עָרֵ֥י הַנֶּ֛גֶב סֻגְּר֖וּ וְאֵ֣ין פֹּתֵ֑חַ הָגְלָ֧ת יְהוּדָ֛ה כֻּלָּ֖הּ הָגְלָ֥ת שְׁלֹומִֽים׃ ס
The cities of the Negev are shut, with no one opening; all of Yehuda has gone into exile—complete exile of peace.
Morphology
- עָרֵ֥י (ʿarei) – Root: עיר; Form: Noun feminine plural construct; Translation: “cities of”; Notes: Construct form linking to the next noun.
- הַנֶּ֛גֶב (ha-negev) – Root: נגב; Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the Negev”; Notes: Refers to the southern region of Yehudah.
- סֻגְּר֖וּ (suggeru) – Root: סגר; Form: Pual perfect 3rd person plural; Translation: “are shut”; Notes: Passive form indicating completed action.
- וְאֵ֣ין (ve-ʾein) – Root: אין; Form: Negative existential particle; Translation: “and there is not”; Notes: Denotes absence or nonexistence.
- פֹּתֵ֑חַ (poteaḥ) – Root: פתח; Form: Qal active participle masculine singular; Translation: “one who opens”; Notes: Describes the lack of an opener or deliverer.
- הָגְלָ֧ת (hoglat) – Root: גלה; Form: Hofal perfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “has been exiled”; Notes: Passive form of exile applied to Yehudah.
- יְהוּדָ֛ה (Yehudah) – Root: יהודה; Form: Proper noun, feminine singular; Translation: “Yehudah”; Notes: Refers to the southern kingdom or territory.
- כֻּלָּ֖הּ (kullah) – Root: כול; Form: Noun with 3rd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “all of it”; Notes: Refers to the totality of Yehudah.
- הָגְלָ֥ת (hoglat) – Root: גלה; Form: Hofal perfect 3rd person feminine singular (repeated); Translation: “has been exiled”; Notes: Emphatic repetition for rhetorical impact.
- שְׁלֹומִֽים (shelomim) – Root: שלום; Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “of peace”; Notes: Possibly ironic or idiomatic, the phrase “exile of peace” contrasts sharply with the surrounding calamity—potentially suggesting surrender or captivity without resistance. Though שְׁלֹומִֽים literally means “of peace” (plural), many scholars interpret it as an adverbial accusative meaning “completely,” “wholly,” or “entirely.” This usage aligns with idiomatic patterns in Biblical Hebrew, where the plural of shalom can convey totality or completeness. Accordingly, many English translations—including the ESV, NASB, NIV, KJV, and the JPS Tanakh—render “הָגְלָ֧ת… הָגְלָ֥ת שְׁלֹומִֽים” as “wholly carried into exile” or “carried completely away,” emphasizing the total and unresisted nature of the exile rather than any notion of peace. Your observation captures these nuances well, balancing the literal meaning with the more common interpretive understanding.