| 2. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the imperative qûm {ק֥וּם | qûm} ‘arise’, followed by the waw-consecutive perfect wə-yā-răd-tā {וְיָרַדְתָּ | wə-yā-răd-tā} ‘and you went down’, linking the next action. The construct chain bêt hā-yō-ṣêr {בֵּית הַיוֹצֵר | bêt hā-yō-ṣêr} ‘house of the potter’ establishes the setting, and the locative adverb wə-šā-māh {וְשָׁמָה | wə-šā-māh} ‘and there’ specifies the place. The Hifil imperfect ʾaš-mîʿ-’aḵā {אַשְׁמִיעֲךָ | ʾaš-mîʿ-’aḵā} ‘I will cause you to hear’ marks divine agency in prophetic instruction. The particle ʾet {אֶת | ʾet} introduces the direct object, and də-bā-rāy {דְּבָרָי | də-bā-rāy} ‘my words’ identifies the content of the oracle. This sequence of imperative and perfect forms conveys urgency and divine sovereignty, directing the prophet to a symbolic location where the reception of the word is shaped like clay in the potter’s hands. |