Ezekiel 34:20

לָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֛ר אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִ֖ה אֲלֵיהֶ֑ם הִנְנִי־אָ֕נִי וְשָֽׁפַטְתִּי֙ בֵּֽין־שֶׂ֣ה בִרְיָ֔ה וּבֵ֥ין שֶׂ֖ה רָזָֽה׃

Therefore thus says the Lord YHWH to them: “Behold, I, even I, will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep.

Morphology

1. לָכֵן (lakhen) – Root: כן (ken); Form: Preposition לְ + adverb; Translation: “therefore”; Notes: Introduces the conclusion or divine response to the injustice previously described.
2. כֹּה (koh) – Root: כה (koh); Form: Adverb; Translation: “thus”; Notes: Standard prophetic formula introducing YHWH’s declaration.
3. אָמַר (ʾamar) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “says”; Notes: Common introductory verb in prophetic speech, denoting divine authority.
4. אֲדֹנָי (ʾadonai) – Root: אדן (ʾadon); Form: Noun masculine plural with 1st person singular possessive used as divine title; Translation: “the Lord”; Notes: Title emphasizing YHWH’s sovereignty and rulership.
5. יְהוִה (YHWH) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Proper divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenantal name of the God of Yisraʾel, underscoring His personal involvement.
6. אֲלֵיהֶם (ʾaleihem) – Root: אל (ʾel); Form: Preposition אֶל + suffix 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “to them”; Notes: Indicates the recipients of the divine pronouncement—those addressed in the preceding rebuke.
7. הִנְנִי־אָ֕נִי (hineni-ʾani) – Root: הנה (hinneh); Form: Interjection + pronoun 1st person singular; Translation: “Behold, I, even I”; Notes: Emphatic self-reference expressing YHWH’s personal intervention and decisive action.
8. וְשָׁפַטְתִּי (ve-shafathti) – Root: שׁפט (shafat); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal perfect 1st person singular; Translation: “and I will judge”; Notes: Refers to divine arbitration—YHWH will render justice among His people.
9. בֵּין־שֶׂה (bein-seh) – Root: שה (seh); Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “between sheep”; Notes: Denotes divine discernment—YHWH will distinguish between individuals or groups within His flock.
10. בִרְיָה (biryah) – Root: ברא (baraʾ); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “fat” or “strong”; Notes: Figuratively represents the wealthy, powerful, or self-indulgent members of the community.
11. וּבֵין (u-vein) – Root: בין (bein); Form: Conjunction וּ + preposition; Translation: “and between”; Notes: Continues the comparative clause, setting up the second side of the judgment.
12. שֶׂה (seh) – Root: שה (seh); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “sheep”; Notes: Generic term for a member of the flock—used metaphorically for individuals within YHWH’s people.
13. רָזָה (razah) – Root: רזה (razah); Form: Adjective feminine singular; Translation: “lean”; Notes: Symbolizes the weak, oppressed, or marginalized who have suffered under the strong and fat sheep.