Tag Archives: Jeremiah 5:22

Fear and the Boundaries of the Sea: Interrogatives, Imperfects, and Eternal Decrees in Jeremiah 5:22

Jeremiah 5:22 הַאֹותִ֨י לֹא־תִירָ֜אוּ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֗ה אִ֤ם מִפָּנַי֙ לֹ֣א תָחִ֔ילוּ אֲשֶׁר־שַׂ֤מְתִּי חֹול֙ גְּב֣וּל לַיָּ֔ם חָק־עֹולָ֖ם וְלֹ֣א יַעַבְרֶ֑נְהוּ וַיִּֽתְגָּעֲשׁוּ֙ וְלֹ֣א יוּכָ֔לוּ וְהָמ֥וּ גַלָּ֖יו וְלֹ֥א יַעַבְרֻֽנְהוּ׃ Rhetorical Rebuke: הַאֹותִי לֹא־תִירָאוּ הַאֹותִי — “Me” — formed with the interrogative prefix ה־ + אֹותִי (“me” as direct object). This sets up a rhetorical question: “Will you not fear Me?” לֹא־תִירָאוּ — Qal imperfect 2mp of י־ר־א, “to fear.” Future/expected action, negated: “Will you not fear?” נְאֻם־יְהוָה — “Says YHWH.” A divine oracle formula affirming the authority behind the rebuke.… Learn Hebrew
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