כְּשֹׁמְרֵ֣י שָׂדַ֔י הָי֥וּ עָלֶ֖יהָ מִסָּבִ֑יב כִּי־אֹתִ֥י מָרָ֖תָה נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃
Like watchers of a field they were against her all around, for against Me she has rebelled—declares YHWH.
Morphology
- כְּשֹׁמְרֵ֣י (ke-shomerei) – Root: שׁמר (shamar); Form: Preposition כְּ + Qal participle masculine plural construct; Translation: “Like watchers of”; Notes: Simile introducing the image of guards or sentinels.
- שָׂדַ֔י (sadai) – Root: שׂדה (sadeh); Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “a field”; Notes: Joined to the participle to describe those who watch fields.
- הָי֥וּ (hayu) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person plural; Translation: “they were”; Notes: Main verb of the clause describing the surrounding enemies.
- עָלֶ֖יהָ (ʿaleha) – Root: על (ʿal); Form: Preposition עַל + third person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “against her” or “upon her”; Notes: Refers to Yerushalayim under siege.
- מִסָּבִ֑יב (mi-saviv) – Root: סבב (savav); Form: Preposition מִן + noun/adverb; Translation: “all around”; Notes: Describes encirclement, likely by enemies.
- כִּי־אֹתִ֥י (ki-oti) – Root: כי + את; Form: Conjunction “for” + direct object marker + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “for against Me”; Notes: Introduces the reason for the siege—rebellion against YHWH.
- מָרָ֖תָה (maratah) – Root: מרה (marah); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person feminine singular + 3rd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “she has rebelled”; Notes: Feminine subject refers to the city (Yerushalayim).
- נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה (neʾum-YHWH) – Root: נאם (naʾam); Form: Construct noun + divine proper name; Translation: “declares YHWH”; Notes: Formal prophetic declaration marking divine authority.