וְצֹאנִ֑י מִרְמַ֤ס רַגְלֵיכֶם֙ תִּרְעֶ֔ינָה וּמִרְפַּ֥שׂ רַגְלֵיכֶ֖ם תִּשְׁתֶּֽינָה׃ ס
And My flock, they feed on what your feet have trampled, and they drink what your feet have muddied.’”
Morphology
- וְצֹאנִי (ve-tsoni) – Root: צאן (tson); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun feminine singular collective + suffix 1st person singular; Translation: “and My flock”; Notes: Refers to YHWH’s people, the oppressed and neglected members of His community.
- מִרְמַס (mirmas) – Root: רמס (ramas); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “trampling”; Notes: Denotes something trampled or trodden down—symbolizing what remains after the powerful have taken the best.
- רַגְלֵיכֶם (ragleikhem) – Root: רגל (regel); Form: Noun feminine plural construct + suffix 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “of your feet”; Notes: Points to the damage caused by the actions of those addressed, symbolizing oppression and disregard.
- תִּרְעֶינָה (tirʿenah) – Root: רעָה (raʿah); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person feminine plural; Translation: “they feed”; Notes: Refers to YHWH’s flock, forced to consume what remains after others have trampled the pasture.
- וּמִרְפַּשׂ (u-mirpas) – Root: רפס (rafas); Form: Conjunction וּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and what is muddied”; Notes: Refers to water stirred up or contaminated—metaphor for defiled resources or injustice.
- רַגְלֵיכֶם (ragleikhem) – Root: רגל (regel); Form: Noun feminine plural construct + suffix 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “by your feet”; Notes: Repeated for emphasis, highlighting continued corruption and careless behavior by the leaders.
- תִּשְׁתֶּינָה (tishteynah) – Root: שתה (shatah); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person feminine plural; Translation: “they drink”; Notes: The flock (feminine plural) is forced to drink polluted water—illustrating the consequences of selfishness and exploitation among the people.