
- יְהוִה (YHWH) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Proper divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenantal name of Israel’s God.
- הִנְנִי (hineni) – Root: הנה (hinneh); Form: Interjection + pronoun 1st person singular; Translation: “Behold, I”; Notes: Indicates YHWH’s personal involvement and imminent action.
- אֶל־הָרֹעִים (ʾel-ha-roʿim) – Root: רעָה (raʿah); Form: Preposition אֶל + definite noun masculine plural; Translation: “against the shepherds”; Notes: Expresses opposition—YHWH’s judgment directed at corrupt leaders.
- וְדָרַשְׁתִּי (ve-darashti) – Root: דרשׁ (darash); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal perfect 1st person singular; Translation: “and I will require”; Notes: Implies accountability—YHWH will demand an account for His flock.
- אֶת־צֹאנִי (ʾet-tsoni) – Root: צאן (tson); Form: Direct object marker + noun feminine singular + suffix 1st person singular; Translation: “My flock”; Notes: Denotes divine possession and responsibility for His people.
- מִיָּדָם (mi-yadam) – Root: יד (yad); Form: Preposition מִן + noun feminine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “from their hand”; Notes: Symbolizes responsibility and control; God will take back authority from them.
- וְהִשְׁבַּתִּים (ve-hishbattim) – Root: שׁבת (shavat); Form: Conjunction וְ + Hiphil perfect 1st person singular + suffix 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and I will cause them to cease”; Notes: Causative—YHWH will end their function as shepherds.
- מֵרְעֹות (me-rʿot) – Root: רעָה (raʿah); Form: Preposition מִן + infinitive construct or noun plural (“feeding”); Translation: “from feeding”; Notes: Indicates removal from the role or privilege of tending the flock.
- צֹאן (tson) – Root: צאן (tson); Form: Noun common collective feminine singular; Translation: “flock”; Notes: Represents the people of Yisraʾel under divine care.
- וְלֹא־יִרְעוּ (ve-lo-yirʿu) – Root: רעָה (raʿah); Form: Conjunction וְ + negative particle לֹא + Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they shall not feed”; Notes: Denotes cessation of their self-serving activities.
- עֹוד (ʿod) – Root: עוד (ʿod); Form: Adverb; Translation: “any longer”; Notes: Emphasizes the finality of their removal.
- הָרֹעִים (ha-roʿim) – Root: רעָה (raʿah); Form: Definite noun masculine plural; Translation: “the shepherds”; Notes: The corrupt leaders or rulers of Yisraʾel.
- אֹותָם (ʾotam) – Root: אות (ʾot); Form: Direct object marker + suffix 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “themselves”; Notes: Reflexive—feeding themselves rather than the flock.
- וְהִצַּלְתִּי (ve-hitsalti) – Root: נצל (natsal); Form: Conjunction וְ + Hiphil perfect 1st person singular; Translation: “and I will deliver”; Notes: Causative action—YHWH will rescue His flock from danger.
- צֹאנִי (tsoni) – Root: צאן (tson); Form: Noun common collective feminine singular + suffix 1st person singular; Translation: “My flock”; Notes: Emphasizes divine ownership and care.
- מִפִּיהֶם (mi-pihehem) – Root: פה (peh); Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “from their mouth”; Notes: Metaphorically portrays rescue from devourers or oppressors.
- וְלֹא־תִהְיֶינָה (ve-lo-tihyenah) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Conjunction וְ + negative particle לֹא + Qal imperfect 3rd person feminine plural; Translation: “and they shall not be”; Notes: Expresses final deliverance—no longer prey to exploitation.
- לָהֶם (lahem) – Root: הם (hem); Form: Preposition לְ + suffix 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “for them”; Notes: Indicates possession or benefit—no longer belonging to the oppressors.
- לְאָכְלָה (le-okhlah) – Root: אכל (ʾakhal); Form: Preposition לְ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “for food”; Notes: Completes the metaphor of deliverance—the flock will no longer be consumed or exploited.