Jeremiah 12:9

הַעַ֨יִט צָב֤וּעַ נַחֲלָתִי֙ לִ֔י הַעַ֖יִט סָבִ֣יב עָלֶ֑יהָ לְכ֗וּ אִסְפ֛וּ כָּל־חַיַּ֥ת הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה הֵתָ֥יוּ לְאָכְלָֽה׃

Is My inheritance to Me a speckled bird of prey? The bird of prey is all around her. Come, gather every beast of the field, bring them to devour.

Morphology

1. הַעַ֨יִט (ha-ʿayit) – Root: עיט; Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the bird of prey”; Notes: Possibly refers to a vulture or large raptor; metaphor for destruction or enemy nations.
2. צָב֤וּעַ (tsavuaʿ) – Root: צבע; Form: Qal passive participle masculine singular; Translation: “speckled” / “colored”; Notes: Describes unusual or marked appearance—possibly metaphor for distinction or corruption.
3. נַחֲלָתִי (naḥalati) – Root: נחל; Form: Noun feminine singular + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “My inheritance”; Notes: Refers to Yisraʾel as YHWH’s portion.
4. לִי (li) – Root: ל; Form: Preposition + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “to Me”; Notes: Emphasizes personal relationship with the inheritance.
5. הַעַ֖יִט (ha-ʿayit) – Root: עיט; Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the bird of prey”; Notes: Repetition for rhetorical emphasis; possibly adversaries circling Yisraʾel.
6. סָבִ֣יב (saviv) – Root: סביב; Form: Adverb; Translation: “around”; Notes: Indicates surrounding danger or encirclement.
7. עָלֶ֑יהָ (ʿaleha) – Root: על; Form: Preposition + 3rd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “upon her”; Notes: Refers back to the inheritance (Yisraʾel).
8. לְכוּ (lechu) – Root: הלך; Form: Qal imperative masculine plural; Translation: “Come”; Notes: Call to action—summons wild animals or invaders.
9. אִסְפוּ (isfu) – Root: אסף; Form: Qal imperative masculine plural; Translation: “gather”; Notes: Further directive for assembling the beasts of prey.
10. כָּל־חַיַּ֥ת (kol-ḥayat) – Root: חיה; Form: Noun construct phrase; “all of the beast”; Translation: “every beast”; Notes: Introduces the participants in the judgment scene.
11. הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה (ha-sadeh) – Root: שׂדה; Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “of the field”; Notes: Wild beasts of the open land—symbol of judgment or invading nations.
12. הֵתָ֥יוּ (hetayu) – Root: תוה or אתה; Form: Imperative masculine plural (archaic or poetic); Translation: “bring”; Notes: Rare form; likely imperative meaning “come” or “bring near.”
13. לְאָכְלָה (le-okhlah) – Root: אכל; Form: Preposition לְ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “for devouring” / “to devour”; Notes: Final purpose clause—prey imagery completed.