וְהָיָ֣ה שְׁאֵרִ֣ית יַעֲקֹ֗ב בְּקֶ֨רֶב֙ עַמִּ֣ים רַבִּ֔ים כְּטַל֙ מֵאֵ֣ת יְהוָ֔ה כִּרְבִיבִ֖ים עֲלֵי־עֵ֑שֶׂב אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא־יְקַוֶּה֙ לְאִ֔ישׁ וְלֹ֥א יְיַחֵ֖ל לִבְנֵ֥י אָדָֽם׃
And the remnant of Yaʿaqov shall be in the midst of many nations like dew from YHWH like abundant showers upon grass which does not wait for a man and does not hope for the sons of men.
Morphology
- וְהָיָה (ve-hayah) — Root: היה (hayah); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal perfect 3ms; Translation: “and shall be”; Notes: Introduces the prophetic future condition of Yaʿaqov’s remnant.
- שְׁאֵרִית (she’erit) — Root: שׁאר (sha’ar); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “remnant”; Notes: Technical prophetic term for the preserved survivors of Yisraʾel.
- יַעֲקֹב (Yaʿaqov) — Root: עקב (ʿaqav); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yaʿaqov”; Notes: Represents the covenant people.
- בְּקֶרֶב (be-qerev) — Root: קרב (qerev); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “in the midst of”; Notes: Indicates embedded presence among the nations.
- עַמִּים (ʿammim) — Root: עם (ʿam); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “nations”; Notes: Refers to non-Israelite peoples.
- רַבִּים (rabbim) — Root: רבב (ravav); Form: Adjective masculine plural; Translation: “many”; Notes: Stresses their numerousness.
- כְּטַל (ke-tal) — Root: טל (tal); Form: Preposition כְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “like dew”; Notes: Dew symbolizes divine blessing and refreshment.
- מֵאֵת (me-et) — Root: את (’et); Form: Preposition מִן + noun feminine singular; Translation: “from”; Notes: Dew described as coming directly from YHWH.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) — Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Source of the life-giving dew.
- כִּרְבִיבִים (kirvivim) — Root: רביב (raviv); Form: Preposition כְּ + noun masculine plural; Translation: “like abundant showers”; Notes: Image of plentiful, repeated rainfall.
- עֲלֵי (ʿalei) — Root: על (ʿal); Form: Preposition עַל + construct form; Translation: “upon”; Notes: Describes the rainfall falling upon the grass.
- עֵשֶׂב (ʿesev) — Root: עשׂב (ʿesev); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “grass”; Notes: Symbol for vulnerable life sustained by divine provision.
- אֲשֶׁר (asher) — Root: אשׁר (’asher); Form: Relative particle; Translation: “which”; Notes: Introduces a description of independence from humans.
- לֹא־יְקַוֶּה (lo-yeqavveh) — Root: קוּה (qavah); Form: Negative particle לֹא + Piel imperfect 3ms; Translation: “does not wait for”; Notes: Dew is not dependent on human action.
- לְאִישׁ (le-ish) — Root: אישׁ (ish); Form: Preposition לְ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “for a man”; Notes: Contrasts divine initiative with human effort.
- וְלֹא (ve-lo) — Root: לא (lo); Form: Conjunction וְ + negative particle; Translation: “and does not”; Notes: Continues the parallel negation.
- יְיַחֵל (ye’yakhel) — Root: יחל (yaḥal); Form: Piel imperfect 3ms; Translation: “hope”; Notes: Expresses expectation or reliance.
- לִבְנֵי (li-vnei) — Root: בן (ben); Form: Preposition לְ + noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “for the sons of”; Notes: Human beings as unreliable sources of help.
- אָדָם (adam) — Root: אדם (adam); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “man / humankind”; Notes: Emphasizes dependence on YHWH alone.