לָכֵ֗ן נְאֻם־יְהוָה֮ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ אָמֹ֣ור אָמַ֔רְתִּי בֵּֽיתְךָ֙ וּבֵ֣ית אָבִ֔יךָ יִתְהַלְּכ֥וּ לְפָנַ֖י עַד־עֹולָ֑ם וְעַתָּ֤ה נְאֻם־יְהוָה֙ חָלִ֣ילָה לִּ֔י כִּֽי־מְכַבְּדַ֥י אֲכַבֵּ֖ד וּבֹזַ֥י יֵקָֽלּוּ׃
Therefore, thus says YHWH, the God of Yisraʾel: ‘I indeed said that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever. But now,’ declares YHWH, ‘far be it from Me! For those who honor Me, I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.
Morphology
- לָכֵ֗ן (laken) – Root: כן (ken); Form: Adverb; Translation: “Therefore”; Notes: Introduces a conclusion or consequence.
- נְאֻם־יְהוָה֮ (neʾum-YHWH) – Root: נאם (naʾum); Form: Noun, masculine singular construct; Translation: “Thus says YHWH”; Notes: A formula introducing divine speech.
- אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ (ʾElohei Yisraʾel) – Root: אלהים (ʾElohim) + ישראל (Yisraʾel); Form: Noun, masculine singular construct; Translation: “the God of Yisraʾel”; Notes: Identifies YHWH.
- אָמֹ֣ור (ʾamor) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Infinitive absolute; Translation: “Indeed”; Notes: Emphasizes certainty.
- אָמַ֔רְתִּי (amarti) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal perfect 1st person singular; Translation: “I said”; Notes: Refers to a past divine declaration.
- בֵּֽיתְךָ֙ (beitekha) – Root: בית (bayit); Form: Noun, masculine singular construct with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “your house”; Notes: Refers to Eli’s lineage.
- וּבֵ֣ית אָבִ֔יךָ (u-beit avikha) – Root: בית (bayit) + אב (ʾav); Form: Noun, masculine singular construct with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “and the house of your father”; Notes: Refers to his priestly ancestry.
- יִתְהַלְּכ֥וּ (yithallekhu) – Root: הלך (halakh); Form: Hitpael imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “would walk”; Notes: Indicates habitual or continuous action.
- לְפָנַ֖י (lefanai) – Root: פנה (panah); Form: Preposition with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “before Me”; Notes: Refers to divine service.
- עַד־עֹולָ֑ם (ʿad-ʿolam) – Root: עולם (ʿolam); Form: Preposition + noun, masculine singular; Translation: “forever”; Notes: Indicates an eternal promise.
- וְעַתָּ֤ה (ve-ʿattah) – Root: עתה (ʿattah); Form: Adverb; Translation: “But now”; Notes: Introduces a shift in divine decree.
- נְאֻם־יְהוָה֙ (neʾum-YHWH) – Root: נאם (naʾum); Form: Noun, masculine singular construct; Translation: “declares YHWH”; Notes: Reiterates divine speech.
- חָלִ֣ילָה לִּ֔י (ḥalilah li) – Root: חלל (ḥalal); Form: Interjection + preposition; Translation: “Far be it from Me”; Notes: Expresses strong rejection.
- כִּֽי־מְכַבְּדַ֥י (ki-mekhabbeday) – Root: כבד (kavod); Form: Piel participle masculine plural construct with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “For those who honor Me”; Notes: Describes those who revere YHWH.
- אֲכַבֵּ֖ד (akhabbed) – Root: כבד (kavod); Form: Piel imperfect 1st person singular; Translation: “I will honor”; Notes: Expresses divine reciprocity.
- וּבֹזַ֥י (u-vozay) – Root: בזה (baza); Form: Qal participle masculine plural construct with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “and those who despise Me”; Notes: Refers to those who treat YHWH with contempt.
- יֵקָֽלּוּ (yeqallu) – Root: קלל (qalal); Form: Nifal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “shall be lightly esteemed”; Notes: Contrasts with honor.