וְאֶת־בֵּ֤ית יְהוּדָה֙ אֲרַחֵ֔ם וְהֹֽושַׁעְתִּ֖ים בַּיהוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיהֶ֑ם וְלֹ֣א אֹֽושִׁיעֵ֗ם בְּקֶ֤שֶׁת וּבְחֶ֨רֶב֙ וּבְמִלְחָמָ֔ה בְּסוּסִ֖ים וּבְפָרָשִֽׁים׃
But I will have compassion on the house of Yehuda, and I will save them by YHWH their God, and I will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen.
Morphology
- וְאֶת־ (ve-ʾet) – Root: את (ʾ-t); Form: Conjunction וְ + direct object marker; Translation: “but [the]”; Notes: Introduces contrast with the previous clause, shifting focus from Yisraʾel to Yehudah.
- בֵּית (beit) – Root: בית (b-y-t); Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “house of”; Notes: Indicates the people or dynasty as a collective body.
- יְהוּדָה (Yehudah) – Root: ידה (y-d-h); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yehudah”; Notes: The southern kingdom, contrasted with Yisraʾel, still receiving divine favor.
- אֲרַחֵם (ʾaraḥem) – Root: רחם (r-ḥ-m); Form: Piel imperfect 1cs; Translation: “I will have compassion”; Notes: Indicates divine mercy continuing toward Yehudah.
- וְהֹושַׁעְתִּים (ve-hoshʿattim) – Root: ישׁע (y-š-ʿ); Form: Hiphil perfect 1cs + pronominal suffix 3mp with conjunctive וְ; Translation: “and I will save them”; Notes: Denotes causative divine deliverance—YHWH Himself will act as savior.
- בַּיהוָה (ba-YHWH) – Root: היה (h-y-h); Form: Preposition בְּ + proper noun (Tetragrammaton); Translation: “by YHWH”; Notes: Expresses the agent or means of salvation, underscoring divine initiative rather than human effort.
- אֱלֹהֵיהֶם (ʾelohehem) – Root: אלה (ʾ-l-h); Form: Noun masculine plural construct + suffix 3mp; Translation: “their God”; Notes: Reinforces covenant relationship between YHWH and Yehudah.
- וְלֹא (ve-lo) – Root: לא (l-ʾ); Form: Conjunction וְ + negative particle; Translation: “and not”; Notes: Denies the means of military salvation typical of human kingdoms.
- אֹושִׁיעֵם (ʾoshiʿem) – Root: ישׁע (y-š-ʿ); Form: Hiphil imperfect 1cs + pronominal suffix 3mp; Translation: “I will save them”; Notes: Repeated verb emphasizes divine sovereignty—YHWH chooses the method of salvation.
- בְּקֶשֶׁת (be-qeshet) – Root: קשׁת (q-š-t); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “by the bow”; Notes: Represents military weaponry; excluded as a means of deliverance.
- וּבְחֶרֶב (u-ve-ḥerev) – Root: חרב (ḥ-r-b); Form: Conjunction וְ + preposition בְּ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “nor by sword”; Notes: Continuation of the exclusion of military force.
- וּבְמִלְחָמָה (u-ve-milḥamah) – Root: לחם (l-ḥ-m); Form: Conjunction וְ + preposition בְּ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “nor by battle”; Notes: Broader term including the entire act of warfare.
- בְּסוּסִים (be-susim) – Root: סוס (s-w-s); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine plural; Translation: “by horses”; Notes: Symbolic of military power and swift defense, often associated with Egypt (cf. Isaiah 31:1).
- וּבְפָרָשִׁים (u-ve-parashim) – Root: פרשׁ (p-r-š); Form: Conjunction וְ + preposition בְּ + noun masculine plural; Translation: “nor by horsemen”; Notes: Completes the list of rejected instruments of salvation, affirming divine deliverance independent of human strength.