Jeremiah 1:5

בְּטֶ֨רֶם אצורך בַבֶּ֨טֶן֙ יְדַעְתִּ֔יךָ וּבְטֶ֛רֶם תֵּצֵ֥א מֵרֶ֖חֶם הִקְדַּשְׁתִּ֑יךָ נָבִ֥יא לַגֹּויִ֖ם נְתַתִּֽיךָ׃

Before I formed you in the belly, I knew you, and before you came out from the womb, I sanctified you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.

Morphology

1. בְּטֶ֨רֶם (be-terem) – Root: טרם; Form: Preposition; Translation: “Before”; Notes: Marks a temporal clause referring to time prior to an event.
2. אצורך (etzorkha) – Root: יצר; Form: Qal imperfect 1st person common singular + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “I formed you”; Notes: Refers to divine action of shaping or forming, especially in the womb.
3. בַבֶּ֨טֶן (va-beten) – Root: בטן; Form: Preposition בְּ + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “in the belly”; Notes: Refers to the womb, emphasizing prenatal divine knowledge.
4. יְדַעְתִּ֔יךָ (yedaktiykha) – Root: ידע; Form: Qal perfect 1st person common singular + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “I knew you”; Notes: Denotes intimate, purposeful knowledge, not merely cognitive awareness.
5. וּבְטֶ֛רֶם (u-ve-terem) – Root: טרם; Form: Conjunction + preposition; Translation: “and before”; Notes: Introduces another temporal clause.
6. תֵּצֵ֥א (tetze) – Root: יצא; Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “you came out”; Notes: Describes the act of birth.
7. מֵרֶ֖חֶם (me-reḥem) – Root: רחם; Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine singular; Translation: “from the womb”; Notes: Continues the imagery of divine calling before birth.
8. הִקְדַּשְׁתִּ֑יךָ (hiqdashtikha) – Root: קדש; Form: Hiphil perfect 1st person common singular + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “I sanctified you”; Notes: Indicates divine consecration or setting apart for a holy purpose.
9. נָבִ֥יא (naviʾ) – Root: נבא; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “a prophet”; Notes: Designates the recipient’s role and mission.
10. לַגֹּויִ֖ם (la-goyim) – Root: גוי; Form: Preposition + definite plural noun masculine; Translation: “to the nations”; Notes: Expands the scope of the prophetic mission beyond Yisraʾel.
11. נְתַתִּֽיךָ (netatikha) – Root: נתן; Form: Qal perfect 1st person common singular + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “I appointed you” or “I gave you”; Notes: Expresses the divine commission and gifting of the prophetic office.