ח֧וּלִי וָגֹ֛חִי בַּת־צִיֹּ֖ון כַּיֹּֽולֵדָ֑ה כִּֽי־עַתָּה֩ תֵצְאִ֨י מִקִּרְיָ֜ה וְשָׁכַ֣נְתְּ בַּשָּׂדֶ֗ה וּבָ֤את עַד־בָּבֶל֙ שָׁ֣ם תִּנָּצֵ֔לִי שָׁ֚ם יִגְאָלֵ֣ךְ יְהוָ֔ה מִכַּ֖ף אֹיְבָֽיִךְ׃
Writhe and groan O daughter of Tsiyyon like a woman giving birth for now you shall go out from the city and you shall dwell in the field and you shall come to Bavel there you shall be delivered there YHWH shall redeem you from the hand of your enemies.
Morphology
- חֻולִי (ḥuli) — Root: חול (ḥul); Form: Qal imperative 2nd person feminine singular; Translation: “writhe”; Notes: Command depicting anguish comparable to labor pains.
- וָגֹחִי (va-goḥi) — Root: גוח (goaḥ); Form: Conjunction וָ + Qal imperative 2nd person feminine singular; Translation: “and groan”; Notes: Parallel imperative reinforcing distress.
- בַּת־צִיּוֹן (bat-Tsiyyon) — Root: בת (bat) + ציון (Tsiyyon); Form: Noun feminine singular construct + proper noun; Translation: “daughter of Tsiyyon”; Notes: Personification of the people of Tsiyyon.
- כַּיֹּולֵדָה (ka-yoleidah) — Root: ילד (yalad); Form: Preposition כְּ + Qal participle feminine singular; Translation: “like a woman giving birth”; Notes: Comparison highlighting severe agony.
- כִּי (ki) — Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Provides the reason for the commanded anguish.
- עַתָּה (ʿattah) — Root: עת (ʿet); Form: Adverb; Translation: “now”; Notes: Signals imminent action.
- תֵצְאִי (tetzeʾi) — Root: יצא (yatsaʾ); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person feminine singular; Translation: “you shall go out”; Notes: Refers to forced departure into exile.
- מִקִּרְיָה (mi-qqiryah) — Root: קריה (qiryah); Form: Preposition מִן + noun feminine singular; Translation: “from the city”; Notes: Emphasizes removal from Yerushalayim.
- וְשָׁכַנְתְּ (ve-shakhanet) — Root: שכן (shakan); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal perfect 2nd person feminine singular; Translation: “and you shall dwell”; Notes: A future result expressed with the perfect.
- בַּשָּׂדֶה (ba-sadeh) — Root: שׂדה (sadeh); Form: Preposition בְּ + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “in the field”; Notes: Symbol of exposure and vulnerability.
- וּבָאת (u-vat) — Root: בוא (bo); Form: Conjunction וּ + Qal perfect 2nd person feminine singular; Translation: “and you shall come”; Notes: Indicates arrival at the place of exile.
- עַד־בָּבֶל (ʿad-Bavel) — Root: בבל (Bavel); Form: Preposition עַד + proper noun; Translation: “unto Bavel”; Notes: Destination of deportation.
- שָׁם (sham) — Root: שם (sham); Form: Adverb; Translation: “there”; Notes: Marks the place of deliverance.
- תִּנָּצֵלִי (tinnatzeili) — Root: נצל (natzal); Form: Nifal imperfect 2nd person feminine singular; Translation: “you shall be delivered”; Notes: Passive sense of divine rescue.
- שָׁם (sham) — Root: שם (sham); Form: Adverb; Translation: “there”; Notes: Repetition for rhetorical emphasis.
- יִגְאָלֵךְ (yigʾalek) — Root: גאל (gaʾal); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular + suffix 2fs; Translation: “shall redeem you”; Notes: Describes YHWH’s covenantal act of restoration.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) — Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The Redeemer in Israel’s exile.
- מִכַּף (mi-kaf) — Root: כּף (kaf); Form: Preposition מִן + noun feminine singular; Translation: “from the hand of”; Notes: Denotes deliverance from controlling power.
- אֹיְבָיִךְ (oyveyikh) — Root: אויב (oyev); Form: Noun masculine plural + suffix 2fs; Translation: “your enemies”; Notes: The hostile forces dominating Tsiyyon.