לְמִן־הַיֹּ֗ום אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָצְא֤וּ אֲבֹֽותֵיכֶם֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם עַ֖ד הַיֹּ֣ום הַזֶּ֑ה וָאֶשְׁלַ֤ח אֲלֵיכֶם֙ אֶת־כָּל־עֲבָדַ֣י הַנְּבִיאִ֔ים יֹ֖ום הַשְׁכֵּ֥ם וְשָׁלֹֽחַ׃
(Jeremiah 7:25)
Clause Structure Overview
This verse presents a temporal span from the Exodus to Jeremiah’s own day and depicts YHWH’s repeated, intentional action of sending prophets. Its syntax divides neatly into two halves:
- Temporal subordinate clause introduced by לְמִן־הַיּוֹם…עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה – setting the time frame.
- Main verb clause: וָאֶשְׁלַח…אֶת־כָּל־עֲבָדַי הַנְּבִיאִים – YHWH’s repeated prophetic mission.
Detailed Syntax Analysis
| Phrase | Syntactic Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| לְמִן־הַיֹּום אֲשֶׁר… | Temporal prepositional clause | Introduces the starting point of the timeframe, governed by לְמִן. |
| יָצְאוּ אֲבֹותֵיכֶם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם | Relative clause | Verb–subject–complement order; classic Exodus formula. |
| עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה | Temporal boundary phrase | Closes the temporal span: from Egypt to the present. |
| וָאֶשְׁלַח אֲלֵיכֶם | Main clause verb + indirect object | Wayyiqtol (waw-consecutive imperfect), indicating repetitive past action. |
| אֶת־כָּל־עֲבָדַי הַנְּבִיאִים | Accusative direct object | Appositional noun phrase emphasizing their prophetic office. |
| יֹום הַשְׁכֵּם וְשָׁלֹחַ | Adverbial infinitival phrase | Hebrew idiom for “persistently” or “continually,” literally “rising early and sending.” |
Syntactic Themes
- Temporal layering: The verse spans centuries syntactically in one clause chain, giving weight to the prophetic tradition and the long-suffering mercy of YHWH.
- Idiomatic intensification: הַשְׁכֵּם וְשָׁלֹחַ is an emphatic construction, not literal, but semantically expressing diligence and repeated effort.
- Covenantal appeal: The repeated sending of prophets functions syntactically as divine initiative, met by human rejection throughout the passage’s context.
Divine Syntax, Divine Mercy
The structure of Jeremiah 7:25 echoes the structure of YHWH’s relationship with Yisraʾel—long, sustained, and full of warnings. Syntactically, it builds a case: not a sudden outburst of wrath, but a consistent outreach. The verse’s nested clauses and idiomatic intensifiers demonstrate how Hebrew syntax can carry theology in its very rhythm.