וַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יְהוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר׃
And the word of YHWH came to me, saying,
Morphology
- וַיְהִי (va-yehi) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Conjunction וַ + Qal wayyiqtol (narrative tense, “and it came to pass”) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and it came to pass”; Notes: A standard prophetic narrative opening in Hebrew prose indicating the beginning of a divine communication or event. The wayyiqtol form (sequential imperfect) introduces a new scene or episode.
- דְבַר־יְהוָה (devar-YHWH) – Root: דבר (davar); Form: Noun masculine singular construct + Tetragrammaton; Translation: “the word of YHWH”; Notes: A formulaic expression in prophetic literature marking divine revelation. The construct chain signifies possession—“the word belonging to YHWH.”
- אֵלַי (elai) – Root: אל (ʾel); Form: Preposition אֶל + suffix 1st person singular; Translation: “to me”; Notes: Indicates the recipient of the divine message—Yeḥezqel as the prophet through whom YHWH speaks.
- לֵאמֹר (lemor) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Preposition לְ + infinitive construct; Translation: “saying”; Notes: A transitional infinitive introducing direct speech, common in narrative and prophetic formulae (“and YHWH said…”). It marks the beginning of YHWH’s direct message.