Ezekiel 38:14

לָכֵן֙ הִנָּבֵ֣א בֶן־אָדָ֔ם וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ לְגֹ֔וג כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֖ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֑ה הֲלֹ֣וא בַּיֹּ֣ום הַה֗וּא בְּשֶׁ֨בֶת עַמִּ֧י יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל לָבֶ֖טַח תֵּדָֽע׃

“Therefore prophesy, son of man, and say to Gog, ‘Thus says the Lord YHWH: “Is it not on that day, when My people Yisraʾel dwell securely, that you will know it?

Morphology

1. לָכֵן (lakhen) – Root: —; Form: Adverb; Translation: “Therefore”; Notes: Introduces divine response or consequence following Gog’s intentions, marking a prophetic transition.
2. הִנָּבֵא (hinnaveʾ) – Root: נבא (navaʾ); Form: Niphal imperative 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “Prophesy!”; Notes: A direct command to the prophet, signaling divine commissioning to speak judgment.
3. בֶן־אָדָם (ben-adam) – Root: אדם (adam); Form: Noun construct “son of man”; Translation: “son of man”; Notes: Ezekiel’s divine title emphasizing his human frailty contrasted with divine authority.
4. וְאָמַרְתָּ (veʾamarta) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal perfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “and say”; Notes: Continues the divine directive, forming part of the prophetic formula.
5. לְגֹוג (le-Gog) – Root: גוג (Gog); Form: Preposition לְ + proper noun; Translation: “to Gog”; Notes: Direct address to the prophesied invader and symbolic enemy of YHWH’s people.
6. כֹּה אָמַר (koh amar) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Adverb + Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “Thus says”; Notes: Standard prophetic introduction emphasizing divine authorship of the message.
7. אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה (Adonai YHWH) – Root: —; Form: Compound divine title; Translation: “Lord YHWH”; Notes: Denotes supreme authority, merging divine lordship (*Adonai*) and covenantal name (*YHWH*).
8. הֲלֹוא (haloʾ) – Root: —; Form: Interrogative particle; Translation: “Is it not?”; Notes: Introduces a rhetorical question expressing certainty or inevitability of the predicted event.
9. בַּיֹּום (ba-yom) – Root: יום (yom); Form: Preposition בְּ + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “on the day”; Notes: Refers to the eschatological day of Gog’s assault and divine intervention.
10. הַהוּא (ha-hu) – Root: —; Form: Demonstrative pronoun masculine singular; Translation: “that”; Notes: Specifies the prophetic “day” as a future and climactic event.
11. בְּשֶׁבֶת (be-shevet) – Root: ישׁב (yashav); Form: Preposition בְּ + Qal infinitive construct; Translation: “when [they] dwell”; Notes: Marks temporal clause—Israel’s peaceful habitation serves as the prophetic trigger.
12. עַמִּי (ʿammi) – Root: עם (ʿam); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 1st person singular; Translation: “My people”; Notes: Divine possession—YHWH’s covenant people, Yisraʾel.
13. יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisraʾel) – Root: ישראל (Yisraʾel); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yisraʾel”; Notes: Represents the restored nation, dwelling in peace before Gog’s invasion.
14. לָבֶטַח (la-vetakh) – Root: בטח (bataḥ); Form: Preposition לְ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “in security”; Notes: Describes tranquility and safety, indicating a time of peace before attack.
15. תֵּדָע (tedaʿ) – Root: ידע (yadaʿ); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “you will know”; Notes: Signifies recognition or realization—Gog’s awareness of YHWH’s protective covenant over His people.