כְּרֹעֶה֙ עֶדְרֹ֣ו יִרְעֶ֔ה בִּזְרֹעֹו֙ יְקַבֵּ֣ץ טְלָאִ֔ים וּבְחֵיקֹ֖ו יִשָּׂ֑א עָלֹ֖ות יְנַהֵֽל׃ ס
Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, with His arm He will gather the lambs, and in His bosom He will carry them; the nursing ones He will gently lead.
Morphology
- כְּרֹעֶה (ke-roʿeh) – Root: רעה; Form: Preposition + Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “Like a shepherd”; Notes: Introduces simile comparing God to a shepherd.
- עֶדְרֹו (edro) – Root: עדר; Form: Noun masculine singular with 3ms suffix; Translation: “His flock”; Notes: Represents the people of Yisraʾel as sheep.
- יִרְעֶה (yirʿeh) – Root: רעה; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “He will tend”; Notes: Describes divine care and guidance.
- בִּזְרֹעֹו (bi-zeroʿo) – Root: זרוע; Form: Preposition + noun feminine singular with 3ms suffix; Translation: “with His arm”; Notes: Symbol of strength and protective power.
- יְקַבֵּץ (yeqabbets) – Root: קבץ; Form: Piel imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “He will gather”; Notes: Intensive verb form emphasizing the act of collecting the scattered lambs.
- טְלָאִים (telaʾim) – Root: טלא; Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “lambs”; Notes: Symbol of the weak, young, or vulnerable among the people.
- וּבְחֵיקֹו (u-ve-ḥeiko) – Root: חיק; Form: Conjunction + preposition + noun masculine singular with 3ms suffix; Translation: “and in His bosom”; Notes: Image of intimate, protective care.
- יִשָּׂא (yissa) – Root: נשא; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “He will carry”; Notes: Continues the tender shepherding imagery.
- עָלֹות (ʿalot) – Root: עלה; Form: Noun feminine plural; Translation: “the nursing ones”; Notes: Possibly ewes that are nursing; highlights the most delicate group.
- יְנַהֵל (yenahēl) – Root: נהל; Form: Piel imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “He will gently lead”; Notes: Piel form expresses careful, deliberate guiding, fitting the pastoral metaphor.