From Thrones to Dust: Object Suffix Chains and Grief Syntax in Targum Jonathan on Ezekiel 26:16

וְיֶחֱתוּן מֵעַל כּוּרְסְוָתֵיהוֹן כָּל רַבְרְבֵי יַמָא וְיַעְדוּן יַת מְעִילֵיהוֹן וְיַת לְבוּשֵׁי צִיוּרֵיהוֹן יַשְׁלְחוּן זְיַע יִלְבְּשׁוּן עַל אַרְעָא יַתְבוּן וִיזוּעוּן מִן קֳדָם תְּבִירֵיהוֹן וְיִצְדוּן עֲלָךְ

And all the lords of the sea shall descend from their thrones, and they shall remove their cloaks and the garments of their adornments; trembling they shall put on; they shall sit upon the ground and shall quake before their breaking, and shall lament over you.

Why This Verse?

This verse from Targum Jonathan on Ezekiel 26:16 is a poetic and powerful expression of lament over Tyre. It illustrates:

  • Direct object suffix chains with plural masculine possessives
  • Sequential imperfect verbs expressing ritual descent and mourning
  • Construct and causative patterns that convey both structure and emotion

Morphological Table: Suffix Chains and Verbal Sequencing

Form Root Type Parsing Meaning
יַשְׁלְחוּן ש־ל־ח Paʿel Imperfect 3mp + direct object They shall send away
לְבוּשֵׁי צִיוּרֵיהוֹן צ־ו־ר Construct chain + 3mp suffix Adorned garments The garments of their adornments
יִלְבְּשׁוּן ל־ב־ש Peal Imperfect 3mp They shall wear
יַתְבוּן י־ת־ב Peal Imperfect 3mp They shall sit
וִיזוּעוּן ז־ו־ע Peal Imperfect 3mp They shall quake
יִצְדוּן צ־ד־ד Shaphel Imperfect 3mp They shall lament

Syntax: Grammatical Mourning

1. Direct Object Syntax with יַת

יַת precedes direct objects explicitly: יַת מְעִילֵיהוֹן, יַת לְבוּשֵׁי צִיוּרֵיהוֹן.
– This marks syntactic precision in Aramaic, especially in emphatic narrative or lament.

2. Construct Chains with Possessive Suffixes

כּוּרְסְוָתֵיהוֹן (“their thrones”) and צִיוּרֵיהוֹן (“their adornments”) are good examples of plural construct nouns + 3mp suffixes.
– These reinforce social status in contrast to their humiliation.


Discourse Flow and Prophetic Drama

– The verse is structured as a rising crescendo of ritual humiliation: descent from thrones → shedding garments → dressing in trembling → sitting → shaking → lamenting.
– This six-step verbal chain stages a full bodily response to judgment — an Aramaic choreography of mourning.


Echoes from the Sea

Ezekiel 26:16 in Targum Jonathan speaks not only of Tyre’s fall but of the world’s reaction to it. The grammar of possession and prophetic anguish, the movement from high to low, and the suffix-laden cries of mourning create a linguistic lament. Here, grammar itself weeps.

About Aramaic Grammar

Easy Aramaic: A Grammar for Readers of the Aramaic Translations of the Holy Scriptures is a series of accessible and thoughtfully crafted articles designed to guide readers through the essentials of Aramaic grammar, especially as encountered in the venerable Targums. Focusing on the dialects found in Targum Onkelos—the primary Aramaic translation of the Torah—and Targum Jonathan—the authoritative rendering of the Prophets—these articles provide a clear and engaging introduction to Aramaic morphology, syntax, and vocabulary. Ideal for students, scholars, and curious readers alike, the series serves as a bridge into the linguistic and interpretive world of these ancient texts, illuminating the theological and cultural traditions preserved through Aramaic translation within Jewish exegesis.
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