דְּבַר־יְהוָ֣ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָיָ֗ה אֶל־הֹושֵׁ֨עַ֙ בֶּן־בְּאֵרִ֔י בִּימֵ֨י עֻזִּיָּ֥ה יֹותָ֛ם אָחָ֥ז יְחִזְקִיָּ֖ה מַלְכֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֑ה וּבִימֵ֛י יָרָבְעָ֥ם בֶּן־יֹואָ֖שׁ מֶ֥לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
The word of YHWH that came to Hoshea son of Beʾeri, in the days of ʿUziyya, Yotam, Aḥaz, and Yeḥizqiyya, kings of Yehuda, and in the days of Yarovʿam son of Yoʾash, king of Yisraʾel.
Morphology
- דְּבַר־ (devar) – Root: דבר (d-b-r); Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “word of”; Notes: Often used in prophetic introductions, linking divine revelation with the prophet.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: היה (h-y-h); Form: Proper noun, Tetragrammaton; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenant name of God, emphasizing His self-existent and eternal nature.
- אֲשֶׁר (ʾasher) – Root: אשר (ʾ-š-r); Form: Relative pronoun; Translation: “which” or “that”; Notes: Introduces a relative clause describing the divine revelation.
- הָיָה (hayah) – Root: היה (h-y-h); Form: Qal perfect 3ms; Translation: “was”; Notes: Describes the prophetic event as something that “came” or “occurred.”
- אֶל־ (ʾel) – Root: אל (ʾ-l); Form: Preposition; Translation: “to”; Notes: Marks direction or recipient—here indicating the prophet to whom the word was addressed.
- הֹושֵׁעַ (Hoshea) – Root: ישע (y-š-ʿ); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Hoshea”; Notes: The prophet’s name means “salvation.”
- בֶּן־ (ben) – Root: בן (b-n); Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “son of”; Notes: Indicates genealogical relationship.
- בְּאֵרִי (Beʾeri) – Root: באר (b-ʾ-r); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Beʾeri”; Notes: The prophet’s father; the name means “my well” or “wellman.”
- בִּימֵי (bi-yemei) – Root: יום (y-w-m); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “in the days of”; Notes: Marks the historical period of Hoshea’s prophetic activity.
- עֻזִּיָּה (ʿUziyyah) – Root: עזז (ʿ-z-z); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “ʿUziyyah” (Uzziah); Notes: King of Judah known for strength and prosperity; name means “YHWH is my strength.”
- יֹותָם (Yotam) – Root: תםם (t-m-m); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yotam” (Jotham); Notes: King of Judah; name means “YHWH is perfect.”
- אָחָז (Aḥaz) – Root: אחז (ʾ-ḥ-z); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Aḥaz”; Notes: King of Judah; name means “he has grasped.”
- יְחִזְקִיָּה (Yeḥizqiyyah) – Root: חזק (ḥ-z-q); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yeḥizqiyyah” (Hezekiah); Notes: King of Judah; name means “YHWH strengthens.”
- מַלְכֵי (malkei) – Root: מלך (m-l-k); Form: Noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “kings of”; Notes: Refers to the dynasty under which Hoshea prophesied.
- יְהוּדָה (Yehudah) – Root: ידה (y-d-h); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yehudah” (Judah); Notes: The southern kingdom of the divided monarchy.
- וּבִימֵי (u-vi-yemei) – Root: יום (y-w-m); Form: Conjunction וּ + preposition בְּ + noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “and in the days of”; Notes: Connects the reigns of Judah’s kings with the northern monarchy.
- יָרָבְעָם (Yarovʿam) – Root: רעם (r-ʿ-m); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yarovʿam” (Jeroboam); Notes: King of Israel; name may mean “the people contend.”
- בֶּן־ (ben) – Root: בן (b-n); Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “son of”; Notes: Genealogical marker introducing the father’s name.
- יֹואָשׁ (Yoʾash) – Root: אשׁ (ʾ-š); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yoʾash” (Joash); Notes: Father of Jeroboam II, a northern monarch during Israel’s prosperity.
- מֶלֶךְ (melekh) – Root: מלך (m-l-k); Form: Noun masculine singular absolute; Translation: “king”; Notes: Denotes royal status and authority.
- יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisraʾel) – Root: שרר (ś-r-r); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yisraʾel”; Notes: The northern kingdom; name means “he struggles with God.”