וְעַתָּ֡ה כִּמְעַט־רֶגַע֩ הָיְתָ֨ה תְחִנָּ֜ה מֵאֵ֣ת יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֗ינוּ לְהַשְׁאִ֥יר לָ֨נוּ֙ פְּלֵיטָ֔ה וְלָתֶת־לָ֥נוּ יָתֵ֖ד בִּמְקֹ֣ום קָדְשֹׁ֑ו לְהָאִ֤יר עֵינֵ֨ינוּ֙ אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ וּלְתִתֵּ֛נוּ מִֽחְיָ֥ה מְעַ֖ט בְּעַבְדֻתֵֽנוּ׃ (Ezra 9:8)
And now for a brief moment there has been favor from YHWH our God to leave us a remnant and to give us a peg in His holy place to enlighten our eyes our God and to give us a little reviving in our bondage
A Syntax of Relief in Exilic Breath
Ezra 9:8 is a rich tapestry of emotion, restoration, and covenant memory woven into layered Hebrew syntax. At the heart of its construction lies the infinitive phrase לָתֶת־לָנוּ (“to give us”)—a purpose expression that forms part of a cascading structure of coordinated infinitives. These verbal complements unfold a theology of divine mercy expressed through linguistic dependency and sequencing.
In this article, we focus on the coordinated purpose infinitives and their roles in expressing divine acts and human benefit in exile. The infinitive constructs here not only indicate purpose or result but also guide the rhetorical movement of the verse.
Literal Purpose: Syntax of Infinitive Constructs
Series of Infinitives
There are four key infinitive constructs in this verse:
- לְהַשְׁאִ֥יר – to leave
- וְלָתֶת – and to give
- לְהָאִ֤יר – to enlighten
- וּלְתִתֵּ֛נוּ – and to give
All four are subordinated to the initial verbal clause הָיְתָ֨ה תְחִנָּ֜ה (“there has been favor”), expressing either result or intended purpose. The infinitive construct in Biblical Hebrew, particularly when prefixed with לְ and combined with a pronominal suffix (as in לָתֶת־לָנוּ), often conveys the end or goal of a prior clause.
Coordinated Infinitives as Literary Build-Up
The pattern:
לְהַשְׁאִ֥יר → וְלָתֶת → לְהָאִ֤יר → וּלְתִתֵּ֛נוּ
creates an intensifying progression of divine mercy:
- Leaving a remnant
- Giving a peg in the holy place
- Enlightening eyes
- Granting a breath of revival
These infinitives build a syntactic ladder toward theological climax. Hebrew prefers such chains for both rhetorical rhythm and theological nuance.
Table of Infinitives in Ezra 9:8
| Infinitive Construct | Verb Root | Meaning | With Suffix | Function in Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| לְהַשְׁאִ֥יר | שׁאר | to leave | — | Purpose of divine favor: preservation |
| וְלָתֶת־לָ֥נוּ | נתן | and to give | 1cp suffix (to us) | Placement and security in the holy place |
| לְהָאִ֤יר | אור | to enlighten | — | Spiritual renewal through perception |
| וּלְתִתֵּ֛נוּ | נתן | and to give | 1cp suffix (us) | Resurrection imagery: “to revive us a little” |
Morphological Highlights
- לָתֶת־לָנוּ – Infinitive construct of נתן, irregular due to final-nun assimilation; prefix לְ for purpose; suffix לָנוּ (to us).
- וּלְתִתֵּנוּ – Doubling of the Tav in תִתֵּנוּ reflects energy in the giving; suffix נוּ as accusative object.
- לְהָאִיר – Hiphil infinitive of אור; causative sense: “to make shine.”
Masoretic Framing and Sound
Note the Masoretic melodic shape: כִּמְעַט־רֶגַע is enclosed with a conjunctive accent, stressing the brevity of divine grace. The conjunctive וְלָתֶת is marked to continue the flow without disruption, maintaining the emotional build-up.
“To Give Us a Peg”: Covenant Imagery
The phrase לָתֶת־לָנוּ יָתֵד (“to give us a peg”) evokes temple imagery—firmness, rootedness, a place in YHWH’s house. Grammatically, this is the climax of a purpose clause: divine favor expresses itself by anchoring the people in sacred space. Syntactically, this clause is tightly woven with its predecessors, all dependent on the prior verb הָיְתָ֨ה.
When Infinitives Illuminate Grace
Ezra 9:8 is more than a verse of history—it is a liturgy of mercy structured through infinitives. Each infinitive construct pours purpose, hope, and future into the syntax. From the leaving of a remnant to the gift of a peg and the light in the eyes, the grammatical form shapes the emotional contour of the verse. Here, Hebrew syntax does not merely inform—it transforms, turning divine grammar into covenantal poetry.
