כֹּ֣ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֡ה עִמְדוּ֩ עַל־דְּרָכִ֨ים וּרְא֜וּ וְשַׁאֲל֣וּ לִנְתִבֹ֣ות עֹולָ֗ם אֵי־זֶ֨ה דֶ֤רֶךְ הַטֹּוב֙ וּלְכוּ־בָ֔הּ וּמִצְא֥וּ מַרְגֹּ֖ועַ לְנַפְשְׁכֶ֑ם וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ לֹ֥א נֵלֵֽךְ׃
Thus said YHWH: “Stand by the ways and see, and ask for the ancient paths, where is the good way; and walk in it, and you shall find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
Morphology
- כֹּ֣ה (koh) – Root: Demonstrative particle; Form: Adverb; Translation: “Thus”; Notes: Introduces prophetic speech from YHWH.
- אָמַ֣ר (ʾamar) – Root: אמר; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “said”; Notes: Refers to the divine speaker.
- יְהוָ֡ה (YHWH) – Root: Divine name; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The LORD, covenantal name of God.
- עִמְדוּ (ʿimdu) – Root: עמד; Form: Qal imperative masculine plural; Translation: “Stand”; Notes: A call to attention at the crossroads of decision.
- עַל־דְּרָכִים (ʿal-derakhim) – Root: דרך; Form: Preposition + noun masculine plural; Translation: “by the ways”; Notes: Refers to literal or figurative roads and life choices.
- וּרְאוּ (u-reʾu) – Root: ראה; Form: Qal imperative masculine plural with vav; Translation: “and see”; Notes: Command to observe and discern.
- וְשַׁאֲלוּ (ve-shaʾalu) – Root: שׁאל; Form: Qal imperative masculine plural with vav; Translation: “and ask”; Notes: Seek out the correct path through inquiry.
- לִנְתִבֹות (li-netivot) – Root: נתב; Form: Preposition + noun feminine plural; Translation: “for the paths”; Notes: Well-worn or ancient roads of tradition or righteousness.
- עֹולָם (ʿolam) – Root: עולם; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “ancient” or “eternal”; Notes: Describes the old, enduring ways.
- אֵי־זֶה (ʾei-zeh) – Root: אי, זה; Form: Interrogative pronoun + demonstrative; Translation: “Where is that”; Notes: Seeks specific direction.
- דֶרֶךְ (derekh) – Root: דרך; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “way”; Notes: Symbol of life direction or moral path.
- הַטֹּוב (ha-tov) – Root: טוב; Form: Definite adjective masculine singular; Translation: “the good”; Notes: Qualifies “way” as morally right and beneficial.
- וּלְכוּ־בָהּ (u-lekhu-vah) – Root: הלך; Form: Conjunction + Qal imperative masculine plural + preposition + 3rd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “and walk in it”; Notes: Directs action in the chosen path.
- וּמִצְאוּ (u-mitsetu) – Root: מצא; Form: Qal imperative masculine plural with vav; Translation: “and find”; Notes: Result of following the good path.
- מַרְגֹּועַ (margoaʿ) – Root: רגע; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “rest” or “tranquility”; Notes: Inner peace, the spiritual reward of obedience.
- לְנַפְשְׁכֶם (le-nafshekhem) – Root: נפשׁ; Form: Preposition + noun feminine singular with 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “for your souls”; Notes: Denotes personal spiritual wellbeing.
- וַיֹּאמְרוּ (va-yomru) – Root: אמר; Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “But they said”; Notes: Response of rebellion to the divine offer.
- לֹא (lo) – Root: לא; Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Denial of obedience.
- נֵלֵךְ (nelekh) – Root: הלך; Form: Qal imperfect 1st person plural; Translation: “we will walk”; Notes: Future refusal of the path offered by YHWH.