Ezekiel 29:9

וְהָיְתָ֤ה אֶֽרֶץ־מִצְרַ֨יִם֙ לִשְׁמָמָ֣ה וְחָרְבָּ֔ה וְיָדְע֖וּ כִּֽי־אֲנִ֣י יְהוָ֑ה יַ֧עַן אָמַ֛ר יְאֹ֥ר לִ֖י וַאֲנִ֥י עָשִֽׂיתִי׃

And the land of Mitsrayim shall become a desolation and a waste, and they shall know that I am YHWH, because he said, ‘The river is mine, and I have made it.’

Morphology

1. וְהָיְתָה (ve-hayetah) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal perfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “and it shall become”; Notes: Refers to the land of Mitsrayim as the subject, expressing future transformation due to divine judgment.
2. אֶרֶץ־מִצְרַיִם (erets-Mitsrayim) – Root: ארץ (ʾerets), מצרים (Mitsrayim); Form: Noun feminine singular construct + proper noun; Translation: “the land of Mitsrayim”; Notes: Indicates the geographical and national scope of the prophecy.
3. לִשְׁמָמָה (li-shmamah) – Root: שׁמם (shamam); Form: Preposition לְ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “for a desolation”; Notes: Expresses purpose or result, describing the total devastation of the land.
4. וְחָרְבָּה (ve-ḥarevah) – Root: חרב (ḥarav); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “and a waste”; Notes: Reinforces the imagery of complete ruin; often paired with “שְׁמָמָה.”
5. וְיָדְעוּ (ve-yadʿu) – Root: ידע (yadaʿ); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal perfect 3rd person common plural; Translation: “and they shall know”; Notes: Expresses the recognition formula typical in Ezekiel, signaling acknowledgment of YHWH’s sovereignty.
6. כִּי (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “that”; Notes: Introduces the content of the recognition—that YHWH is the one acting.
7. אֲנִי (ani) – Root: —; Form: Independent pronoun 1st person common singular; Translation: “I”; Notes: Emphatic self-reference by YHWH in covenantal revelation.
8. יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: הוה (hvh); Form: Proper divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Declares the covenant name of God as the one bringing about judgment.
9. יַעַן (yaʿan) – Root: יען (yaʿan); Form: Preposition; Translation: “because”; Notes: Introduces the reason or moral ground for judgment.
10. אָמַר (ʾamar) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he said”; Notes: Refers to Pharaoh’s arrogant proclamation of self-deification.
11. יְאֹר (yeʾor) – Root: יאר (yeʾor); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “the river”; Notes: Refers specifically to the Nile, Egypt’s source of life and symbol of divine pretension.
12. לִי (li) – Root: ל (lamed); Form: Preposition לְ + first person common singular suffix; Translation: “is mine”; Notes: Expresses possession—Pharaoh’s boastful claim of divine ownership.
13. וַאֲנִי (va-ani) – Root: אני (ani); Form: Conjunction וְ + independent pronoun 1st person common singular; Translation: “and I”; Notes: Intensifies the self-centered claim of Pharaoh, paralleling YHWH’s “I am.”
14. עָשִׂיתִי (ʿasiti) – Root: עשה (ʿasah); Form: Qal perfect 1st person common singular; Translation: “I made it”; Notes: Arrogant assertion of creative power by Pharaoh, echoing YHWH’s true role as Creator.