וַיִּקָּחֵ֣נִי יְהוָ֔ה מֵאַחֲרֵ֖י הַצֹּ֑אן וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלַי֙ יְהוָ֔ה לֵ֥ךְ הִנָּבֵ֖א אֶל־עַמִּ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
And YHWH took me from following the flock, and YHWH said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to My people Yisraʾel.’
Morphology
- וַיִּקָּחֵנִי (va-yiqqaḥeni) – Root: לקח (laqach); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine singular + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “And He took me”; Notes: Describes divine initiative—YHWH personally chooses and removes Amos from his occupation as a shepherd.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: הוה (havah); Form: Proper noun (divine name); Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenantal name of Israel’s God, emphasizing personal commissioning authority.
- מֵאַחֲרֵי (meʾaḥarei) – Root: אחר (ʾaḥar); Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “from behind”; Notes: Indicates spatial separation—Amos was taken from behind the flock, symbolizing divine interruption of his pastoral life.
- הַצֹּאן (ha-tson) – Root: צאן (tson); Form: Definite noun common collective; Translation: “the flock”; Notes: Collective for sheep or small cattle, representing Amos’s prior occupation as a shepherd.
- וַיֹּאמֶר (va-yomer) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and He said”; Notes: Marks YHWH’s direct speech following divine selection.
- אֵלַי (elai) – Root: אל (ʾel); Form: Preposition אֶל + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “to me”; Notes: Indicates personal communication—YHWH addresses Amos directly.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: הוה (havah); Form: Proper noun (divine name); Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Repetition reinforces divine authorship and authority of the commission.
- לֵךְ (lekh) – Root: הלך (halakh); Form: Qal imperative masculine singular; Translation: “Go”; Notes: A direct divine command initiating the prophetic mission.
- הִנָּבֵא (hinnave) – Root: נבא (navaʾ); Form: Nifal imperative masculine singular; Translation: “prophesy”; Notes: Reflexive stem meaning “act as a prophet,” denoting Amos’s new divine role, distinct from professional prophetic schools.
- אֶל־עַמִּי (el-ʿammi) – Root: עם (ʿam); Form: Preposition אֶל + noun masculine singular construct + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “to My people”; Notes: Emphasizes divine ownership—YHWH sends Amos to His covenant people.
- יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisraʾel) – Root: שרה (sarāh) + אל (ʾel); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yisraʾel”; Notes: Represents the northern kingdom, the audience of Amos’s prophecy, to whom he was sent despite rejection.