כֹּֽה־אָמַ֞ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֗ה וְהַאֲבַדְתִּ֨י גִלּוּלִ֜ים וְהִשְׁבַּתִּ֤י אֱלִילִים֙ מִנֹּ֔ף וְנָשִׂ֥יא מֵאֶֽרֶץ־מִצְרַ֖יִם לֹ֣א יִֽהְיֶה־עֹ֑וד וְנָתַתִּ֥י יִרְאָ֖ה בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃
Thus says the Lord YHWH: “I will destroy idols and cause the false gods to cease from Nof, and there shall no longer be a prince from the land of Mitsrayim; and I will put fear in the land of Mitsrayim.
Morphology
- כֹּה (koh) – Root: —; Form: Demonstrative adverb; Translation: “thus”; Notes: Introduces a divine oracle or declaration.
- אָמַר (amar) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “has said”; Notes: Marks divine speech through the prophet.
- אֲדֹנָי (ʾAdonai) – Root: אדן (ʾadon); Form: Noun plural of majesty; Translation: “Lord”; Notes: Combined with YHWH to denote divine authority and sovereignty.
- יְהוִה (YHWH) – Root: הוה (havah); Form: Proper noun (Tetragrammaton); Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenant name of God, affirming the divine source of the message.
- וְהַאֲבַדְתִּי (ve-haʾavadti) – Root: אבד (ʾavad); Form: Hiphil perfect 1st person singular with conjunction וְ; Translation: “and I will destroy”; Notes: Causative form—YHWH will bring about the elimination of idols.
- גִלּוּלִים (gillulim) – Root: גלל (galal); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “idols”; Notes: Derogatory term meaning “dung gods” or “detestable idols,” frequently used in Ezekiel.
- וְהִשְׁבַּתִּי (ve-hishbatti) – Root: שׁבת (shavat); Form: Hiphil perfect 1st person singular with conjunction וְ; Translation: “and I will cause to cease”; Notes: Expresses divine causation—ending idol worship completely.
- אֱלִילִים (ʾelilim) – Root: אלל (ʾalal); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “false gods” or “worthless idols”; Notes: Contrasts YHWH’s true power with the impotence of human-made deities.
- מִנֹּף (min-Nof) – Root: נוף (Nof); Form: Preposition מִן + proper noun; Translation: “from Nof (Memphis)”; Notes: Ancient capital of Lower Egypt, associated with idolatry and power.
- וְנָשִׂיא (ve-nasiʾ) – Root: נשא (nasaʾ); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and a prince”; Notes: Refers to political leadership—Egypt’s rulers will be removed.
- מֵאֶרֶץ־מִצְרַיִם (me-erets Mitsrayim) – Root: ארץ (ʾerets), מצרים (Mitsrayim); Form: Preposition מִן + noun construct + proper noun; Translation: “from the land of Mitsrayim (Egypt)”; Notes: Indicates the scope of divine judgment—complete loss of local sovereignty.
- לֹא יִהְיֶה־עוֹד (loʾ yihyeh-ʿod) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Negative particle + Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular + adverb; Translation: “shall no longer be”; Notes: Total and final cessation of native Egyptian rulers.
- וְנָתַתִּי (ve-natatti) – Root: נתן (natan); Form: Qal perfect 1st person singular with conjunction וְ; Translation: “and I will put”; Notes: Denotes YHWH’s active placement of fear within the land.
- יִרְאָה (yirʾah) – Root: ירא (yaraʾ); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “fear” or “terror”; Notes: A psychological and spiritual dread instilled by divine action.
- בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם (be-erets Mitsrayim) – Root: ארץ (ʾerets), מצרים (Mitsrayim); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun feminine singular construct + proper noun; Translation: “in the land of Mitsrayim”; Notes: Locative phrase marking Egypt as the domain of divine terror and judgment.