וְעַתָּ֥ה יְהוָ֖ה אָבִ֣ינוּ אָ֑תָּה אֲנַ֤חְנוּ הַחֹ֨מֶר֙ וְאַתָּ֣ה יֹצְרֵ֔נוּ וּמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יָדְךָ֖ כֻּלָּֽנוּ׃
And now, YHWH, You are our Father—we are the clay, and You are our potter, and all of us are the work of Your hand.
Morphology
- וְעַתָּ֥ה (ve-ʿattah) – Root: עת (ʿet); Form: Conjunction + adverb; Translation: “And now”; Notes: Signals a transition or plea based on prior statements.
- יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) – Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Direct address to the covenantal name of God.
- אָבִ֣ינוּ (avinu) – Root: אב (av); Form: Noun masculine singular + 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “our Father”; Notes: Emphasizes intimacy and relationship between God and His people.
- אָ֑תָּה (attah) – Form: Independent pronoun masculine singular; Translation: “You”; Notes: Reiterates direct address for emphasis.
- אֲנַ֤חְנוּ (ʾanaḥnu) – Form: Independent pronoun 1st person plural; Translation: “we”; Notes: Subject of the next phrase.
- הַחֹ֨מֶר (ha-ḥomer) – Root: חמר (ḥomer); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the clay”; Notes: Symbol of passive, formable substance in the potter’s hands.
- וְאַתָּ֣ה (ve-attah) – Form: Conjunction + independent pronoun; Translation: “and You”; Notes: Parallel structure reinforcing roles.
- יֹצְרֵ֔נוּ (yotzrenu) – Root: יצר (yatsar); Form: Qal active participle masculine singular + 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “our potter”; Notes: Describes God as the one who forms and shapes His people.
- וּמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה (u-maʿaseh) – Root: עשה (ʿasah); Form: Conjunction + noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “and the work of”; Notes: Begins a construct phrase showing divine craftsmanship.
- יָדְךָ֖ (yadkha) – Root: יד (yad); Form: Noun feminine singular + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “Your hand”; Notes: Symbol of divine action and creativity.
- כֻּלָּֽנוּ (kullanu) – Root: כלל (kul); Form: Noun masculine plural + 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “all of us”; Notes: Inclusive statement—entire community is God’s workmanship.