Amos 7:14

וַיַּ֤עַן עָמֹוס֙ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֶל־אֲמַצְיָ֔ה לֹא־נָבִ֣יא אָנֹ֔כִי וְלֹ֥א בֶן־נָבִ֖יא אָנֹ֑כִי כִּֽי־בֹוקֵ֥ר אָנֹ֖כִי וּבֹולֵ֥ס שִׁקְמִֽים׃

And ʿAmos answered and said to Amatsya, “I am not a prophet, nor am I the son of a prophet; for I am a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore trees.

Morphology

1. וַיַּעַן (va-yaʿan) – Root: ענה (ʿanah); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And he answered”; Notes: Introduces Amos’s response, marking a formal and personal reply to Amatsyah’s accusation.
2. עָמֹוס (ʿAmos) – Root: עמס (ʿamas); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “ʿAmos”; Notes: The prophet speaking in defense of his divine calling.
3. וַיֹּאמֶר (va-yomer) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he said”; Notes: Continues Amos’s verbal reply.
4. אֶל־אֲמַצְיָה (el-ʾAmatsyah) – Root: אמץ (ʾamats); Form: Preposition אֶל + proper noun; Translation: “to Amatsyah”; Notes: Directs the speech to the priest of Beit-El.
5. לֹא (lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Denies the prophetic office traditionally recognized among guilds or schools of prophets.
6. נָבִיא (naviʾ) – Root: נבא (navaʾ); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “prophet”; Notes: Refers to one who speaks on behalf of God—Amos distinguishes himself from professional prophets.
7. אָנֹכִי (ʾanokhi) – Root: —; Form: Independent pronoun 1st person common singular; Translation: “I”; Notes: Stresses Amos’s personal testimony and humility.
8. וְלֹא (ve-lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Conjunction וְ + negative particle; Translation: “nor”; Notes: Connects the second clause denying prophetic lineage.
9. בֶן־נָבִיא (ben-naviʾ) – Root: בן (ben) + נבא (navaʾ); Form: Noun masculine singular construct + noun masculine singular; Translation: “son of a prophet”; Notes: Refers to a member of a prophetic guild—Amos asserts independence from institutional prophecy.
10. אָנֹכִי (ʾanokhi) – Root: —; Form: Independent pronoun 1st person common singular; Translation: “I”; Notes: Repeated for emphasis, marking contrast between profession and divine commission.
11. כִּי (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces explanation—Amos’s occupation and background.
12. בֹּוקֵר (boqer) – Root: בקר (baqar); Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “a herdsman”; Notes: A keeper or breeder of cattle, describing Amos’s humble profession.
13. אָנֹכִי (ʾanokhi) – Root: —; Form: Independent pronoun 1st person common singular; Translation: “I”; Notes: Continues emphasis on personal identity over formal status.
14. וּבֹולֵס (u-voʾles) – Root: בלס (balas); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “and a dresser”; Notes: Refers to someone who cultivates or tends fig trees, especially sycamore figs.
15. שִׁקְמִים (shiqmim) – Root: שׁקם (shiqmah); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “sycamore trees”; Notes: Represents ordinary agricultural labor, emphasizing Amos’s rural and non-professional background.