Zephaniah 2:7

וְהָ֣יָה חֶ֗בֶל לִשְׁאֵרִ֛ית בֵּ֥ית יְהוּדָ֖ה עֲלֵיהֶ֣ם יִרְע֑וּן בְּבָתֵּ֣י אַשְׁקְל֗וֹן בָּעֶ֨רֶב֙ יִרְבָּצ֔וּן כִּ֧י יִפְקְדֵ֛ם יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֖ם וְשָׁ֥ב שְׁבִותָֽם׃

* כ שְׁבִותָֽם
* ק שְׁבִיתָֽם

And the region shall be for the remnant of the house of Yehuda; upon them they shall pasture; in the houses of Ashqelon in the evening they shall lie down, for YHWH their God shall attend to them and shall restore their captivity.

 

Morphology

  1. וְהָיָה (ve-hayah) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And it shall be”; Notes: Introduces the future transformation of the coastal region.
  2. חֶבֶל (ḥevel) – Root: חבל (ḥaval); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “region”; Notes: Refers to the coastal district mentioned in the surrounding verses.
  3. לִשְׁאֵרִית (li-sheʾerit) – Root: שאר (shaʾar); Form: Preposition לְ + noun feminine singular construct; Translation: “for the remnant of”; Notes: The remnant motif is significant in prophetic restoration themes.
  4. בֵּית (beit) – Root: בית (bayit); Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “house of”; Notes: Construct form governing the following proper noun Yehudah.
  5. יְהוּדָה (Yehudah) – Root: יהד (yahad); Form: Proper noun masculine singular; Translation: “Yehudah”; Notes: Refers to the southern kingdom, used here of the faithful remnant.
  6. עֲלֵיהֶם (ʿaleihem) – Root: על (ʿal); Form: Preposition עַל + suffix 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “upon them”; Notes: Indicates the land will be placed under their care and use.
  7. יִרְעוּן (yirʿun) – Root: רעה (raʿah); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they shall pasture”; Notes: Refers to shepherding activity of the remnant over the reclaimed land.
  8. בְּבָתֵּי (be-vatei) – Root: בית (bayit); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “in the houses of”; Notes: Indicates location where they will dwell securely.
  9. אַשְׁקְלוֹן (Ashqelon) – Root: אשקלון (Ashqelon); Form: Proper noun masculine singular; Translation: “Ashqelon”; Notes: Pelishti city, now envisioned as restored habitation for Yehudah’s remnant.
  10. בָּעֶרֶב (ba-ʿerev) – Root: ערב (ʿarav); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “in the evening”; Notes: Time reference highlighting peaceful rest.
  11. יִרְבָּצוּן (yirbatsun) – Root: רבץ (ravats); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they shall lie down”; Notes: Pastoral imagery of security and rest.
  12. כִּי (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces the reason for their future restoration.
  13. יִפְקְדֵם (yifqedem) – Root: פקד (paqad); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “He shall attend to them”; Notes: paqad in Qal often means to “visit” in blessing or judgment; here in benevolent sense.
  14. יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: הוה (havah); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Subject of the verbs of restoration.
  15. אֱלֹהֵיהֶם (ʾelohehem) – Root: אל (ʾel); Form: Noun masculine plural construct + suffix 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “their God”; Notes: Covenant title emphasized in restoration context.
  16. וְשָׁב (ve-shav) – Root: שוב (shuv); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and He shall restore”; Notes: Perfect used with future sense in prophetic announcement.
  17. שְׁבִותָם (shevutam) – Root: שבה (shavah); Form: Noun feminine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “their captivity”; Notes: Standard prophetic expression for national restoration from exile.

 

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