כִּי־יֶ֣לֶד יֻלַּד־לָ֗נוּ בֵּ֚ן נִתַּן־לָ֔נוּ וַתְּהִ֥י הַמִּשְׂרָ֖ה עַל־שִׁכְמֹ֑ו וַיִּקְרָ֨א שְׁמֹ֜ו פֶּ֠לֶא יֹועֵץ֙ אֵ֣ל גִּבֹּ֔ור אֲבִי עַ֖ד שַׂר־שָׁלֹֽום׃
For a child is born to us, a son is given to us; and the government shall be upon his shoulder. And his name shall be called: Wonder, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Morphology
- כִּי־ (ki) – Root: כי; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “For”; Notes: Introduces the basis or reason for the preceding declarations of joy and deliverance.
- יֶ֣לֶד (yeled) – Root: ילד; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “a child”; Notes: Emphasizes the humanity of the promised figure.
- יֻלַּד־לָ֗נוּ (yullad-lanu) – Root: ילד; Form: Pual perfect 3rd person masculine singular + preposition; Translation: “is born to us”; Notes: Pual indicates passive voice—underscoring divine initiative.
- בֵּן (ben) – Root: בן; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “a son”; Notes: Parallelism with “child” for emphasis.
- נִתַּן־לָ֔נוּ (nittan-lanu) – Root: נתן; Form: Nifal perfect 3rd person masculine singular + preposition; Translation: “is given to us”; Notes: Gift language implying divine bestowal.
- וַתְּהִ֥י (va-tehi) – Root: היה; Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “and it came to be”; Notes: Refers to what rests upon the child.
- הַמִּשְׂרָ֖ה (ha-misrah) – Root: שׂרה; Form: Definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “the government”; Notes: Rare word for rule, dominion, or authority.
- עַל־שִׁכְמֹ֑ו (ʿal-shikhmo) – Root: שכם; Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular with suffix; Translation: “upon his shoulder”; Notes: Symbol of responsibility or rulership borne.
- וַיִּקְרָ֨א (va-yiqra) – Root: קרא; Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he called”; Notes: Likely divine naming or prophetic declaration.
- שְׁמֹ֜ו (shemó) – Root: שם; Form: Noun masculine singular with 3rd person suffix; Translation: “his name”; Notes: What the child shall be called, indicating character.
- פֶּ֠לֶא (peleʾ) – Root: פלא; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “Wonder”; Notes: Indicates supernatural or awe-inspiring nature.
- יֹועֵץ (yoʿets) – Root: יעץ; Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “Counselor”; Notes: Describes wisdom and guidance.
- אֵל (ʾel) – Root: אל; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “God” or “Mighty One”; Notes: May indicate divine strength or character.
- גִּבֹּור (gibbor) – Root: גבר; Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “Mighty”; Notes: Conveys heroic or warrior strength.
- אֲבִי (avi) – Root: אב; Form: Construct noun masculine singular; Translation: “Father of”; Notes: Indicates origin or enduring care.
- עַד (ʿad) – Root: עד; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “eternity”; Notes: Refers to perpetuity—“Everlasting.”
- שַׂר־שָׁלֹום (sar-shalom) – Root: שר, שלום; Form: Construct noun + absolute noun; Translation: “Prince of Peace”; Notes: Ruler whose reign brings shalom—wholeness, harmony, peace.