וְלֵ֨ךְ בֹּ֤א אֶל־הַגֹּולָה֙ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י עַמֶּ֔ךָ וְדִבַּרְתָּ֤ אֲלֵיהֶם֙ וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֖ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהֹוִ֑ה אִֽם־יִשְׁמְע֖וּ וְאִם־יֶחְדָּֽלוּ׃
And go, enter to the exile, to the sons of your people, and you shall speak to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says my Lord YHWH,’ whether they will hear or whether they will cease.”
Morphology
- וְלֵךְ (ve-lekh) – Root: הלך; Form: Qal imperative masculine singular with conjunction; Translation: “And go”; Notes: A command to depart for mission.
- בֹּא (bo) – Root: בוא; Form: Qal imperative masculine singular; Translation: “enter”; Notes: Complements “go,” specifying purposeful arrival.
- אֶל־ (ʾel) – Root: אל; Form: Preposition; Translation: “to”; Notes: Indicates direction toward the exiles.
- הַגֹּולָה (ha-golah) – Root: גלה; Form: Definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “the exile”; Notes: Refers to the deported community of Yisraʾel.
- אֶל־ (ʾel) – Root: אל; Form: Preposition; Translation: “to”; Notes: Marks further specification.
- בְּנֵי (benei) – Root: בן; Form: Noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “sons of”; Notes: Refers to the descendants or people belonging to the prophet’s nation.
- עַמֶּךָ (ʿammekha) – Root: עם; Form: Noun masculine singular construct + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “your people”; Notes: Identifies Ezekiel’s compatriots among the exiles.
- וְדִבַּרְתָּ (ve-dibbarta) – Root: דבר; Form: Piel perfect 2nd person masculine singular with vav-consecutive (future force); Translation: “and you shall speak”; Notes: Piel emphasizes authoritative proclamation.
- אֲלֵיהֶם (ʾaleihem) – Root: אל; Form: Preposition אֶל + third person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “to them”; Notes: Refers to the exiled audience.
- וְאָמַרְתָּ (ve-amarta) – Root: אמר; Form: Qal perfect 2nd person masculine singular with vav-consecutive (future force); Translation: “and you shall say”; Notes: Parallel to “you shall speak,” reinforcing command.
- אֲלֵיהֶם (ʾaleihem) – Root: אל; Form: Preposition אֶל + third person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “to them”; Notes: Repeated for emphasis of Ezekiel’s role.
- כֹּה (koh) – Root: —; Form: Demonstrative adverb; Translation: “Thus”; Notes: Standard prophetic formula introducing divine speech.
- אָמַר (amar) – Root: אמר; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “has said”; Notes: Formulaic declaration introducing YHWH’s words.
- אֲדֹנָי (ʾadonai) – Root: אדן; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “my Lord”; Notes: Title of sovereignty for God.
- יְהֹוִה (YHWH) – Root: הוה; Form: Proper noun, Tetragrammaton; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The divine name, covenantal identity of God.
- אִם־ (ʾim) – Root: —; Form: Conditional particle; Translation: “whether/if”; Notes: Sets up conditional response.
- יִשְׁמְעוּ (yishmeʿu) – Root: שׁמע; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they will hear”; Notes: Implies obedience or heeding.
- וְאִם־ (ve-ʾim) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction ו + conditional particle; Translation: “or if”; Notes: Presents the alternative.
- יֶחְדָּלוּ (yeḥdalu) – Root: חדל; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they will cease”; Notes: Means to desist, here implying refusal to listen.