וְהָיָ֨ה לָהֶ֜ם דְּבַר־יְהוָ֗ה צַ֣ו לָצָ֞ו צַ֤ו לָצָו֙ קַ֤ו לָקָו֙ קַ֣ו לָקָ֔ו זְעֵ֥יר שָׁ֖ם זְעֵ֣יר שָׁ֑ם לְמַ֨עַן יֵלְכ֜וּ וְכָשְׁל֤וּ אָחֹור֙ וְנִשְׁבָּ֔רוּ וְנֹוקְשׁ֖וּ וְנִלְכָּֽדוּ׃ פ
And the word of YHWH shall be to them: “command upon command, command upon command, line upon line, line upon line, a little here, a little there,” so that they may go and stumble backward and be broken, and be snared and be taken.
Morphology
- וְהָיָ֨ה (ve-hayah) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular with waw-consecutive; Translation: “And it shall be”; Notes: Introduces a future result or condition.
- לָהֶ֜ם (lahem) – Root: הם (hem); Form: Preposition לְ + third person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “to them”; Notes: Refers to the people being addressed.
- דְּבַר־יְהוָ֗ה (devar-YHWH) – Root: דבר (davar); Form: Noun masculine singular construct + divine name; Translation: “the word of YHWH”; Notes: Refers to prophetic or divine instruction.
- צַ֣ו לָצָ֞ו צַ֤ו לָצָו֙ (tsav la-tsav tsav la-tsav) – Root: צוה (tsavah); Form: Noun masculine singular repeated; Translation: “command upon command”; Notes: Repetitive and perhaps mocking or tedious instruction.
- קַ֤ו לָקָו֙ קַ֣ו לָקָ֔ו (qav la-qav qav la-qav) – Root: קו (qav); Form: Noun masculine singular repeated; Translation: “line upon line”; Notes: May refer to measuring lines or phrases of repetitive teaching.
- זְעֵ֥יר שָׁ֖ם זְעֵ֣יר שָׁ֑ם (zeʿir sham zeʿir sham) – Root: זער (zaʿar); Form: Adjective masculine singular + adverb repeated; Translation: “a little here, a little there”; Notes: Emphasizes fragmentary or trivial instruction.
- לְמַ֨עַן (lemaʿan) – Root: מען (maʿan); Form: Preposition; Translation: “so that”; Notes: Introduces a purpose clause.
- יֵלְכ֜וּ (yelkhu) – Root: הלך (halakh); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they may go”; Notes: Introduces the ironic result of their hearing.
- וְכָשְׁל֤וּ (ve-kashlu) – Root: כשל (kashal); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural with waw-consecutive; Translation: “and stumble”; Notes: Implies falling into error or judgment.
- אָחֹור֙ (aḥor) – Root: אחור (aḥor); Form: Adverb; Translation: “backward”; Notes: Indicates regression or spiritual decline.
- וְנִשְׁבָּ֔רוּ (ve-nishberu) – Root: שבר (shavar); Form: Nifal perfect 3rd person masculine plural with waw-consecutive; Translation: “and be broken”; Notes: Passive verb expressing divine judgment.
- וְנֹוקְשׁ֖וּ (ve-nokshu) – Root: נקש (naqash); Form: Nifal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and be snared”; Notes: Refers to being caught like prey or trapped.
- וְנִלְכָּֽדוּ (ve-nilkadu) – Root: לכד (lakad); Form: Nifal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and be taken”; Notes: Final stage of judgment—captivity or destruction.