וְעָבְד֤וּ אֹתֹו֙ כָּל־הַגֹּויִ֔ם וְאֶת־בְּנֹ֖ו וְאֶֽת־בֶּן־בְּנֹ֑ו עַ֣ד בֹּא־עֵ֤ת אַרְצֹו֙ גַּם־ה֔וּא וְעָ֤בְדוּ בֹו֙ גֹּויִ֣ם רַבִּ֔ים וּמְלָכִ֖ים גְּדֹלִֽים׃
And all the nations shall serve him, and his son, and his grandson, until the time of his land also comes, and many nations and great kings shall make him serve them.
Morphology
- וְעָבְדוּ (ve-ʿavdu) – Root: עבד; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person common plural; Translation: “and they shall serve”; Notes: Predictive sense referring to the nations’ subjugation.
- אֹתֹו (oto) – Root: את; Form: Direct object marker + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “him”; Notes: Refers to Nevukhadnetstsar, king of Bavel.
- כָּל־הַגֹּויִם (kol-haggoyim) – Root: גוי; Form: Noun masculine plural with definite article, preceded by “all”; Translation: “all the nations”; Notes: Emphasizes universality of subjugation.
- וְאֶת־בְּנו (ve-et-beno) – Root: בן; Form: Conjunction + direct object marker + noun masculine singular in construct + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “and his son”; Notes: Refers to the successor of Nevukhadnetstsar.
- וְאֶת־בֶּן־בְּנו (ve-et-ben-beno) – Root: בן; Form: Conjunction + direct object marker + construct phrase “son of his son”; Translation: “and his grandson”; Notes: Indicates the dynasty’s continuation for three generations.
- עַד (ʿad) – Root: —; Form: Preposition; Translation: “until”; Notes: Introduces the temporal limit of Babylon’s rule.
- בֹּא (bo) – Root: בוא; Form: Qal infinitive construct; Translation: “coming”; Notes: Functions as an infinitive in a temporal phrase.
- עֵת (ʿet) – Root: עת; Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “time”; Notes: Refers to the appointed period for judgment.
- אַרְצֹו (artso) – Root: ארץ; Form: Noun feminine singular with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “his land”; Notes: Refers to the territory of Babylon.
- גַּם (gam) – Root: —; Form: Adverb; Translation: “also”; Notes: Adds emphasis that Babylon itself will face subjugation.
- הוּא (hu) – Root: —; Form: Independent pronoun, masculine singular; Translation: “he / it”; Notes: Refers here to the land or king of Babylon.
- וְעָבְדוּ (ve-ʿavdu) – Root: עבד; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person common plural; Translation: “and they shall serve”; Notes: In this clause, the subject is many nations and great kings.
- בּו (bo) – Root: הוא; Form: Preposition בְּ + third person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “him”; Notes: Refers again to the Babylonian ruler.
- גֹּויִם (goyim) – Root: גוי; Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “nations”; Notes: Here refers to other political entities that will dominate Babylon.
- רַבִּים (rabbim) – Root: רבב; Form: Adjective masculine plural; Translation: “many”; Notes: Describes the large number of nations.
- וּמְלָכִים (u-melakhim) – Root: מלך; Form: Conjunction + noun masculine plural; Translation: “and kings”; Notes: Additional category of those who will rule over Babylon.
- גְּדֹלִים (gedolim) – Root: גדל; Form: Adjective masculine plural; Translation: “great”; Notes: Denotes prominence, power, and influence of these kings.