וְעַתָּה֙ שִֽׂימוּ־נָ֣א לְבַבְכֶ֔ם מִן־הַיֹּ֥ום הַזֶּ֖ה וָמָ֑עְלָה מִטֶּ֧רֶם שֽׂוּם־אֶ֛בֶן אֶל־אֶ֖בֶן בְּהֵיכַ֥ל יְהוָֽה׃
And now, set now your heart from this day and upward—from before placing stone to stone in the temple of YHWH.
Morphology
- וְעַתָּה (ve-ʿattah) – Root: עת (ʿ-t); Form: Conjunction וְ + adverb; Translation: “And now”; Notes: Introduces a new exhortation.
- שִׂימוּ־ (simu) – Root: שׂים (ś-y-m); Form: Qal imperative 2mp; Translation: “set / place”; Notes: A command addressed to the entire people.
- נָא (na) – Root: נא (n-ʾ); Form: Particle of entreaty; Translation: “now / please”; Notes: Softens or urges compliance.
- לְבַבְכֶם (le-vavkhem) – Root: לבב (l-v-v); Form: Preposition לְ + noun masculine singular construct + 2mp suffix; Translation: “your heart”; Notes: Directs their inner attention or consideration.
- מִן־ (min) – Root: מן (m-n); Form: Preposition מִן; Translation: “from”; Notes: Marks the starting point of the time reference.
- הַיֹּום (ha-yom) – Root: יום (y-w-m); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the day”; Notes: Indicates the moment of prophetic instruction.
- הַזֶּה (ha-zeh) – Root: זה (z-h); Form: Demonstrative masculine singular; Translation: “this”; Notes: Emphasizes the present day.
- וָמָעְלָה (va-maʿlah) – Root: עלה (ʿ-l-h); Form: Conjunction וְ + adverb; Translation: “and upward / onward”; Notes: Indicates time moving forward from the present.
- מִטֶּרֶם (mi-terem) – Root: טרם (t-r-m); Form: Preposition מִן + adverb; Translation: “from before”; Notes: Refers to a time prior to the rebuilding activity.
- שׂוּם־ (sum) – Root: שׂים (ś-y-m); Form: Qal infinitive construct; Translation: “placing”; Notes: Used in reference to construction work.
- אֶבֶן (even) – Root: אבן (ʾ-b-n); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “stone”; Notes: Refers to building materials in the temple reconstruction.
- אֶל־ (ʾel) – Root: אל (ʾ-l); Form: Preposition אֶל; Translation: “to / upon”; Notes: Indicates contact or adjacency.
- אֶבֶן (even) – Root: אבן (ʾ-b-n); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “stone”; Notes: Repetition conveys the physical act of rebuilding.
- בְּהֵיכַל (be-heikhal) – Root: היכל (h-y-k-l); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “in the temple”; Notes: Refers specifically to YHWH’s sanctuary.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: הוה (h-w-h); Form: Proper divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenant name of Israel’s God.