Introduction to Jeremiah 1:7
Jeremiah 1:7 records YHWH’s response to the prophet’s hesitation, reassuring him that his youth does not disqualify him from divine commission. A key grammatical feature in this verse is the verb אֶשְׁלָחֲךָ (ʾeshlaḥăkha), which appears in the Qal imperfect form. This analysis will explore its morphology, syntactic role, and semantic significance in the context of Biblical Hebrew grammar.
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֵלַ֔י אַל־תֹּאמַ֖ר נַ֣עַר אָנֹ֑כִי כִּ֠י עַֽל־כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֤ר אֶֽשְׁלָחֲךָ֙ תֵּלֵ֔ךְ וְאֵ֛ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲצַוְּךָ֖ תְּדַבֵּֽר׃
Analysis of Key Words/Phrases
The Qal imperfect verb אֶשְׁלָחֲךָ (ʾeshlaḥăkha) appears in the phrase:
עַֽל־כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֤ר אֶֽשְׁלָחֲךָ֙ תֵּלֵ֔ךְ
This phrase consists of:
- עַֽל־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר (ʿal kol ʾasher) – “to all that” (relative clause marker).
- אֶשְׁלָחֲךָ (ʾeshlaḥăkha) – “I will send you” (Qal imperfect 1st-person singular + 2nd-person masculine singular suffix).
- תֵּלֵךְ (tēlēkh) – “you will go” (Qal imperfect 2nd-person masculine singular).
The verb אֶשְׁלָחֲךָ is the focus of our grammatical analysis.
Explanation of Grammatical Function
Morphological Analysis of אֶשְׁלָחֲךָ
The verb אֶשְׁלָחֲךָ is derived from the root שָׁלַח (š-l-ḥ), meaning “to send.” It appears in the Qal imperfect, which is commonly used for future actions, habitual actions, or modal expressions in Biblical Hebrew.
Parsing Details
- Root: שָׁלַח (š-l-ḥ)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 1st-person Singular
- Suffix: -ךָ (-kha), indicating a 2nd-person masculine singular direct object (“you”).
- Translation: “I will send you.”
The Function of the Qal Imperfect
The Qal imperfect binyan generally conveys:
- Future Action: “I will send you” (simple future tense).
- Habitual or Repeated Action: “I continually send you” (in certain contexts).
- Modal Action: “I may send you” (in specific modal expressions).
In this verse, אֶשְׁלָחֲךָ functions as a divine declaration, indicating YHWH’s future commissioning of Jeremiah.
Lexical and Semantic Nuances
The root שָׁלַח (š-l-ḥ) appears frequently in prophetic commissions, often emphasizing divine authority:
- Exodus 3:10 – וְעַתָּה לְכָה וְאֶשְׁלָחֲךָ (veʿattah ləkhā wəʾeshlaḥăkha), “Now, go! I am sending you” (spoken to Moses).
- Isaiah 6:8 – הִנְנִי שְׁלָחֵנִי (hineni šəlaḥēni), “Here I am! Send me!”
In Jeremiah 1:7, the use of אֶשְׁלָחֲךָ establishes divine authority over Jeremiah’s mission, making it clear that his prophetic calling is not self-initiated.
Word Order and Syntax
The phrase עַֽל־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר אֶשְׁלָחֲךָ תֵּלֵךְ follows a verb-object-verb structure:
- עַֽל־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר – “To all that” (relative clause marker).
- אֶשְׁלָחֲךָ – “I will send you” (verb + direct object).
- תֵּלֵךְ – “You will go” (verb, second action).
This structure emphasizes YHWH’s command: Jeremiah must go wherever he is sent.
The Role of אֶשְׁלָחֲךָ in Jeremiah 1:7
The Qal imperfect verb אֶשְׁלָחֲךָ in Jeremiah 1:7 highlights the divine commission of the prophet. The future tense reinforces YHWH’s sovereign initiative, affirming that Jeremiah’s prophetic journey is not optional but divinely appointed.
This grammatical choice underscores the certainty of Jeremiah’s mission, emphasizing obedience to divine calling in biblical prophetic literature.
