| 4. Linguistic Exegesis The prophecy opens with the vav-consecutive Hiphil perfect vahaqimoti {וַהֲקִמֹתִ֧י | wa-ha-qî-mō-ṯî} ‘and I will raise up’, casting divine intervention in narrative-perfect form. The prepositional phrase aleihem {עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם | ʿă-lê-hem} ‘over them’ marks the recipients, while the noun roim {רֹעִ֖ים | rō-ʿîm} ‘shepherds’ conveys literal and metaphorical leadership. The verb veraum {וְרָע֑וּם | wə-rā-ʿûm} ‘and they will shepherd’ (Qal perfect with suffix) emphasizes pastoral oversight. The series of imperfect negatives velo-yireu {וְלֹא־יִֽירְא֨וּ | wə-lōʾ yîrʾû} ‘and they will not fear’, velo-yehattu {וְלֹא־יֵחַ֛תּוּ | wə-lōʾ yē-ḥat-tû} ‘and they will not be dismayed’, and velo-yippaqedu {וְלֹ֥א יִפָּקֵ֖דוּ | wə-lōʾ yip-pā-qê-ḏû} ‘and they will not be missing’ forms a climactic triad of assurances. The prophetic signature ne'um-Yahweh {נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה | nə-ʾum-Yə-hō-wāh} ‘declares the LORD’ legitimizes the promise. The English rendering retains the cumulative parallelism and smooths clause order for readability. |