שָׁמְעָ֬ה וַתִּשְׂמַ֨ח צִיֹּ֗ון וַ֭תָּגֵלְנָה בְּנֹ֣ות יְהוּדָ֑ה לְמַ֖עַן מִשְׁפָּטֶ֣יךָ יְהוָֽה׃
1. Verb Forms and Theological Resonance
The verse opens with שָׁמְעָ֬ה (“she has heard”), a Qal perfect 3rd person feminine singular. The perfect form, often indicating completed action, is striking here. Zion’s hearing is not hypothetical or potential—it has already occurred, perhaps alluding to Israel’s historical receptivity to God’s deeds or judgments. The verb conveys a sense of rootedness in past revelation, suggesting that divine justice has not only been proclaimed but received.
Then follows וַתִּשְׂמַ֨ח (“and she rejoiced”), a wayyiqtol (vav-consecutive imperfect) of the root שׂמח. This form often denotes sequential narrative in Biblical Hebrew, yet when paired with perfect verbs, it can convey results or consequences. Here, Zion’s joy is a direct result of her hearing. There is a spiritual rhythm at play: hearing God’s judgments leads to rejoicing. Rejoicing is not blind enthusiasm but a deeply informed response to divine justice.
2. Syntax and Sacred Geography
The parallel structure וַ֭תָּגֵלְנָה בְּנֹ֣ות יְהוּדָ֑ה (“and the daughters of Judah exulted”) deepens the emotional resonance. The verb תָּגֵלְנָה is a Qal imperfect 3rd person feminine plural with a prefixed vav, representing continued or repeated rejoicing. The plural form “בְּנוֹת” (daughters) is not merely poetic—it spatially and communally expands the joy. Zion represents the central city, the heart of Israel, while the “daughters of Judah” symbolize the surrounding towns. Thus, the grammatical plural embeds a theological message: joy radiates from the center (Zion) outward to the periphery (Judah).
This syntax invites reflection on unity and spiritual solidarity. God’s justice is not localized—it resonates throughout the covenantal community.
3. Literary Devices and Poetic Structure
This verse exemplifies classic Hebrew parallelism. The first line centers on צִיּוֹן, and the second on בְּנוֹת יְהוּדָה. Both clauses feature emotional responses to divine action (וַתִּשְׂמַח / וַתָּגֵלְנָה), forming a synonymous parallel. The subtle shift from singular to plural enhances the poetic texture, mirroring the movement from individual to communal joy.
Additionally, the progression from שָׁמְעָה to וַתָּגֵלְנָה reflects a chiastic layering of perception and emotion: hearing → rejoicing → exultation, forming an inner poetic spiral of response to God’s righteousness.
4. Theological Meaning of “לְמַ֖עַן מִשְׁפָּטֶ֣יךָ יְהוָֽה”
The final clause, לְמַ֖עַן מִשְׁפָּטֶ֣יךָ יְהוָֽה, gives the divine rationale. לְמַעַן (“because of / for the sake of”) introduces purpose or cause. The plural מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ (“your judgments”) reflects not just one decree but the entire corpus of God’s righteous rulings. These are not arbitrary decrees—they reveal YHWH’s character.
Significantly, the placement of יְהוָֽה at the end—after the judgments—emphasizes that the source of all justice is the LORD Himself. This final position accords divine centrality and solemnity, a common feature in Hebrew poetry where climax is reserved for the divine name.
5. Cultural-Historical Perspective
In the ancient Israelite worldview, joy in response to divine justice was countercultural. Unlike surrounding nations who feared divine judgment as capricious wrath, Israel rejoiced in God’s just rule. The grammar here mirrors that worldview: God’s mishpatim are not feared as oppressive but celebrated as evidence of divine faithfulness.
Moreover, the communal emphasis—Zion and her daughters—reflects the covenantal structure of society, in which God’s justice was not an abstract concept but a lived reality, shaping courts, kingship, and worship.
6. Spiritual Reflection
The grammatical sequence—שָׁמְעָה → וַתִּשְׂמַח → וַתָּגֵלְנָה—traces a pathway from reception to inner joy to communal celebration. Spiritually, it reminds the reader that joy arises not from circumstances but from attentive response to God’s justice. The verse invites us to a liturgical rhythm: to hear, rejoice, and proclaim.
The feminine forms (Zion, daughters of Judah) reflect tenderness, receptivity, and nurturing response—qualities associated with covenant faithfulness in prophetic literature. Through grammar, the verse presents Israel as the bride who hears and rejoices in her husband’s righteousness.
