כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֔ה יַ֣עַן אָמַ֧ר הָאֹויֵ֛ב עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם הֶאָ֑ח וּבָמֹ֣ות עֹולָ֔ם לְמֹֽורָשָׁ֖ה הָ֥יְתָה לָּֽנוּ׃
“Thus says the Lord YHWH: ‘Because the enemy has said concerning you, “Aha!” and, “the ancient high places have become ours for a possession.”
Morphology
- כֹּה (koh) – Root: כה (koh); Form: Adverb; Translation: “thus”; Notes: Typical introductory word for a prophetic oracle, signaling divine authority.
- אָמַר (ʾamar) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “has said”; Notes: Refers to the direct speech of YHWH through the prophet.
- אֲדֹנָי (ʾadonay) – Root: אדן (ʾadon); Form: Noun masculine plural of majesty; Translation: “my Lord”; Notes: Honorific title expressing divine lordship and authority.
- יְהוִה (YHWH) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Proper divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The personal covenant name of the God of Yisraʾel.
- יַעַן (yaʿan) – Root: יען (yaʿan); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “because”; Notes: Introduces the reason for YHWH’s forthcoming judgment.
- אָמַר (ʾamar) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “has said”; Notes: Refers to the boastful words of YHWH’s enemies against His land.
- הָאֹויֵב (ha-ʾoyev) – Root: איב (ʾayav); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the enemy”; Notes: Represents hostile nations (e.g., Edom) rejoicing at Yisraʾel’s downfall.
- עֲלֵיכֶם (ʿaleikhem) – Root: על (ʿal); Form: Preposition עַל + suffix 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “concerning you” or “against you”; Notes: Refers to the land and people of Yisraʾel as the target of mockery.
- הֶאָח (heʾaḥ) – Root: Interjection; Form: Exclamatory particle; Translation: “Aha!”; Notes: Expression of malicious glee or triumphant mockery over Yisraʾel’s desolation.
- וּבָמֹות (u-vamot) – Root: במה (bamah); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun feminine plural; Translation: “and the high places”; Notes: Refers to ancient cultic or strategic sites—here symbolic of Yisraʾel’s heritage and sacred identity.
- עֹולָם (ʿolam) – Root: עלם (ʿalam); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “ancient” or “everlasting”; Notes: Describes the long-standing or eternal nature of these sacred high places.
- לְמֹורָשָׁה (le-morashah) – Root: ירשׁ (yarash); Form: Preposition לְ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “for a possession”; Notes: Expresses the enemy’s intent to claim the land as their own inheritance.
- הָיְתָה (hayetah) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “it has become”; Notes: Refers to the perceived transfer of the land’s ownership after Yisraʾel’s fall.
- לָּנוּ (lanu) – Root: ל (lamed); Form: Preposition לְ + suffix 1st person plural; Translation: “to us” or “for us”; Notes: Captures the enemy’s arrogant claim of ownership over YHWH’s covenant land.