מֵרָחֹ֕וק יְהוָ֖ה נִרְאָ֣ה לִ֑י וְאַהֲבַ֤ת עֹולָם֙ אֲהַבְתִּ֔יךְ עַל־כֵּ֖ן מְשַׁכְתִּ֥יךְ חָֽסֶד׃
From afar YHWH appeared to me, and with an everlasting love I have loved you; therefore I have drawn you with kindness.
Morphology
- מֵרָחֹוק (me-rāḥoq) – Root: רחוק; Form: Preposition מִן in contracted form + noun masculine singular; Translation: “from afar”; Notes: Denotes spatial or metaphorical distance, possibly temporal (“from long ago”).
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה; Form: Proper divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Covenant name of Israel’s God.
- נִרְאָה (nirʾāh) – Root: ראה; Form: Niphal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “appeared”; Notes: Passive/reflexive stem, YHWH is the subject who reveals Himself.
- לִי (li) – Root: אני; Form: Preposition לְ + first person singular suffix; Translation: “to me”; Notes: Marks the recipient of the appearance.
- וְאַהֲבַת (ve-ʾahăvat) – Root: אהב; Form: Conjunction וְ + noun feminine singular construct; Translation: “and love of”; Notes: Construct relation to עֹולָם.
- עֹולָם (ʿolām) – Root: עלם; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “everlasting/eternal”; Notes: Often indicates unending duration in covenant contexts.
- אֲהַבְתִּיךְ (ʾahavtîkh) – Root: אהב; Form: Qal perfect 1st person singular + 2nd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “I have loved you”; Notes: Past action with continuing covenantal force.
- עַל־כֵּן (ʿal-kēn) – Root: כן; Form: Preposition עַל + adverb; Translation: “therefore”; Notes: Marks logical consequence of preceding statement.
- מְשַׁכְתִּיךְ (meshakhtîkh) – Root: משך; Form: Qal perfect 1st person singular + 2nd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “I have drawn you”; Notes: Can imply leading, attracting, or pulling toward; here in a covenantal, gracious sense.
- חָסֶד (ḥāsed) – Root: חסד; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “kindness/steadfast love”; Notes: Covenant term denoting loyal love and mercy.