דְּבַר־יְהוָ֣ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָיָ֗ה אֶל־צְפַנְיָה֙ בֶּן־כּוּשִׁ֣י בֶן־גְּדַלְיָ֔ה בֶּן־אֲמַרְיָ֖ה בֶּן־חִזְקִיָּ֑ה בִּימֵ֛י יֹאשִׁיָּ֥הוּ בֶן־אָמֹ֖ון מֶ֥לֶךְ יְהוּדָֽה׃
The word of YHWH that came to Tsefanya son of Kushi, son of Gedalya, son of Amarya, son of Ḥizqiya, in the days of Yoshiyahu son of Amon, king of Yehuda.
Morphology
- דְּבַר (devar) – Root: דבר (davar); Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “the word of”; Notes: Signals prophetic revelation.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Covenant name of Israel’s God.
- אֲשֶׁר (asher) – Root: אשר (asher); Form: Relative particle; Translation: “that”; Notes: Introduces the relative clause describing the word’s coming.
- הָיָה (hayah) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal perfect 3ms; Translation: “came”; Notes: Standard verb for prophetic introduction.
- אֶל (el) – Root: אל (el); Form: Preposition; Translation: “to”; Notes: Indicates the recipient of the divine message.
- צְפַנְיָה (TsefanYah) – Root: צפן (tsafan) + יה (Yah); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “TsefanYah”; Notes: Means “Yah has hidden/treasured.”
- בֶּן (ben) – Root: בן (ben); Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “son of”; Notes: Genealogical marker.
- כּוּשִׁי (Kushi) – Root: כשׁ (kush); Form: Proper noun with gentilic suffix; Translation: “Kushi”; Notes: Personal name meaning “Ethiopian.”
- בֶן (ben) – Root: בן (ben); Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “son of”; Notes: Repeated in genealogical chain.
- גְּדַלְיָה (Gedalyah) – Root: גדל (gadal) + יה (Yah); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Gedalyah”; Notes: Means “Yah has made great.”
- בֶן (ben) – Root: בן (ben); Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “son of.”; Notes: Continues genealogy.
- אֲמַרְיָה (Amaryah) – Root: אמר (amar) + יה (Yah); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Amaryah”; Notes: Means “Yah has promised.”
- בֶן (ben) – Root: בן (ben); Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “son of.”; Notes: Recurrent genealogical marker.
- חִזְקִיָּה (Ḥizqiyyah) – Root: חזק (ḥazaq) + יה (Yah); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Ḥizqiyyah”; Notes: Means “Yah strengthens.”
- בִּימֵי (bi-yemei) – Root: יום (yom); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “in the days of”; Notes: Marks historical setting.
- יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ (Yoshiyahu) – Root: אשׁה/ישע (possibly from “healed” or “supported”) + יהו; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yoshiyahu”; Notes: Name of the king of Judah.
- בֶן (ben) – Root: בן (ben); Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “son of.”; Notes: Continues lineage.
- אָמֹון (Amon) – Root: אמן (aman) or Egyptian origin; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Amon”; Notes: Name of King Josiah’s father.
- מֶלֶךְ (melekh) – Root: מלך (malakh); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “king”; Notes: Royal title.
- יְהוּדָה (Yehudah) – Root: ידה (yadah); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yehudah”; Notes: Name of the southern kingdom.