וַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יְהוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר׃
And the word of YHWH came to me, saying,
Morphology
- וַיְהִי (va-yehi) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And it came to pass”; Notes: Standard narrative introduction marking a new divine communication or event.
- דְבַר (devar) – Root: דבר (davar); Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “word of”; Notes: In prophetic idiom, “the word of YHWH” signifies revelation or divine message.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: הוה (havah); Form: Proper divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenant name of God, often accompanying prophetic utterances.
- אֵלַי (ʾelai) – Root: אל (ʾel); Form: Preposition אֶל + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “to me”; Notes: Indicates the personal direction of the revelation — the prophet as the recipient of YHWH’s word.
- לֵאמֹר (leʾmor) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Preposition לְ + infinitive construct Qal; Translation: “saying”; Notes: Formula introducing direct speech that follows; signals that YHWH’s message will now be quoted verbatim.