בֶּן־אָדָ֕ם הִנָּבֵ֖א עַל־רֹעֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל הִנָּבֵ֣א וְאָמַרְתָּ֩ אֲלֵיהֶ֨ם לָרֹעִ֜ים כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֣ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֗ה הֹ֤וי רֹעֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר הָיוּ֙ רֹעִ֣ים אֹותָ֔ם הֲלֹ֣וא הַצֹּ֔אן יִרְע֖וּ הָרֹעִֽים׃
“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Yisraʾel, prophesy and say to them, to the shepherds, ‘Thus says the Lord YHWH: “Woe to the shepherds of Yisraʾel who have been feeding themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock?
Morphology
- בֶּן־אָדָם (ben-ʾadam) – Root: בן (ben) / אדם (ʾadam); Form: Noun masculine singular construct + noun masculine singular absolute; Translation: “son of man”; Notes: A common divine address in Ezekiel, emphasizing human frailty before YHWH.
- הִנָּבֵא (hinnaʾbeʾ) – Root: נבא (navaʾ); Form: Nifal imperative masculine singular; Translation: “prophesy”; Notes: Command from YHWH for the prophet to speak in His name.
- עַל־רֹעֵי (ʿal-roʿei) – Root: רעָה (raʿah); Form: Preposition עַל + noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “against the shepherds”; Notes: Introduces the target of the prophetic denunciation.
- יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisraʾel) – Root: ישראל (Yisraʾel); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yisraʾel”; Notes: Refers to the covenant people of YHWH.
- הִנָּבֵא (hinnaʾbeʾ) – Root: נבא (navaʾ); Form: Nifal imperative masculine singular (repetition); Translation: “prophesy”; Notes: Repetition for emphasis, typical of Hebrew prophetic style.
- וְאָמַרְתָּ (veʾamarta) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal perfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “and you shall say”; Notes: Standard prophetic formula introducing divine speech.
- אֲלֵיהֶם (ʾaleihem) – Root: אל (ʾel); Form: Preposition אֶל + suffix 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “to them”; Notes: Indicates direction of the prophetic address.
- לָרֹעִים (la-roʿim) – Root: רעָה (raʿah); Form: Preposition לְ + definite noun masculine plural; Translation: “to the shepherds”; Notes: Specifies audience—those responsible for leading Yisraʾel.
- כֹּה (koh) – Root: כה (koh); Form: Adverb; Translation: “thus”; Notes: Introduces divine declaration formula.
- אָמַר (ʾamar) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “says”; Notes: Standard verb used in divine or prophetic speech formulae.
- אֲדֹנָי (ʾadonai) – Root: אדן (ʾadon); Form: Noun masculine plural with 1st person singular suffix used as divine title; Translation: “the Lord”; Notes: A reverential title when combined with YHWH.
- יְהוִה (YHWH) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Proper divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenant name of the God of Yisraʾel.
- הֹוי (hoy) – Root: הוי (hoy); Form: Interjection; Translation: “woe”; Notes: A lament or denunciation formula expressing grief and judgment.
- רֹעֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל (roʿei-Yisraʾel) – Root: רעָה (raʿah); Form: Noun masculine plural construct + proper noun; Translation: “shepherds of Yisraʾel”; Notes: Refers to leaders and rulers metaphorically depicted as shepherds.
- אֲשֶׁר (ʾasher) – Root: אשר (ʾasher); Form: Relative pronoun; Translation: “who”; Notes: Introduces a relative clause describing the shepherds’ conduct.
- הָיוּ (hayu) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person common plural; Translation: “were”; Notes: Refers to the habitual past action of self-serving shepherds.
- רֹעִים (roʿim) – Root: רעָה (raʿah); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “feeding” or “shepherding”; Notes: Describes their action, though misdirected toward themselves.
- אֹותָם (ʾotam) – Root: אות (ʾot); Form: Direct object marker + suffix 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “themselves”; Notes: Indicates reflexive feeding—the shepherds care for themselves, not the flock.
- הֲלֹוא (haloʾ) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Interrogative particle; Translation: “is it not”; Notes: Introduces a rhetorical question expecting affirmation.
- הַצֹּאן (ha-tson) – Root: צאן (tson); Form: Definite noun common collective feminine singular; Translation: “the flock”; Notes: Symbol of the people of Yisraʾel under divine care.
- יִרְעוּ (yirʿu) – Root: רעָה (raʿah); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “should feed”; Notes: Expresses expected action of shepherds’ duty to tend the flock.
- הָרֹעִים (ha-roʿim) – Root: רעָה (raʿah); Form: Definite noun masculine plural; Translation: “the shepherds”; Notes: The corrupt leaders of Yisraʾel, condemned for negligence and greed.