Amos 3:7

כִּ֣י לֹ֧א יַעֲשֶׂ֛ה אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִ֖ה דָּבָ֑ר כִּ֚י אִם־גָּלָ֣ה סֹודֹ֔ו אֶל־עֲבָדָ֖יו הַנְּבִיאִֽים׃

For the Lord YHWH does nothing unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.

Morphology

1. כִּ֣י (ki) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “For”; Notes: Introduces a causal clause explaining the principle behind divine action.
2. לֹ֧א (lo) – Root: —; Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Negates the verb “does,” emphasizing divine restraint without prior revelation.
3. יַעֲשֶׂ֛ה (yaʿaseh) – Root: עשה (ʿasah); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “does” or “will do”; Notes: Describes deliberate divine activity—YHWH’s governance in human affairs.
4. אֲדֹנָ֥י (Adonai) – Root: אדן (ʾadon); Form: Noun masculine plural with 1st person singular pronominal sense (lord, master); Translation: “the Lord”; Notes: Title of authority applied to God; paired with YHWH to indicate sovereign power.
5. יְהוִ֖ה (YHWH) – Root: הוה (havah); Form: Proper noun, divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenant name of the God of Yisraʾel; paired with *Adonai* to emphasize majesty and rule.
6. דָּבָ֑ר (davar) – Root: דבר (davar); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “a thing” or “a matter”; Notes: Refers broadly to any divine action, decree, or event.
7. כִּ֚י (ki) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “unless” or “except”; Notes: Introduces the necessary condition to the previous statement—divine revelation precedes divine action.
8. אִם־ (ʾim) – Root: —; Form: Conditional particle; Translation: “if”; Notes: Functions here idiomatically in the expression “except if,” meaning “unless.”
9. גָּלָ֣ה (galah) – Root: גלה (galah); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “He has revealed”; Notes: Denotes uncovering or disclosing something hidden—used of divine revelation to prophets.
10. סֹודֹ֔ו (sodo) – Root: סוד (sod); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “His secret”; Notes: Refers to divine counsel or inner deliberation revealed to the prophets; evokes the imagery of YHWH’s heavenly council.
11. אֶל־ (ʾel) – Root: —; Form: Preposition; Translation: “to”; Notes: Indicates direction of revelation—divine disclosure directed toward His prophets.
12. עֲבָדָ֖יו (ʿavadav) – Root: עבד (ʿavad); Form: Noun masculine plural + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “His servants”; Notes: Refers to YHWH’s loyal messengers, highlighting humility and obedience in prophetic vocation.
13. הַנְּבִיאִֽים׃ (ha-neviʾim) – Root: נבא (navaʾ); Form: Definite noun masculine plural; Translation: “the prophets”; Notes: Designates those chosen by YHWH to receive and proclaim His revealed word; the verse affirms divine transparency through prophecy.