צִיֹּ֣ון יִשְׁאָ֔לוּ דֶּ֖רֶךְ הֵ֣נָּה פְנֵיהֶ֑ם בֹּ֚אוּ וְנִלְו֣וּ אֶל־יְהוָ֔ה בְּרִ֥ית עֹולָ֖ם לֹ֥א תִשָּׁכֵֽחַ׃ ס
To Tsiyyon they shall ask the way, their faces set there. Come and join yourselves to YHWH, an everlasting covenant that shall not be forgotten.
Morphology
- צִיֹּון (Tsiyon) – Root: ציון; Form: Proper noun, feminine singular; Translation: “Tsiyon”; Notes: Refers to Jerusalem, the holy mountain and dwelling of YHWH.
- יִשְׁאָלוּ (yishʾalu) – Root: שׁאל; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd masculine plural; Translation: “they shall ask”; Notes: Describes inquiry, here of direction toward Zion.
- דֶּרֶךְ (derekh) – Root: דרך; Form: Noun, masculine singular absolute; Translation: “the way”; Notes: Refers to the physical and spiritual path toward Zion.
- הֵנָּה (henah) – Root: —; Form: Adverb of place; Translation: “there/thither”; Notes: Indicates directionality, showing their faces are set toward Zion.
- פְנֵיהֶם (peneihem) – Root: פנה; Form: Noun masculine plural construct + 3rd masculine plural suffix; Translation: “their faces”; Notes: Construct phrase emphasizing determination or orientation.
- בֹּאוּ (boʾu) – Root: בוא; Form: Qal imperative 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “Come!”; Notes: A summons to approach or gather.
- וְנִלְו֣וּ (ve-nilvu) – Root: לוה; Form: Niphal imperfect/jussive 3rd masculine plural with vav; Translation: “and join yourselves”; Notes: Reflexive/passive nuance, connoting attachment or joining to YHWH.
- אֶל־יְהוָה (el-YHWH) – Root: —; Form: Preposition + divine name; Translation: “to YHWH”; Notes: Marks the one to whom the people are to join themselves.
- בְּרִית (berit) – Root: ברית; Form: Noun, feminine singular absolute; Translation: “covenant”; Notes: Central biblical concept of divine-human relationship.
- עֹולָם (ʿolam) – Root: עלם; Form: Noun masculine singular absolute; Translation: “everlasting”; Notes: Indicates permanence, eternal in scope.
- לֹא (lo) – Root: לא; Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Negates the following verb.
- תִשָּׁכֵחַ (tishshakeaḥ) – Root: שׁכח; Form: Niphal imperfect 3rd feminine singular; Translation: “shall be forgotten”; Notes: The covenant’s permanence is underscored through negation.