לִשְׁלֹ֥ל שָׁלָ֖ל וְלָבֹ֣ז בַּ֑ז לְהָשִׁ֨יב יָדְךָ֜ עַל־חֳרָבֹ֣ות נֹושָׁבֹ֗ת וְאֶל־עַם֙ מְאֻסָּ֣ף מִגֹּויִ֔ם עֹשֶׂה֙ מִקְנֶ֣ה וְקִנְיָ֔ן יֹשְׁבֵ֖י עַל־טַבּ֥וּר הָאָֽרֶץ׃
to seize spoil and to take plunder, to turn your hand against desolate places now inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations, acquiring livestock and goods, dwelling upon the center of the land.’
Morphology
- לִשְׁלֹל (lishlol) – Root: שלל (shalal); Form: Preposition לְ + Qal infinitive construct; Translation: “to seize spoil”; Notes: Expresses purpose — Gog’s intent to plunder.
- שָׁלָל (shalal) – Root: שלל (shalal); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “spoil”; Notes: Refers to possessions or wealth taken from conquered peoples.
- וְלָבֹז (ve-lavoz) – Root: בזז (bazaz); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal infinitive construct; Translation: “and to take plunder”; Notes: Parallel to the first infinitive, reinforcing the motive of greed and conquest.
- בַּז (baz) – Root: בזז (bazaz); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “plunder”; Notes: Similar in meaning to “spoil,” used poetically for emphasis and rhythm.
- לְהָשִׁיב (lehashiv) – Root: שׁוב (shuv); Form: Preposition לְ + Hiphil infinitive construct; Translation: “to turn” or “to stretch out”; Notes: Here idiomatic—“to turn your hand against,” denoting hostile action.
- יָדְךָ (yadkha) – Root: יד (yad); Form: Noun feminine singular + suffix 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “your hand”; Notes: Metaphor for power or control.
- עַל־חֳרָבֹות (ʿal-ḥoravot) – Root: חרב (ḥarav); Form: Preposition עַל + noun feminine plural; Translation: “against desolate places”; Notes: Refers to ruins or formerly destroyed settlements.
- נֹושָׁבֹת (noshavot) – Root: ישׁב (yashav); Form: Niphal participle feminine plural; Translation: “now inhabited”; Notes: Indicates restoration — once desolate, now resettled areas.
- וְאֶל־עַם (ve-el-ʿam) – Root: עם (ʿam); Form: Conjunction וְ + preposition אֶל + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and against a people”; Notes: Expands the target from the land to its inhabitants.
- מְאֻסָּף (meʾussaf) – Root: אסף (ʾasaf); Form: Pual participle masculine singular; Translation: “gathered”; Notes: Refers to those regathered from exile — echoing prophetic restoration themes.
- מִגֹּויִם (mi-goyim) – Root: גוי (goy); Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine plural; Translation: “from the nations”; Notes: Indicates an international regathering, consistent with Ezekiel’s restoration prophecies.
- עֹשֶׂה (ʿoseh) – Root: עשה (ʿasah); Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “acquiring” or “producing”; Notes: Suggests active economic prosperity—Israel engaged in trade and agriculture.
- מִקְנֶה (mikneh) – Root: קנה (qanah); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “livestock”; Notes: Refers to tangible property or herds—symbols of wealth and stability.
- וְקִנְיָן (ve-qinyan) – Root: קנה (qanah); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and possessions”; Notes: Denotes acquired goods or commercial property.
- יֹשְׁבֵי (yoshvei) – Root: ישׁב (yashav); Form: Qal participle masculine plural construct; Translation: “those dwelling”; Notes: Describes continuous habitation in prosperity.
- עַל־טַבּוּר (ʿal-tabur) – Root: טבר (tabbur); Form: Preposition עַל + noun masculine singular; Translation: “upon the navel” or “center”; Notes: Figurative—“at the center of the land,” symbolizing strategic or central position.
- הָאָרֶץ (ha-ʾaretz) – Root: ארץ (ʾerets); Form: Definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “the land”; Notes: Refers to the land of Yisraʾel, viewed here as the geographical heart of nations.