לָכֵן֙ הִנָּבֵ֣א וְאָמַרְתָּ֔ כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֖ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֑ה יַ֣עַן בְּיַ֡עַן שַׁמֹּות֩ וְשָׁאֹ֨ף אֶתְכֶ֜ם מִסָּבִ֗יב לִֽהְיֹותְכֶ֤ם מֹֽורָשָׁה֙ לִשְׁאֵרִ֣ית הַגֹּויִ֔ם וַתֵּֽעֲל֛וּ עַל־שְׂפַ֥ת לָשֹׁ֖ון וְדִבַּת־עָֽם׃
Therefore prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the Lord YHWH: “Because, even because, you have been made desolate and swallowed up on every side, that you might become a possession for the remnant of the nations, and you have been brought up on the lips of talkers and the slander of people.”’”
Morphology
- לָכֵן (lakhen) – Root: כן (ken); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “Therefore”; Notes: Introduces divine response or consequence based on preceding judgment or accusation.
- הִנָּבֵא (hinaveʾ) – Root: נבא (nabaʾ); Form: Niphal imperative masculine singular; Translation: “Prophesy!”; Notes: Command to the prophet to deliver YHWH’s message; Niphal form indicates inspired speech, not self-initiated.
- וְאָמַרְתָּ (veʾamarta) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal perfect 2nd person masculine singular (consecutive); Translation: “and say”; Notes: Sequential command following the prophetic imperative.
- כֹּה (koh) – Root: כה (koh); Form: Adverb; Translation: “thus”; Notes: Standard formula introducing an oracle directly from YHWH.
- אָמַר (ʾamar) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “has said”; Notes: Indicates divine speech being cited by the prophet.
- אֲדֹנָי (ʾadonay) – Root: אדן (ʾadon); Form: Noun masculine plural of majesty; Translation: “my Lord”; Notes: Expresses reverence for divine sovereignty.
- יְהוִה (YHWH) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Proper divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Denotes the covenantal God of Yisraʾel.
- יַעַן בְּיַעַן (yaʿan be-yaʿan) – Root: יען (yaʿan); Form: Double causal particle; Translation: “Because, even because”; Notes: Intensified expression emphasizing the seriousness of the reason for judgment.
- שַׁמֹּות (shammot) – Root: שׁמם (shamam); Form: Noun feminine plural; Translation: “desolations”; Notes: Refers to the devastation of the land of Yisraʾel by invading nations.
- וְשָׁאֹף (ve-shaʾof) – Root: שׁאף (shaʾaf); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal infinitive construct; Translation: “and swallowing up”; Notes: Figuratively describes the nations consuming or taking over Yisraʾel’s land.
- אֶתְכֶם (etkhem) – Root: —; Form: Direct object marker אֵת + suffix 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you”; Notes: Marks Yisraʾel as the object of the nations’ aggression.
- מִסָּבִיב (missaviv) – Root: סביב (saviv); Form: Preposition מִן + adverb; Translation: “from all around” or “on every side”; Notes: Indicates surrounding enemies devouring the land.
- לִהְיֹותְכֶם (lih’yotkhem) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Preposition לְ + infinitive construct + suffix 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “to make you” or “for you to become”; Notes: Expresses purpose—Yisraʾel’s desolation serves as spoil for other nations.
- מֹורָשָׁה (morashah) – Root: ירשׁ (yarash); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “a possession” or “inheritance”; Notes: Used ironically—what was once YHWH’s inheritance becomes prey for others.
- לִשְׁאֵרִית (li-sheʾerit) – Root: שׁאר (shaʾar); Form: Preposition לְ + noun feminine singular construct; Translation: “for the remnant of”; Notes: Refers to surviving nations who now claim ownership of Yisraʾel’s land.
- הַגֹּויִם (ha-goyim) – Root: גוי (goy); Form: Definite noun masculine plural; Translation: “the nations”; Notes: The Gentile powers encircling Yisraʾel, often antagonistic to its covenant people.
- וַתֵּעֲלוּ (va-teʿalu) – Root: עלה (ʿalah); Form: Conjunction וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “and you have been brought up” or “have come up”; Notes: Used metaphorically of being mentioned or discussed frequently among nations.
- עַל־שְׂפַת (ʿal-sefat) – Root: שׂפה (safah); Form: Preposition עַל + noun feminine singular construct; Translation: “upon the lip of”; Notes: Idiomatically means “on the lips of”—indicating public gossip or slander.
- לָשֹׁון (lashon) – Root: לשׁן (lashan); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “tongue” or “speech”; Notes: Symbol of human speech—used here for mockery and scorn.
- וְדִבַּת־עָם (ve-dibat-ʿam) – Root: דבה (dibbah); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun feminine singular construct + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and the slander of the people”; Notes: Refers to malicious talk and reproach by surrounding nations against Yisraʾel.