וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ שֶׁ֔קֶר הַגֶּד־נָ֖א לָ֑נוּ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר כָּזֹ֤את וְכָזֹאת֙ אָמַ֤ר אֵלַי֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה מְשַׁחְתִּ֥יךָֽ לְמֶ֖לֶךְ אֶל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
And they said, “It is a lie! Tell us now.” And he said, “Such and such he said to me, saying, ‘Thus says YHWH: “I have anointed you as king over Yisraʾel.”’”
Morphology
- וַיֹּאמְרוּ (va-yomru) – Root: אמר; Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3mp; Translation: “And they said”; Notes: The officers respond to Yehu.
- שֶׁקֶר (sheqer) – Root: שׁקר; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “a lie”; Notes: Expression of disbelief.
- הַגֶּד־נָא (haged-na) – Root: נגד; Form: Hifil imperative masculine singular + particle of entreaty; Translation: “tell now”; Notes: Polite but urgent request for the truth.
- לָנוּ (lanu) – Root: אנחנו; Form: Preposition + 1cp suffix; Translation: “to us”; Notes: Direct object of the verb “tell.”
- וַיֹּאמֶר (va-yomer) – Root: אמר; Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3ms; Translation: “And he said”; Notes: Yehu answers them.
- כָּזֹאת וְכָזֹאת (kazoʾt ve-kazoʾt) – Root: זה; Form: Demonstrative adverbs; Translation: “Such and such”; Notes: A formulaic expression indicating summary.
- אָמַר (amar) – Root: אמר; Form: Qal perfect 3ms; Translation: “he said”; Notes: Refers to the prophet’s message.
- אֵלַי (elai) – Root: אל; Form: Preposition + 1cs suffix; Translation: “to me”; Notes: The prophet’s message was directed to Yehu.
- לֵאמֹר (leʾemor) – Root: אמר; Form: Infinitive construct; Translation: “saying”; Notes: Introduces indirect speech.
- כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה (koh amar YHWH) – Root: אמר, יהוה; Form: Demonstrative + Qal perfect 3ms + proper noun; Translation: “Thus says YHWH”; Notes: Standard formula for divine speech.
- מְשַׁחְתִּיךָ (meshakhtikha) – Root: משׁח; Form: Qal perfect 1cs + 2ms suffix; Translation: “I have anointed you”; Notes: Declaration of divine appointment.
- לְמֶלֶךְ (le-melekh) – Root: מלך; Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “as king”; Notes: Title bestowed by divine authority.
- אֶל־יִשְׂרָאֵל (el-Yisraʾel) – Root: ישראל; Form: Preposition + proper noun; Translation: “over Yisraʾel”; Notes: The realm of Yehu’s kingship.