כַּבְּסִ֨י מֵרָעָ֤ה לִבֵּךְ֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם לְמַ֖עַן תִּוָּשֵׁ֑עִי עַד־מָתַ֛י תָּלִ֥ין בְּקִרְבֵּ֖ךְ מַחְשְׁבֹ֥ות אֹונֵֽךְ׃
Wash your heart from evil, Yerushalayim, so that you may be saved. How long shall your wicked thoughts lodge within you?
Morphology
- כַּבְּסִ֨י (kabbesi) – Root: כבס (kabas); Form: Piel imperative feminine singular; Translation: “Wash!”; Notes: An urgent call for inward purification; Piel intensifies the command.
- מֵרָעָ֤ה (me-raʿah) – Root: רעע (raʿaʿ); Form: Preposition מִן + noun feminine singular; Translation: “from evil”; Notes: Refers to moral or spiritual wickedness.
- לִבֵּךְ (libbekh) – Root: לבב (levav); Form: Noun masculine singular with 2nd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “your heart”; Notes: The inner person—source of thoughts, emotions, will.
- יְרוּשָׁלִַם (Yerushalayim) – Root: ירושלים; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yerushalayim”; Notes: Feminine singular, addressed as a personified city.
- לְמַ֖עַן (lemaʿan) – Root: מען; Form: Preposition; Translation: “so that”; Notes: Indicates purpose or result.
- תִּוָּשֵׁ֑עִי (tivvasheʿi) – Root: ישע (yashaʿ); Form: Nifal imperfect 2nd person feminine singular; Translation: “you may be saved”; Notes: Passive/reflexive; spiritual or national deliverance.
- עַד־מָתַ֛י (ʿad-matai) – Root: מתי; Form: Interrogative phrase; Translation: “How long?”; Notes: Expresses divine impatience or appeal.
- תָּלִ֥ין (talin) – Root: לין (lin); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “shall lodge”; Notes: Used figuratively for remaining or dwelling within.
- בְּקִרְבֵּ֖ךְ (be-qirbekh) – Root: קרב (qerev); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular with 2nd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “within you”; Notes: Refers to internal, personal space—within the heart or mind.
- מַחְשְׁבֹ֥ות (maḥshevot) – Root: חשב (ḥashav); Form: Noun feminine plural; Translation: “thoughts”; Notes: Often used negatively for evil schemes or intentions.
- אֹונֵֽךְ (onekh) – Root: און (ʾaven); Form: Noun masculine singular with 2nd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “your wickedness” or “your iniquity”; Notes: The source or nature of Yerushalayim’s sinful thoughts.