לָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה הִנְנִי־רָב֙ אֶת־רִיבֵ֔ךְ וְנִקַּמְתִּ֖י אֶת־נִקְמָתֵ֑ךְ וְהַחֲרַבְתִּי֙ אֶת־יַמָּ֔הּ וְהֹבַשְׁתִּ֖י אֶת־מְקֹורָֽהּ׃
Therefore thus says YHWH: “Behold, I am contending your cause and I will take vengeance for your vengeance, and I will dry up her sea and I will make dry her fountain.
Morphology
- לָכֵן (laken) – Root: כן (ken); Form: Adverb/conjunction; Translation: “Therefore”; Notes: Introduces a conclusion or divine response.
- כֹּה (koh) – Root: כה (koh); Form: Adverb; Translation: “thus”; Notes: Standard prophetic formula for divine speech.
- אָמַר (amar) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “says”; Notes: Introduces YHWH’s declaration.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: Divine Name; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenant name of Israel’s God.
- הִנְנִי (hineni) – Root: הנה (hinneh); Form: Particle + 1st person singular pronoun suffix; Translation: “Behold, I”; Notes: Marks emphatic divine action.
- רָב (rav) – Root: ריב (riv); Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “contending”; Notes: Legal or combative term meaning to argue or fight on behalf of.
- אֶת (ʾet) – Root: את (ʾet); Form: Direct object marker; Translation: [untranslatable marker]; Notes: Introduces the object “your cause.”
- רִיבֵךְ (rivekh) – Root: ריב (riv); Form: Noun masculine singular construct + 2nd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “your cause / dispute”; Notes: Refers to YHWH defending Zion’s grievance.
- וְנִקַּמְתִּי (ve-niqqamti) – Root: נקם (naqam); Form: Niphal perfect 1st person singular with waw-consecutive; Translation: “and I will take vengeance”; Notes: Indicates divine retribution on behalf of His people.
- אֶת (ʾet) – Root: את (ʾet); Form: Direct object marker; Translation: [untranslatable marker]; Notes: Introduces the next object “your vengeance.”
- נִקְמָתֵךְ (niqmatekh) – Root: נקם (naqam); Form: Noun feminine singular construct + 2nd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “your vengeance”; Notes: Refers to retributive justice for wrongs suffered.
- וְהַחֲרַבְתִּי (ve-hacharavti) – Root: חרב (ḥarav); Form: Hifil perfect 1st person singular with waw-consecutive; Translation: “and I will dry up”; Notes: Divine action of making desolate, often by drought.
- אֶת (ʾet) – Root: את (ʾet); Form: Direct object marker; Translation: [untranslatable marker]; Notes: Marks “her sea” as object.
- יַמָּהּ (yamah) – Root: ים (yam); Form: Noun masculine singular with 3rd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “her sea”; Notes: Likely refers to the Euphrates or Babylon’s waters, source of life and defense.
- וְהֹבַשְׁתִּי (ve-hovashti) – Root: יבשׁ (yavesh); Form: Hifil perfect 1st person singular with waw-consecutive; Translation: “and I will make dry”; Notes: Parallel to drying up the sea, emphasizing desolation.
- אֶת (ʾet) – Root: את (ʾet); Form: Direct object marker; Translation: [untranslatable marker]; Notes: Marks the next object “her fountain.”
- מְקוֹרָהּ (meqorah) – Root: מקור (maqor); Form: Noun masculine singular with 3rd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “her fountain / spring”; Notes: Refers to source of vitality and prosperity, now to be dried up.