וְעַתָּ֡ה אֱמָר־נָ֣א אֶל־אִישׁ־יְהוּדָה֩ וְעַל־יֹושְׁבֵ֨י יְרוּשָׁלִַ֜ם לֵאמֹ֗ר כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה הִנֵּ֨ה אָנֹכִ֜י יֹוצֵ֤ר עֲלֵיכֶם֙ רָעָ֔ה וְחֹשֵׁ֥ב עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם מַֽחֲשָׁבָ֑ה שׁ֣וּבוּ נָ֗א אִ֚ישׁ מִדַּרְכֹּ֣ו הָֽרָעָ֔ה וְהֵיטִ֥יבוּ דַרְכֵיכֶ֖ם וּמַעַלְלֵיכֶֽם׃
And now, say please to the men of Yehuda and to the inhabitants of Yerushalayim, saying: ‘Thus says YHWH, “Behold, I am shaping against you evil and devising against you a plan. Turn back now, each man from his evil way, and make good your ways and your deeds.”’”
Morphology
- וְעַתָּה (ve-ʿattah) – Root: עת; Form: Conjunction + adverb; Translation: “And now”; Notes: Marks transition to a new divine instruction or call to action.
- אֱמָר־נָא (ʾemar-na) – Root: אמר; Form: Qal imperative masculine singular + particle of entreaty; Translation: “say please”; Notes: Gentle command urging the prophet to proclaim the message.
- אֶל־אִישׁ־יְהוּדָה (ʾel-ʾish-Yehudah) – Root: אל + איש + יהודה; Form: Preposition + noun + proper noun; Translation: “to the men of Yehudah”; Notes: Direct address to the people of the southern kingdom.
- וְעַל־יֹושְׁבֵי יְרוּשָׁלַם (ve-ʿal-yoshvei Yerushalayim) – Root: ישׁב; Form: Conjunction + preposition + plural construct participle + proper noun; Translation: “and to the inhabitants of Yerushalayim”; Notes: Expands the audience to the capital city.
- לֵאמֹר (leʾemor) – Root: אמר; Form: Preposition + infinitive construct; Translation: “saying”; Notes: Standard formula introducing divine speech.
- כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה (koh ʾamar YHWH) – Root: אמר; Form: Adverb + Qal perfect 3ms + proper noun; Translation: “Thus says YHWH”; Notes: Formula of prophetic authority.
- הִנֵּה (hinneh) – Root: הן; Form: Interjection; Translation: “Behold”; Notes: Introduces a solemn or dramatic divine declaration.
- אָנֹכִי (anokhi) – Root: אנכ; Form: Independent pronoun 1st person singular; Translation: “I”; Notes: Emphatic use of the first person pronoun by YHWH.
- יֹוצֵר (yotser) – Root: יצר; Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “shaping”; Notes: Continues the metaphor of YHWH as potter.
- עֲלֵיכֶם (ʿalekhem) – Root: על; Form: Preposition + 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “against you”; Notes: Marks the direction of divine intent.
- רָעָה (raʿah) – Root: רעע; Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “evil”; Notes: Refers to judgment or calamity, not moral evil.
- וְחֹשֵׁב (ve-ḥoshev) – Root: חשב; Form: Conjunction + Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “and devising”; Notes: Suggests intentional planning by YHWH.
- עֲלֵיכֶם (ʿalekhem) – Root: על; Form: Preposition + 2mp suffix; Translation: “against you”; Notes: Repeated for emphasis.
- מַחֲשָׁבָה (maḥashavah) – Root: חשב; Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “a plan”; Notes: Often used of divine intent or design.
- שׁוּבוּ (shuvu) – Root: שוב; Form: Qal imperative masculine plural; Translation: “Turn back”; Notes: Call to repentance.
- נָא (na) – Root: Particle of entreaty; Form: Interjection; Translation: “please”; Notes: Adds urgency and appeal to the command.
- אִישׁ (ʾish) – Root: אישׁ; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “each man”; Notes: Individualizes the command for personal response.
- מִדַּרְכּוֹ (mi-darko) – Root: דרך; Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular with 3ms suffix; Translation: “from his way”; Notes: Refers to one’s conduct or lifestyle.
- הָרָעָה (ha-raʿah) – Root: רעע; Form: Definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “the evil”; Notes: Moral or behavioral corruption.
- וְהֵיטִיבוּ (ve-heitivu) – Root: טוב; Form: Conjunction + Hifil imperative masculine plural; Translation: “and make good”; Notes: Causative verb calling for transformation.
- דַרְכֵיכֶם (darkeikhem) – Root: דרך; Form: Noun masculine plural construct + 2mp suffix; Translation: “your ways”; Notes: Figurative of conduct or ethical behavior.
- וּמַעַלְלֵיכֶם (u-maʿal’leikhem) – Root: עלל; Form: Conjunction + noun masculine plural with 2mp suffix; Translation: “and your deeds”; Notes: Refers to one’s actions or accomplishments—especially moral acts.