לָכֵ֣ן רֹעִ֔ים שִׁמְע֖וּ אֶת־דְּבַ֥ר יְהוָֽה׃
Therefore, shepherds, hear the word of YHWH.
Morphology
- לָכֵן (lakhen) – Root: כן (ken); Form: Preposition לְ + adverb; Translation: “therefore”; Notes: Introduces the divine pronouncement that follows as a consequence of prior actions.
- רֹעִים (roʿim) – Root: רעָה (raʿah); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “shepherds”; Notes: Refers metaphorically to the leaders of Yisraʾel, addressed directly by YHWH.
- שִׁמְעוּ (shimʿu) – Root: שׁמע (shamaʿ); Form: Qal imperative 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “hear”; Notes: A command calling for attentive obedience to YHWH’s message.
- אֶת־דְּבַר (ʾet-devar) – Root: דבר (davar); Form: Direct object marker + noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “the word of”; Notes: Introduces the object of hearing, linking to the divine source in the next word.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Proper divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenantal name of the God of Yisraʾel, whose word the shepherds are commanded to heed.