Amos 3:8

אַרְיֵ֥ה שָׁאָ֖ג מִ֣י לֹ֣א יִירָ֑א אֲדֹנָ֤י יְהוִה֙ דִּבֶּ֔ר מִ֖י לֹ֥א יִנָּבֵֽא׃

A lion has roared, who will not fear? The Lord YHWH has spoken, who can but prophesy?

Morphology

1. אַרְיֵ֥ה (aryeh) – Root: ארה (ʾarah); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “a lion”; Notes: Symbol of power and authority; often metaphorically represents YHWH’s voice of judgment or revelation.
2. שָׁאָ֖ג (shaʾag) – Root: שׁאג (shaʾag); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “has roared”; Notes: The completed action emphasizes an already initiated cause demanding response—YHWH’s pronouncement of judgment.
3. מִ֣י (mi) – Root: —; Form: Interrogative pronoun; Translation: “who”; Notes: Introduces a rhetorical question expecting the answer “no one can remain unmoved.”
4. לֹ֣א (lo) – Root: —; Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Denies the possibility of indifference or inaction.
5. יִירָ֑א (yira) – Root: ירא (yareʾ); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “will fear”; Notes: Denotes awe or terror—no one can hear the divine “roar” and remain unshaken.
6. אֲדֹנָ֤י (Adonai) – Root: אדן (ʾadon); Form: Noun masculine plural with 1st person singular sense; Translation: “the Lord”; Notes: A title emphasizing authority and sovereignty, here paired with YHWH.
7. יְהוִה֙ (YHWH) – Root: הוה (havah); Form: Proper noun, divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenantal name of Israel’s God; conveys absolute control over creation and revelation.
8. דִּבֶּ֔ר (dibber) – Root: דבר (davar); Form: Piel perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “has spoken”; Notes: The intensified stem emphasizes YHWH’s authoritative, deliberate speech which compels prophetic response.
9. מִ֖י (mi) – Root: —; Form: Interrogative pronoun; Translation: “who”; Notes: Parallels the earlier clause, reinforcing the rhetorical balance of the verse.
10. לֹ֥א (lo) – Root: —; Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Expresses impossibility—no one can refrain from speaking once YHWH’s word is revealed.
11. יִנָּבֵֽא׃ (yinnave) – Root: נבא (navaʾ); Form: Niphal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “will prophesy”; Notes: The passive-reflexive form implies being compelled or inspired to prophesy; indicates that prophecy is the inevitable human response to divine speech.