וָאָקִ֤ים מִבְּנֵיכֶם֙ לִנְבִיאִ֔ים וּמִבַּחוּרֵיכֶ֖ם לִנְזִרִ֑ים הַאַ֥ף אֵֽין־זֹ֛את בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃
And I raised up from your sons prophets, and from your young men Nazirites. Is this not so, O sons of Yisraʾel?” declares YHWH.
Morphology
- וָאָקִ֤ים (va-ʾaqim) – Root: קום; Form: Conjunction + Hiphil imperfect 1st person singular (converted to past by waw-consecutive); Translation: “And I raised up”; Notes: The Hiphil indicates causative action — YHWH caused prophets to arise among the people.
- מִבְּנֵיכֶם֙ (mi-bneikhem) – Root: בן; Form: Preposition מִן + plural construct noun + suffix 2mp; Translation: “from your sons”; Notes: Specifies that the prophets were chosen from among Yisraʾel’s own children.
- לִנְבִיאִ֔ים (li-neviʾim) – Root: נבא; Form: Preposition לְ + noun masculine plural; Translation: “to be prophets”; Notes: Denotes divine appointment to the prophetic office.
- וּמִבַּחוּרֵיכֶ֖ם (u-mi-baḥureikhem) – Root: בחר or בחור; Form: Conjunction + preposition מִן + noun masculine plural construct + suffix 2mp; Translation: “and from your young men”; Notes: Refers to those in the prime of life, chosen for a special consecration.
- לִנְזִרִ֑ים (li-nezīrim) – Root: נזר; Form: Preposition לְ + noun masculine plural; Translation: “to be Nazirites”; Notes: Nazirites (נְזִירִים) were individuals consecrated to YHWH by vows of abstinence and holiness (Numbers 6:1–21).
- הַאַ֥ף (ha-af) – Root: אף; Form: Interrogative particle + conjunction; Translation: “Is it indeed…?” or “Is it not indeed…?”; Notes: Introduces a rhetorical question confirming divine action as undeniable.
- אֵֽין־זֹ֛את (ʾein-zot) – Root: אין; Form: Particle of negation + demonstrative feminine singular; Translation: “not this?”; Notes: Forms a rhetorical affirmation — “Is this not so?”
- בְּנֵ֥י (benei) – Root: בן; Form: Noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “sons of”; Notes: Construct form linking with “Yisraʾel.”
- יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (Yisraʾel) – Root: שרי + אל; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yisraʾel”; Notes: Refers to the covenant people of YHWH, addressed directly in this oracle.
- נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃ (neʾum-YHWH) – Root: נאם; Form: Noun masculine singular construct + divine name; Translation: “declares YHWH”; Notes: A prophetic formula signifying the authoritative word of YHWH Himself.