לָכֵ֗ן כֹּֽה־אָמַ֞ר אֲדֹנָ֤י יְהוִה֙ צְבָאֹ֔ות אַל־תִּירָ֥א עַמִּ֛י יֹשֵׁ֥ב צִיֹּ֖ון מֵֽאַשּׁ֑וּר בַּשֵּׁ֣בֶט יַכֶּ֔כָּה וּמַטֵּ֥הוּ יִשָּֽׂא־עָלֶ֖יךָ בְּדֶ֥רֶךְ מִצְרָֽיִם׃
Therefore thus says the Lord YHWH of hosts: “Do not fear, My people who dwell in Tsiyon, because of Ashshur; with the rod he shall strike you, and his staff he shall lift against you in the manner of Mitsrayim.
Morphology
- לָכֵ֗ן (lakhen) – Root: כן; Form: Preposition + demonstrative particle; Translation: “Therefore”; Notes: Introduces a divine response or conclusion.
- כֹּֽה־אָמַ֞ר (koh-amar) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Demonstrative adverb + Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “thus says”; Notes: Standard prophetic introduction to divine speech.
- אֲדֹנָי (Adonai) – Root: אדן; Form: Noun masculine singular emphatic; Translation: “the Lord”; Notes: Title of sovereignty.
- יְהוִה (YHWH) – Root: Proper noun; Form: Tetragrammaton; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Covenant name of God.
- צְבָאֹות (tsevaʾot) – Root: צבא (tsava); Form: Noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “of hosts”; Notes: Title emphasizing military or cosmic authority.
- אַל־תִּירָא (ʾal-tira) – Root: ירא (yara); Form: Negative particle + Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “do not fear”; Notes: Divine command of reassurance.
- עַמִּי (ʿammi) – Root: עם (ʿam); Form: Noun masculine singular with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “My people”; Notes: Terms of intimacy and covenantal identity.
- יֹשֵׁב (yoshev) – Root: ישׁב (yashav); Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “who dwells”; Notes: Describes the ongoing residence in Tsiyon.
- צִיֹּון (Tsiyon) – Root: Proper noun; Form: Proper name, feminine singular; Translation: “Tsiyon”; Notes: Another name for Jerusalem, often symbolizing the faithful remnant.
- מֵאַשּׁוּר (me-Ashshur) – Root: Proper noun; Form: Preposition + proper name; Translation: “because of Ashshur”; Notes: Refers to the invading empire.
- בַּשֵּׁבֶט (ba-shevet) – Root: שׁבט (shevet); Form: Preposition + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “with the rod”; Notes: Symbol of discipline or oppression.
- יַכֶּכָּה (yakkekha) – Root: נכה (nakah); Form: Hifil imperfect 3rd person masculine singular with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “he shall strike you”; Notes: Describes anticipated affliction.
- וּמַטֵּהוּ (u-mattehu) – Root: נטה (natah); Form: Conjunction + noun masculine singular with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “and his staff”; Notes: Parallel instrument of oppression.
- יִשָּׂא־עָלֶיךָ (yissa ʿalekha) – Root: נשא (nasa); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular + preposition + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “he shall lift against you”; Notes: Poetic expression for imposing domination.
- בְּדֶרֶךְ (be-derekh) – Root: דרך (derekh); Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “in the manner of / in the way of”; Notes: Refers to the style or pattern of action.
- מִצְרָיִם (Mitsrayim) – Root: Proper noun; Form: Proper name; Translation: “Mitsrayim”; Notes: Refers back to the bondage and affliction under Egyptian rule—typological reference to oppression.