אֶֽת־הַנַּחְלֹות֩ לֹ֨א חִזַּקְתֶּ֜ם וְאֶת־הַחֹולָ֣ה לֹֽא־רִפֵּאתֶ֗ם וְלַנִּשְׁבֶּ֨רֶת֙ לֹ֣א חֲבַשְׁתֶּ֔ם וְאֶת־הַנִּדַּ֨חַת֙ לֹ֣א הֲשֵׁבֹתֶ֔ם וְאֶת־הָאֹבֶ֖דֶת לֹ֣א בִקַּשְׁתֶּ֑ם וּבְחָזְקָ֛ה רְדִיתֶ֥ם אֹתָ֖ם וּבְפָֽרֶךְ׃
The weak you have not strengthened, and the sick you have not healed, and the broken you have not bound up, and the scattered you have not brought back, and the lost you have not sought, but with force you have ruled them and with harshness.
Morphology
- אֶת־הַנַּחְלֹות (ʾet-ha-naḥlot) – Root: נחל (naḥal); Form: Direct object marker + definite noun feminine plural; Translation: “the weak” or “the feeble”; Notes: Literally “those made weak”; refers to the vulnerable members of the flock needing support.
- לֹא (lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Negates the expected act of care or protection.
- חִזַּקְתֶּם (ḥizzaqtem) – Root: חזק (ḥazaq); Form: Piel perfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you have strengthened”; Notes: Piel intensifies the meaning—implies failure to fortify or encourage the weak.
- וְאֶת־הַחֹולָה (ve-ʾet-ha-ḥolah) – Root: חלה (ḥalah); Form: Conjunction וְ + direct object marker + definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “and the sick”; Notes: Denotes those physically or spiritually afflicted within the community.
- לֹא־רִפֵּאתֶם (lo-rippeʾtem) – Root: רפא (raphaʾ); Form: Negative particle לֹא + Piel perfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you have not healed”; Notes: Indicates neglect in restoring the health or welfare of the flock.
- וְלַנִּשְׁבֶּרֶת (ve-la-nishberet) – Root: שׁבר (shavar); Form: Conjunction וְ + preposition לְ + definite participle Nifal feminine singular; Translation: “and to the broken”; Notes: Refers to those crushed or wounded, physically or morally.
- לֹא (lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Again denies expected compassion.
- חֲבַשְׁתֶּם (ḥavash’tem) – Root: חבשׁ (ḥavash); Form: Qal perfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you have bound up”; Notes: Metaphorically refers to the act of healing wounds—neglected by the shepherds.
- וְאֶת־הַנִּדַּחַת (ve-ʾet-ha-niddaḥat) – Root: נדח (nadaḥ); Form: Conjunction וְ + direct object marker + definite participle Nifal feminine singular; Translation: “and the scattered”; Notes: Refers to those driven away or exiled; neglected by the leaders.
- לֹא (lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Denies restoration action.
- הֲשֵׁבֹתֶם (hashevotem) – Root: שׁוב (shuv); Form: Hiphil perfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you have brought back”; Notes: Indicates failure to cause the scattered to return; causative nuance of Hiphil.
- וְאֶת־הָאֹבֶדֶת (ve-ʾet-ha-ʾovedet) – Root: אבד (ʾavad); Form: Conjunction וְ + direct object marker + definite participle Qal feminine singular; Translation: “and the lost”; Notes: Describes those perishing or straying from safety.
- לֹא (lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Continues the litany of neglects.
- בִקַּשְׁתֶּם (biqqashtem) – Root: בקשׁ (baqash); Form: Piel perfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you have sought”; Notes: Piel indicates deliberate search, which the shepherds failed to undertake.
- וּבְחָזְקָה (u-ve-ḥazqah) – Root: חזק (ḥazaq); Form: Conjunction וּ + preposition בְּ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “and with force”; Notes: Expresses harsh treatment and domination over the flock.
- רְדִיתֶם (redittem) – Root: רדה (radah); Form: Qal perfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you have ruled”; Notes: Indicates oppressive rule instead of gentle guidance.
- אֹתָם (ʾotam) – Root: אות (ʾot); Form: Direct object marker + suffix 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “them”; Notes: Refers to the flock, the people of Yisraʾel subjected to tyranny.
- וּבְפָרֶךְ (u-ve-farekh) – Root: פרך (parekh); Form: Conjunction וּ + preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and with harshness”; Notes: Describes cruel oppression; same term used of the Egyptians’ bondage over Yisraʾel (Exodus 1:13–14).