Ezekiel 1:3

הָיֹ֣ה הָיָ֣ה דְבַר־֠יְהוָה אֶל־יְחֶזְקֵ֨אל בֶּן־בּוּזִ֧י הַכֹּהֵ֛ן בְּאֶ֥רֶץ כַּשְׂדִּ֖ים עַל־נְהַר־כְּבָ֑ר וַתְּהִ֥י עָלָ֛יו שָׁ֖ם יַד־יְהוָֽה׃

The word of YHWH was indeed, it was, to Yeḥezqel son of Buzi the priest, in the land of the Kasdim by the river Kevar, and the hand of YHWH was upon him there.

Morphology

1. הָיֹה (hayoh) – Root: היה; Form: Qal infinitive absolute; Translation: “indeed was”; Notes: The infinitive absolute used with a finite verb emphasizes certainty or intensity. Here it reinforces the reality of the prophetic word.
2. הָיָה (hayah) – Root: היה; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “it was”; Notes: Together with the infinitive absolute (preceding), this forms an emphatic construction “it surely came to be.”
3. דְבַר־ (devar) – Root: דבר; Form: Noun masculine singular in construct; Translation: “word of”; Notes: Bound form, linking to the following divine name.
4. יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: הוה; Form: Proper noun, Tetragrammaton; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The divine name, subject of the prophetic message.
5. אֶל־ (ʾel) – Root: אל; Form: Preposition; Translation: “to”; Notes: Introduces the indirect object, the recipient of YHWH’s word.
6. יְחֶזְקֵאל (Yeḥezqel) – Root: חזק + אל; Form: Proper noun masculine singular; Translation: “Yeḥezqel”; Notes: Name meaning “God strengthens.”
7. בֶּן־ (ben) – Root: בן; Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “son of”; Notes: Genealogical formula linking to father’s name.
8. בּוּזִי (Buzi) – Root: בוז; Form: Proper noun masculine singular with gentilic suffix -י; Translation: “Buzi”; Notes: Personal name, likely meaning “despised one.”
9. הַכֹּהֵן (ha-kohen) – Root: כהן; Form: Noun masculine singular with definite article; Translation: “the priest”; Notes: Identifies Yeḥezqel’s priestly status.
10. בְּאֶרֶץ (be-erets) – Root: ארץ; Form: Preposition בְּ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “in the land”; Notes: Locative phrase situating the vision in exile.
11. כַּשְׂדִּים (Kasdim) – Root: כשׂד; Form: Proper noun, masculine plural gentilic; Translation: “Kasdim”; Notes: Refers to the Chaldeans, inhabitants of Babylonia.
12. עַל־ (ʿal) – Root: על; Form: Preposition; Translation: “upon / by”; Notes: Preposition governing the following noun phrase.
13. נְהַר־ (nehar) – Root: נהר; Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “river of”; Notes: Introduces the specific river name.
14. כְּבָר (Kebar) – Root: Uncertain; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Kebar”; Notes: A canal or river near Babylon, location of the exiles.
15. וַתְּהִי (va-tehi) – Root: היה; Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “and it was”; Notes: Introduces the presence of YHWH’s hand.
16. עָלָיו (ʿalav) – Root: על; Form: Preposition עַל + third person masculine singular pronominal suffix; Translation: “upon him”; Notes: Denotes personal experience of divine power.
17. שָׁם (sham) – Root: שם; Form: Adverb; Translation: “there”; Notes: Indicates the specific geographical place of the encounter.
18. יַד־ (yad) – Root: יד; Form: Noun feminine singular construct; Translation: “hand of”; Notes: Metaphor for power or control.
19. יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: הוה; Form: Proper noun, Tetragrammaton; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Indicates divine agency resting upon the prophet.