וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוָה֮ אֶֽל־יְשַׁעְיָהוּ֒ צֵא־נָא֙ לִקְרַ֣את אָחָ֔ז אַתָּ֕ה וּשְׁאָ֖ר יָשׁ֣וּב בְּנֶ֑ךָ אֶל־קְצֵ֗ה תְּעָלַת֙ הַבְּרֵכָ֣ה הָעֶלְיֹונָ֔ה אֶל־מְסִלַּ֖ת שְׂדֵ֥ה כֹובֵֽס׃
(Isaiah 7:3)
Literal English Translation
And YHWH said to Yeshayahu, “Go out now to meet Aḥaz—you and Sheʾar Yashuv your son—at the end of the conduit of the upper pool, at the highway of the launderer’s field.”
Word-by-Word Explanation
- וַיֹּ֣אמֶר – “And He said”Verb, from אָמַר (“to say”), 3rd person masculine singular. The וַ prefix signals narrative past: “And He said.”
- יְהוָה – “YHWH”Divine name. The speaker is the LORD Himself.
- אֶֽל־יְשַׁעְיָהוּ – “to Yeshayahu”Preposition + Name. אֶל = “to,” and יְשַׁעְיָהוּ is the prophet Isaiah.
- צֵא־נָא – “Go out, please”Imperative verb (command).
– צֵא = “Go out!” (masculine singular) from the root יָצָא
– נָא = a softening word—like “please” or “now,” often used in polite commands - לִקְרַ֣את – “to meet”Infinitive construct from קָרָא, but in this form it means “to meet” (literally, “to encounter”). The לְ prefix means “to.”
- אָחָז – “Aḥaz”Proper name. King of Yehudah at the time.
- אַתָּה – “you”Pronoun, masculine singular. The LORD is speaking directly to Isaiah.
- וּשְׁאָר יָשׁוּב – “and Sheʾar Yashuv”Proper name of Isaiah’s son. The name means “a remnant will return”—it’s a prophetic sign in itself.
- בְּנֶךָ – “your son”Noun + suffix: בֵּן = “son,” ךָ = “your.” This confirms the identity of Sheʾar Yashuv as Isaiah’s son.
- אֶל־קְצֵה – “to the end of”Preposition + noun in construct. קָצֶה = “edge, end.” With אֶל = “to.”
- תְּעָלַת – “the conduit”Noun, from תְּעָלָה, meaning “channel” or “aqueduct.” Appears in construct form with the next word.
- הַבְּרֵכָה – “of the pool”Noun, from בְּרֵכָה, meaning “pool.” The הַ prefix is the definite article: “the.” This is the upper water source.
- הָעֶלְיֹונָה – “the upper”Adjective, feminine singular. Describes which pool. Literally: “the one that is above.”
- אֶל־מְסִלַּת – “to the road of” or “at the highway of”From מְסִלָּה, “highway” or “causeway,” in construct with the next noun. אֶל = “to.”
- שְׂדֵה – “field of”Noun in construct. From שָׂדֶה, “field.” Hebrew uses this construct form when linking two nouns closely: “field of…”
- כֹובֵס – “launderer”Participial noun from the root כ־ב־ס, meaning “to wash.” A כֹובֵס is “a washer” or “launderer.” This is a known place near water sources in ancient cities.
Word Order and Sentence Flow
This verse is a command from YHWH, and it flows like a mission briefing. The main command appears early:
→ “Go out now to meet Aḥaz.”
Then we get:
– Who goes: Isaiah and his son
– Where: a precise location described with three geographical markers
→ The end of the conduit
→ Of the upper pool
→ At the highway of the launderer’s field
The Hebrew structure moves from the action to the target (Aḥaz) to the location, which is vividly detailed.
Visual Map: Hebrew Mission Planning
| Step | Hebrew Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל־יְשַׁעְיָהוּ | YHWH said to Isaiah |
| 2 | צֵא־נָא לִקְרַאת אָחָז | Go out now to meet Aḥaz |
| 3 | אַתָּה וּשְׁאָר יָשׁוּב בְּנֶךָ | You and Sheʾar Yashuv your son |
| 4 | אֶל־קְצֵה תְּעָלַת הַבְּרֵכָה הָעֶלְיֹונָה | To the end of the conduit of the upper pool |
| 5 | אֶל־מְסִלַּת שְׂדֵה כֹובֵס | At the highway of the launderer’s field |
What This Verse Just Taught You
“You’ve just navigated a real Hebrew verse filled with grammar, geography, and prophetic purpose!”
You saw an imperative command with the softener נָא, a construct chain like שְׂדֵה כֹובֵס, and learned how Hebrew pins down location with poetic precision.
You even walked beside a prophet—and his son with a prophetic name—sent on a divine mission from YHWH.
Every phrase was purposeful. Every detail sacred. And you understood it—step by step, word by word.
That’s a mighty step on your Hebrew journey!
