וַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יְהוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר׃
And the word of YHWH came to me, saying,
Morphology
- וַיְהִי (va-yehi) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (imperfect consecutive) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And it came to be” or “And it happened”; Notes: The narrative marker introducing divine communication or events in prophetic literature.
- דְבַר־ (devar) – Root: דבר (davar); Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “word of”; Notes: Often used for divine revelation or oracle delivered to a prophet.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: הוה (havah); Form: Proper noun, Tetragrammaton; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The personal covenant name of the God of Yisraʾel, signifying His self-existent and eternal nature.
- אֵלַי (elai) – Root: אל (ʾel); Form: Preposition אֶל + suffix 1st person singular; Translation: “to me”; Notes: Indicates direct address—divine communication directed personally to the prophet.
- לֵאמֹר (leʾmor) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Preposition לְ + infinitive construct; Translation: “saying”; Notes: Standard infinitive introducing reported speech or divine command in prophetic formulae.