וְאָ֣מַרְתָּ֔ כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֖ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֑ה הִנְנִ֤י אֵלֶ֨יךָ֙ גֹּ֔וג נְשִׂ֕יא רֹ֖אשׁ מֶ֥שֶׁךְ וְתֻבָֽל׃
and you shall say, ‘Thus says the Lord YHWH: “Behold, I am against you, Gog, chief prince of Meshekh and Tuval.
Morphology
- וְאָמַרְתָּ (veʾamarta) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal perfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “and you shall say”; Notes: A directive to the prophet, introducing the divine message to be proclaimed.
- כֹּה (koh) – Root: —; Form: Adverb; Translation: “thus”; Notes: Commonly introduces prophetic oracles, marking the authority and exact wording of YHWH’s declaration.
- אָמַר (ʾamar) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “said”; Notes: The typical formula for divine speech: “Thus says YHWH.”
- אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה (Adonai YHWH) – Root: אדן (ʾadon) / הוה (havah); Form: Construct phrase combining title and divine name; Translation: “Lord YHWH”; Notes: A reverent double title emphasizing both divine sovereignty (*Adonai*) and covenantal identity (*YHWH*).
- הִנְנִי (hineni) – Root: הן (hen); Form: Interjection + suffix 1st person singular; Translation: “behold, I”; Notes: A self-referential divine announcement introducing YHWH’s direct action or involvement.
- אֵלֶיךָ (ʾelekha) – Root: —; Form: Preposition אֶל + suffix 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “against you” or “toward you”; Notes: Indicates divine confrontation; contextually adversative here (“against you”).
- גֹּוג (Gog) – Root: —; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Gog”; Notes: The prophesied leader of the northern confederation opposing YHWH’s people in eschatological vision.
- נְשִׂיא (nesiʾ) – Root: נשא (nasaʾ); Form: Noun masculine singular absolute; Translation: “prince”; Notes: Refers to a ruler or leader; often used for heads of tribes or nations.
- רֹאשׁ (rosh) – Root: ראשׁ (rosh); Form: Noun masculine singular absolute; Translation: “chief”; Notes: Functions appositionally to “prince,” forming the title “chief prince.”
- מֶשֶׁךְ (Meshekh) – Root: —; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Meshekh”; Notes: An ancient people group, possibly from Asia Minor, frequently mentioned alongside Tuval.
- וְתֻבָל (ve-Tuval) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction וְ + proper noun; Translation: “and Tuval”; Notes: Another Anatolian people; both names symbolize the northern nations united under Gog’s leadership.