וְהָאָ֥רֶץ הַנְּשַׁמָּ֖ה תֵּֽעָבֵ֑ד תַּ֚חַת אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָיְתָ֣ה שְׁמָמָ֔ה לְעֵינֵ֖י כָּל־עֹובֵֽר׃
And the desolate land shall be tilled instead of being desolate before the eyes of every passerby.
Morphology
- וְהָאָרֶץ (ve-haʾarets) – Root: ארץ (ʾerets); Form: Conjunction וְ + definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “And the land”; Notes: Refers to the physical territory of Yisraʾel, often symbolizing covenantal inheritance.
- הַנְּשַׁמָּה (ha-neshamah) – Root: שׁמם (shamam); Form: Definite adjective feminine singular (passive participle); Translation: “the desolate”; Notes: Describes the land as lifeless and ruined, emphasizing prior judgment.
- תֵּעָבֵד (teʿaved) – Root: עבד (ʿavad); Form: Nifal imperfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “shall be tilled”; Notes: Passive voice indicates restoration—land once barren will again be cultivated.
- תַּחַת (taḥat) – Root: —; Form: Preposition; Translation: “instead of”; Notes: Marks contrast between the land’s former desolation and future fertility.
- אֲשֶׁר (ʾasher) – Root: —; Form: Relative particle; Translation: “which” or “when”; Notes: Introduces a relative clause explaining the previous state of the land.
- הָיְתָה (hayetah) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “was”; Notes: Refers to the land’s past state of devastation.
- שְׁמָמָה (shemamah) – Root: שׁמם (shamam); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “desolate”; Notes: Repetition underscores the completeness of former ruin.
- לְעֵינֵי (le-ʿeinei) – Root: עין (ʿayin); Form: Preposition לְ + noun feminine plural construct; Translation: “before the eyes of”; Notes: Indicates public visibility—restoration witnessed by all.
- כָּל־ (kol) – Root: כל (kol); Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “every”; Notes: Emphasizes universality—all observers will see the transformation.
- עֹובֵר (ʿover) – Root: עבר (ʿavar); Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “passerby”; Notes: Refers to those traveling through the land—outsiders witnessing YHWH’s restorative power.