יַ֣עַן אֲ֠מָרְךָ אֶת־שְׁנֵ֨י הַגֹּויִ֜ם וְאֶת־שְׁתֵּ֧י הָאֲרָצֹ֛ות לִ֥י תִהְיֶ֖ינָה וִֽירַשְׁנ֑וּהָ וַֽיהוָ֖ה שָׁ֥ם הָיָֽה׃
Because you have said, ‘The two nations and the two lands shall be mine, and we shall possess it,’ though YHWH was there.
Morphology
- יַעַן (yaʿan) – Root: יען (yaʿan); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “because”; Notes: Introduces the reason for divine judgment—Edom’s arrogant claim over Yisraʾel’s inheritance.
- אֲמָרְךָ (ʾamarekha) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal perfect 2nd person masculine singular + suffix 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “you have said”; Notes: Refers to Edom’s boastful declaration against YHWH’s people and land.
- אֶת־שְׁנֵי (ʾet-shenei) – Root: שׁנים (shenayim); Form: Direct object marker + numeral masculine dual construct; Translation: “the two”; Notes: Marks the direct object referring to two distinct entities—the two nations of Yisraʾel and Yehudah.
- הַגֹּויִם (ha-goyim) – Root: גוי (goy); Form: Definite noun masculine plural; Translation: “the nations”; Notes: Refers to the divided kingdoms of Yisraʾel and Yehudah, seen as conquered peoples by Edom.
- וְאֶת־שְׁתֵּי (ve-ʾet-shtei) – Root: שׁנים (shenayim); Form: Conjunction וְ + direct object marker + numeral feminine dual construct; Translation: “and the two”; Notes: Introduces the parallel object phrase referring to the two lands corresponding to the two nations.
- הָאֲרָצֹות (ha-ʾaratsot) – Root: ארץ (ʾerets); Form: Definite noun feminine plural; Translation: “the lands”; Notes: Refers to the territories of Yisraʾel and Yehudah which Edom sought to seize.
- לִי (li) – Root: ל (lamed); Form: Preposition לְ + suffix 1st person singular; Translation: “to me” or “for myself”; Notes: Indicates possession—Edom’s claim that the lands rightfully belong to itself.
- תִהְיֶינָה (tihyenah) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person feminine plural; Translation: “they shall be”; Notes: Feminine plural agrees with הָאֲרָצֹות (“the lands”), expressing future intent of occupation.
- וִירַשְׁנֻהָ (vi-yrashnuhah) – Root: ירשׁ (yarash); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal imperfect 1st person common plural + suffix 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “and we shall possess it”; Notes: The suffix refers to the land collectively—Edom’s presumption to inherit what belongs to YHWH’s people.
- וַיהוָה (va-YHWH) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Conjunction וְ + proper divine name; Translation: “though YHWH”; Notes: Marks divine presence as the ultimate reality negating Edom’s claim.
- שָׁם (sham) – Root: שם (sham); Form: Adverb; Translation: “there”; Notes: Indicates the dwelling presence of YHWH in the land—asserting divine ownership.
- הָיָה (hayah) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “was”; Notes: Concludes the verse with a theological assertion—YHWH’s abiding presence invalidates human claims over His land.