Amos 7:8

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוָ֜ה אֵלַ֗י מָֽה־אַתָּ֤ה רֹאֶה֙ עָמֹ֔וס וָאֹמַ֖ר אֲנָ֑ךְ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲדֹנָ֗י הִנְנִ֨י שָׂ֤ם אֲנָךְ֙ בְּקֶ֨רֶב֙ עַמִּ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לֹֽא־אֹוסִ֥יף עֹ֖וד עֲבֹ֥ור לֹֽו׃

And YHWH said to me, “What do you see, ʿAmos?” And I said, “A plumb line.” And the Lord said, “Behold, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of My people Yisraʾel; I will not again pass by him anymore.

Morphology

1. וַיֹּאמֶר (va-yomer) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And He said”; Notes: Introduces divine speech in the visionary dialogue between YHWH and Amos.
2. יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: הוה (hvh); Form: Proper noun, divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenantal name of God; portrays Him as the one revealing His judgment.
3. אֵלַי (elai) – Root: אל (ʾel); Form: Preposition אֶל + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “to me”; Notes: Marks Amos as the direct recipient of YHWH’s revelation.
4. מָה־אַתָּה (mah-attah) – Root: מה (mah) + אתה (ʾattah); Form: Interrogative pronoun + independent pronoun masculine singular; Translation: “What are you”; Notes: The question invites Amos to participate verbally in the vision’s interpretation.
5. רֹאֶה (roʾeh) – Root: ראה (raʾah); Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “seeing”; Notes: Describes the prophet’s act of perception within the visionary experience.
6. עָמֹוס (ʿAmos) – Root: עמס (ʿamas); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “ʿAmos”; Notes: The prophet’s name meaning “burden-bearer.”
7. וָאֹמַר (vaʾomar) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal imperfect 1st person common singular (wayyiqtol form); Translation: “And I said”; Notes: Amos responds directly to YHWH’s inquiry.
8. אֲנָךְ (ʾanakh) – Root: אנך (ʾanakh); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “a plumb line”; Notes: The tool symbolizes divine measurement or evaluation of moral uprightness.
9. 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 reply and the interpretation of the symbolic vision.
10. אֲדֹנָי (Adonai) – Root: אדן (ʾadon); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Lord”; Notes: Stresses YHWH’s sovereign authority over His people.
11. הִנְנִי (hineni) – Root: הנה (hinneh); Form: Interjection + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “Behold, I am”; Notes: Signals YHWH’s decisive action and readiness to execute judgment.
12. שָׂם (sam) – Root: שים (sim); Form: Qal participle or perfect 1st person singular (contextually stative); Translation: “setting” or “placing”; Notes: Expresses intentional placement of judgment within the nation.
13. אֲנָךְ (ʾanakh) – Root: אנך (ʾanakh); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “a plumb line”; Notes: Represents God’s standard of justice and righteousness.
14. בְּקֶרֶב (be-qerev) – Root: קרב (qerev); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “in the midst of”; Notes: Denotes the location of divine judgment—within the nation itself.
15. עַמִּי (ʿammi) – Root: עם (ʿam); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “My people”; Notes: Emphasizes YHWH’s covenantal relationship with Yisraʾel despite the judgment.
16. יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisraʾel) – Root: שרי (sarah); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yisraʾel”; Notes: Refers to the northern kingdom under scrutiny.
17. לֹא (lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Expresses complete negation—YHWH will no longer withhold judgment.
18. אֹוסִיף (ʾosif) – Root: יסף (yasaf); Form: Hifil imperfect 1st person common singular; Translation: “I will again”; Notes: Here used with negation—“I will not again,” meaning YHWH will no longer repeat forbearance.
19. עֹוד (ʿod) – Root: —; Form: Adverb; Translation: “again” or “anymore”; Notes: Reinforces the finality of YHWH’s decision.
20. עֲבֹור (ʿavor) – Root: עבר (ʿavar); Form: Qal infinitive construct; Translation: “to pass by”; Notes: Refers to YHWH’s former act of passing over or sparing His people—now ceased.
21. לֹו (lo) – Root: ל (lamed); Form: Preposition לְ + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “him”; Notes: Refers to Yisraʾel collectively as the object of divine judgment.