שֹׁוטְט֞וּ בְּחוּצֹ֣ות יְרוּשָׁלִַ֗ם וּרְאוּ־נָ֤א וּדְעוּ֙ וּבַקְשׁ֣וּ בִרְחֹובֹותֶ֔יהָ אִם־תִּמְצְא֣וּ אִ֔ישׁ אִם־יֵ֛שׁ עֹשֶׂ֥ה מִשְׁפָּ֖ט מְבַקֵּ֣שׁ אֱמוּנָ֑ה וְאֶסְלַ֖ח לָֽהּ׃
“Roam in the streets of Yerushalayim and see now, and know and seek in her broad places if you can find a man, if there is one doing justice, seeking faithfulness, then I will forgive her.
Morphology
- שֹׁוטְט֞וּ (shotetu) – Root: שוט (shut); Form: Qal imperative masculine plural; Translation: “Roam”; Notes: A command to move through an area searching thoroughly.
- בְּחוּצֹ֣ות (be-ḥutsot) – Root: חוץ (ḥuts); Form: Preposition + noun feminine plural; Translation: “in the streets”; Notes: Public spaces of the city.
- יְרוּשָׁלִַ֗ם (Yerushalayim) – Root: Proper noun; Form: Irregular proper name; Translation: “Yerushalayim”; Notes: The capital city, center of judgment and covenant.
- וּרְאוּ־נָ֤א (u-reʾu-na) – Root: ראה (raʾah); Form: Conjunction + imperative masculine plural + particle of entreaty; Translation: “and see now”; Notes: Plea to perceive clearly and urgently.
- וּדְעוּ֙ (u-deʿu) – Root: ידע (yadaʿ); Form: Conjunction + Qal imperative masculine plural; Translation: “and know”; Notes: Followed by command to gain insight.
- וּבַקְשׁ֣וּ (u-vaqshu) – Root: בקשׁ (baqqash); Form: Conjunction + Piel imperative masculine plural; Translation: “and seek”; Notes: Stronger than simple looking—diligent search.
- בִרְחֹובֹותֶ֔יהָ (birḥovoteha) – Root: רחוב (reḥov); Form: Preposition + noun masculine plural with 3rd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “in her broad places”; Notes: Refers to the city squares or main public areas.
- אִם־תִּמְצְא֣וּ (im-timtzeʾu) – Root: מצא (matsa); Form: Conditional + Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “if you can find”; Notes: Sets up the conditional clause.
- אִ֔ישׁ (ish) – Root: אישׁ (ʾish); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “a man”; Notes: Representative of a righteous individual.
- אִם־יֵ֛שׁ (im-yesh) – Root: ישׁ (yesh); Form: Conditional particle + existential particle; Translation: “if there is”; Notes: Continues the conditional structure.
- עֹשֶׂ֥ה (ʿoseh) – Root: עשה (ʿasah); Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “doing”; Notes: Present participle describing active behavior.
- מִשְׁפָּ֖ט (mishpat) – Root: שׁפט (shafat); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “justice”; Notes: Refers to lawful, moral governance.
- מְבַקֵּ֣שׁ (mevaqqesh) – Root: בקשׁ (baqqash); Form: Piel participle masculine singular; Translation: “seeking”; Notes: Indicates an active pursuit.
- אֱמוּנָ֑ה (emunah) – Root: אמן (ʾmn); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “faithfulness”; Notes: May include integrity, truth, and reliability.
- וְאֶסְלַ֖ח (ve-eslaḥ) – Root: סלח (salaḥ); Form: Conjunction + Qal imperfect 1st person common singular; Translation: “then I will forgive”; Notes: Divine response contingent on righteousness.
- לָֽהּ (lah) – Root: ל (le); Form: Preposition + 3rd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “her”; Notes: Refers to Yerushalayim (feminine city name).