כִּ֛י כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֖ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֑ה הִנְנִי־אָ֕נִי וְדָרַשְׁתִּ֥י אֶת־צֹאנִ֖י וּבִקַּרְתִּֽים׃
For thus says the Lord YHWH: “Behold, I, even I, will seek out My flock and will look after them.
Morphology
- כִּי (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces a reason or explanation for the preceding divine statement.
- כֹּה (koh) – Root: כה (koh); Form: Adverb; Translation: “thus”; Notes: Part of the prophetic formula “Thus says YHWH.”
- אָמַר (ʾamar) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “says”; Notes: Standard introductory verb of divine speech in prophetic declarations.
- אֲדֹנָי (ʾadonai) – Root: אדן (ʾadon); Form: Noun masculine plural with 1st person singular suffix used as divine title; Translation: “the Lord”; Notes: Honorific title indicating divine authority and mastery.
- יְהוִה (YHWH) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Proper divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenant name of the God of Yisraʾel.
- הִנְנִי־אָ֕נִי (hineni-ʾani) – Root: הנה (hinneh); Form: Interjection + pronoun 1st person singular; Translation: “Behold, I, even I”; Notes: Intensified self-reference underscoring YHWH’s personal involvement and assurance of direct action.
- וְדָרַשְׁתִּי (ve-darashti) – Root: דרשׁ (darash); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal perfect 1st person singular; Translation: “and I will seek”; Notes: Indicates YHWH’s initiative to search for His scattered people.
- אֶת־צֹאנִי (ʾet-tsoni) – Root: צאן (tson); Form: Direct object marker + noun common collective feminine singular + suffix 1st person singular; Translation: “My flock”; Notes: Symbolizes YHWH’s people, over whom He exercises tender care.
- וּבִקַּרְתִּים (u-viqqartim) – Root: בקר (baqar); Form: Conjunction וּ + Piel perfect 1st person singular + suffix 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and I will look after them”; Notes: Piel conveys intensity—YHWH will attentively inspect, visit, and care for His flock personally.