| 4. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the prophetic formula koh amar {כֹּה־אָמַר | kō ʾā-mar} “thus says,” marking a divine oracle. It proceeds with the compound title Yahweh Elohei Yisraʼel {יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל | Yə-hō-wāh ʾĕ-lō-hê yiś-rā-ʾēl}, underscoring the LORD’s covenant bond with Israel. The interjection hineni {הִנְנִי | hin-nē-nî} “behold me” introduces divine action. The Hiphil participle meseb {מֵסֵב | mē-sēḇ} conveys strategic reversal. The construct kelei hammilchamah {כְּלֵי הַמִּלְחָמָה | kə-lê ha-mil-ḥā-māh} denotes “weapons of war.” Two relative clauses introduced by asher {אֲשֶׁר | ʾă-šer} qualify that these weapons are “in your hands” (beyedkhem) and “with which you are fighting” (nilchamim, Niphal participle). The direct objects melech Bavel {מֶלֶךְ בָּבֶל | me-lē-ke bā-vel} and hakkasdim {הַכַּשְׂדִּים | ha-kas-dîm} are linked by hatzarim {הַצָּרִים | ha-ṣā-rîm} (“besieging”) and located by michutz la-chomah {מִחוּץ לַחֻמָּה | mi-ḥûṣ la-ḥō-māh} (“outside the wall”). The vav-consecutive ve-asapti {וְאָסַפְתִּי | wə-ā-sap-tî} shifts to a future perfect sense: “I will gather” (otam) these weapons “into the midst of this city” (el toch ha-ir hazot). The translation preserves Hebrew clause structure, consolidates phrases for clarity, and retains the urgent military and theological tone of the prophecy. |