כִּ֛י כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֖ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֑ה חֶ֥רֶב מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֖ל תְּבֹואֶֽךָ׃
For thus says the Lord YHWH: “The sword of the king of Bavel shall come upon you.
Morphology
- כִּי (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “For”; Notes: Introduces the reason or explanation for the preceding declaration of judgment.
- כֹּה (koh) – Root: כה (koh); Form: Adverb; Translation: “thus”; Notes: Common prophetic formula used to introduce divine speech (“thus says YHWH”).
- אָמַר (amar) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “has said”; Notes: Refers to the formal speech act of YHWH, introducing His authoritative statement.
- אֲדֹנָי (ʾadonai) – Root: אדון (ʾadon); Form: Noun masculine plural with 1st person singular possessive ending (used as a divine title); Translation: “Lord”; Notes: A title expressing sovereign rule and authority.
- יְהוִה (YHWH) – Root: הוה (hwh); Form: Proper divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenantal name of the God of Yisraʾel, emphasizing His supreme authority.
- חֶרֶב (ḥerev) – Root: חרב (ḥerev); Form: Noun feminine singular absolute; Translation: “sword”; Notes: Symbol of war and divine judgment, representing the instrument of YHWH’s justice.
- מֶלֶךְ־ (melekh) – Root: מלך (melekh); Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “king of”; Notes: In construct relationship with “Babel,” identifying the ruler whose sword is the agent of judgment.
- בָּבֶל (Bavel) – Root: בבל (Bavel); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Babel” (Babylon); Notes: The empire through which YHWH executes judgment upon the nations.
- תְּבֹואֶךָ (tevoʾekha) – Root: בוא (boʾ); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person feminine singular + suffix 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “shall come upon you”; Notes: Feminine subject (“sword”) governs the verb; denotes the approaching attack or invasion.