Ezekiel 34:31

וְאַתֵּ֥ן צֹאנִ֛י צֹ֥אן מַרְעִיתִ֖י אָדָ֣ם אַתֶּ֑ם אֲנִי֙ אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֔ם נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִֽה׃ פ

And you are My flock, the flock of My pasture; you are men, and I am your God,” declares the Lord YHWH.

Morphology

1. וְאַתֵּן (ve-atten) – Root: אתה (ʾattah); Form: Conjunction וְ + independent pronoun 2nd person feminine plural; Translation: “and you”; Notes: Addressed collectively to YHWH’s people metaphorically as His flock; the feminine plural aligns with the collective noun “flock.”
2. צֹאנִי (tsoʾni) – Root: צאן (tsoʾn); Form: Noun common feminine singular construct + suffix 1st person singular; Translation: “My flock”; Notes: Denotes belonging—YHWH personally claims ownership and care over His people.
3. צֹאן (tsoʾn) – Root: צאן (tsoʾn); Form: Noun common feminine singular (collective); Translation: “flock”; Notes: Repetition adds emphasis, identifying Yisraʾel as YHWH’s covenant flock—those under His pastoral protection.
4. מַרְעִיתִי (marʿiti) – Root: רעָה (raʿah); Form: Noun feminine singular construct + suffix 1st person singular; Translation: “of My pasture”; Notes: Indicates YHWH’s providential care—He Himself is the Shepherd providing spiritual and physical sustenance.
5. אָדָם (ʾadam) – Root: אדם (ʾadam); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “men” or “humans”; Notes: Contrasts the metaphorical “flock” with their real human identity, showing the pastoral image as symbolic of YHWH’s covenant with mankind.
6. אַתֶּם (ʾattem) – Root: אתה (ʾattah); Form: Independent pronoun 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you”; Notes: Emphasizes direct address to YHWH’s people—affirming their humanity and relationship to Him.
7. אֲנִי (ʾani) – Root: אני (ʾani); Form: Independent pronoun 1st person singular; Translation: “I”; Notes: Marks divine self-reference—YHWH contrasts Himself as the divine Shepherd to His human flock.
8. אֱלֹהֵיכֶם (ʾeloheikhem) – Root: אלה (ʾelah); Form: Noun masculine plural construct + suffix 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “your God”; Notes: Expresses covenantal belonging—YHWH is their personal deity and protector.
9. נְאֻם (neʾum) – Root: נאם (naʾam); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “utterance” or “declaration”; Notes: Standard prophetic formula introducing or concluding divine speech—underscores the solemn authority of YHWH’s word.
10. אֲדֹנָי (ʾadonai) – Root: אדן (ʾadon); Form: Noun masculine plural with 1st person singular possessive, used as divine title; Translation: “the Lord”; Notes: Title signifying YHWH’s rulership and sovereignty.
11. יְהוִה (YHWH) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Proper divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The Tetragrammaton—emphasizes divine covenant faithfulness and authority sealing the prophetic statement.