Ezekiel 37:4

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֔י הִנָּבֵ֖א עַל־הָעֲצָמֹ֣ות הָאֵ֑לֶּה וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם הָעֲצָמֹות֙ הַיְבֵשֹׁ֔ות שִׁמְע֖וּ דְּבַר־יְהוָֽה׃

And He said to me, “Prophesy over these bones and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of YHWH.

Morphology

1. וַיֹּאמֶר (va-yomer) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Conjunction וַ + Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And He said”; Notes: Standard narrative form introducing direct divine speech, continuing YHWH’s command.
2. אֵלַי (ʾelai) – Root: —; Form: Preposition אֶל + suffix 1st person singular; Translation: “to me”; Notes: Indicates that YHWH’s message is directed specifically to Ezekiel.
3. הִנָּבֵא (hinaveʾ) – Root: נבא (navaʾ); Form: Nifal imperative masculine singular; Translation: “Prophesy!”; Notes: Command to declare YHWH’s word—Nifal stem expresses the act of speaking as one divinely inspired.
4. עַל־הָעֲצָמֹות (ʿal-ha-ʿatsamot) – Root: עצם (ʿetsem); Form: Preposition עַל + definite noun feminine plural; Translation: “over the bones”; Notes: The preposition conveys authority and direction—Ezekiel is to speak over them as a prophet commanding life.
5. הָאֵלֶּה (ha-elleh) – Root: —; Form: Definite article הַ + demonstrative pronoun masculine plural; Translation: “these”; Notes: Specifies the very bones seen in the vision, emphasizing their identity.
6. וְאָמַרְתָּ (ve-amarta) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal perfect 2nd person masculine singular (imperatival force); Translation: “and say”; Notes: A sequential instruction following the command to prophesy.
7. אֲלֵיהֶם (ʾaleihem) – Root: —; Form: Preposition אֶל + suffix 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “to them”; Notes: Refers to the bones, personified as an audience capable of hearing the divine word.
8. הָעֲצָמֹות (ha-ʿatsamot) – Root: עצם (ʿetsem); Form: Definite noun feminine plural; Translation: “the bones”; Notes: Repetition creates rhetorical emphasis, dramatizing the act of addressing lifeless objects.
9. הַיְבֵשֹׁות (ha-yeveshot) – Root: יבשׁ (yavesh); Form: Definite adjective feminine plural; Translation: “the dry”; Notes: Adjectival descriptor—stresses total lifelessness and hopelessness of the bones.
10. שִׁמְעוּ (shimʿu) – Root: שׁמע (shamaʿ); Form: Qal imperative 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “hear!”; Notes: The prophetic imperative summons even lifeless things to obedience under YHWH’s command, a hallmark of divine creative power.
11. דְּבַר־יְהוָה (devar-YHWH) – Root: דבר (davar); Form: Construct noun masculine singular + proper name; Translation: “the word of YHWH”; Notes: Represents the living, active force of divine speech—YHWH’s word itself will accomplish resurrection.