קְחִ֥י רֵחַ֖יִם וְטַ֣חֲנִי קָ֑מַח גַּלִּ֨י צַמָּתֵ֧ךְ חֶשְׂפִּי־שֹׁ֛בֶל גַּלִּי־שֹׁ֖וק עִבְרִ֥י נְהָרֹֽות׃
Take the millstones and grind flour; uncover your veil, strip off the train, uncover the leg, pass through the rivers.
Morphology
- קְחִי (qəḥi) – Root: לקח; Form: Qal imperative feminine singular; Translation: “take”; Notes: Command directed to the Daughter of Bavel, signaling humiliation through servitude.
- רֵחַיִם (reḥayim) – Root: רחי; Form: Dual noun masculine or feminine (plural in form, singular in function); Translation: “millstones”; Notes: Indicates grinding tools for manual labor.
- וְטַחֲנִי (ve-taḥani) – Root: טחן; Form: Qal imperative feminine singular; Translation: “and grind”; Notes: Continues the image of forced labor and disgrace.
- קָמַח (qamaḥ) – Root: קמח; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “flour”; Notes: The result of grinding; symbolizes lowly domestic work.
- גַּלִּי (galli) – Root: גלה; Form: Piel imperative feminine singular; Translation: “uncover”; Notes: Repeated in the verse, denoting exposure and shame.
- צַמָּתֵךְ (tsammatek) – Root: צמת; Form: Noun feminine singular + 2nd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “your veil”; Notes: Refers to head covering, symbol of modesty and honor.
- חֶשְׂפִּי (ḥespi) – Root: חשׂף; Form: Qal imperative feminine singular; Translation: “strip off” or “expose”; Notes: Conveys forced exposure and disgrace.
- שֹׁבֶל (shovel) – Root: שבל; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “train” or “skirt”; Notes: Part of a woman’s long garment, denoting dignity or elegance.
- גַּלִּי (galli) – Root: גלה; Form: Piel imperative feminine singular (repeated); Translation: “uncover”; Notes: Emphasizes the stripping of honor.
- שֹׁוק (shoq) – Root: שוק; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “leg”; Notes: Public display of the leg represents indignity in ancient culture.
- עִבְרִי (ivri) – Root: עבר; Form: Qal imperative feminine singular; Translation: “pass over” or “pass through”; Notes: Possibly a reference to exile or being forced into captivity.
- נְהָרֹות (nəharot) – Root: נהר; Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “rivers”; Notes: May allude to the rivers of Bavel or to a metaphor for judgment or shame.