וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֵלָ֔יו קְרָ֥א שְׁמֹ֖ו יִזְרְעֶ֑אל כִּי־עֹ֣וד מְעַ֗ט וּפָ֨קַדְתִּ֜י אֶת־דְּמֵ֤י יִזְרְעֶאל֙ עַל־בֵּ֣ית יֵה֔וּא וְהִ֨שְׁבַּתִּ֔י מַמְלְכ֖וּת בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
And YHWH said to him, “Call his name Yizreʿel, for yet a little while and I will punish the blood of Yizreʿel upon the house of Yehu, and I will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Yisraʾel.
Morphology
- וַיֹּאמֶר (va-yomer) – Root: אמר (ʾ-m-r); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3ms; Translation: “and He said”; Notes: Marks divine speech introducing YHWH’s next command to Hoshea.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: היה (h-y-h); Form: Proper noun (Tetragrammaton); Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Denotes the covenant God of Yisraʾel as the speaker.
- אֵלָיו (elav) – Root: אל (ʾ-l); Form: Preposition אֶל + pronominal suffix 3ms; Translation: “to him”; Notes: Refers to Hoshea as the recipient of YHWH’s instruction.
- קְרָא (qera) – Root: קרא (q-r-ʾ); Form: Qal imperative masculine singular; Translation: “Call”; Notes: Direct command to name the child in a symbolic way reflecting divine judgment.
- שְׁמֹו (shemō) – Root: שם (š-m); Form: Noun masculine singular with 3ms suffix; Translation: “his name”; Notes: Refers to the newborn son of Hoshea and Gomer.
- יִזְרְעֶאל (Yizreʿel) – Root: זרע (z-r-ʿ); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yizreʿel”; Notes: Means “God sows”; the name alludes to the valley where Jehu’s bloodshed occurred, symbolizing both scattering and sowing.
- כִּי (ki) – Root: כי (k-y); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for” or “because”; Notes: Introduces the reason for the child’s symbolic name.
- עֹוד (ʿod) – Root: עוד (ʿ-w-d); Form: Adverb; Translation: “yet” or “still”; Notes: Indicates a short period of time before the coming judgment.
- מְעַט (meʿat) – Root: מעט (m-ʿ-ṭ); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “a little”; Notes: Completes the time expression “yet a little while.”
- וּפָקַדְתִּי (u-faqadti) – Root: פקד (p-q-d); Form: Qal perfect 1cs with conjunctive וְ; Translation: “and I will punish” or “visit”; Notes: The verb carries the sense of divine retribution or accountability.
- אֶת־ (ʾet) – Root: את (ʾet); Form: Direct object marker; Translation: (no direct translation); Notes: Introduces the specific object of divine action.
- דְּמֵי (demei) – Root: דם (d-m); Form: Noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “the blood of”; Notes: Refers to the violent bloodshed in Yizreʿel by Yehu’s dynasty.
- יִזְרְעֶאל (Yizreʿel) – Root: זרע (z-r-ʿ); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yizreʿel”; Notes: Repeated for emphasis, connecting the child’s name to the site of vengeance.
- עַל־ (ʿal) – Root: על (ʿ-l); Form: Preposition; Translation: “upon”; Notes: Marks the target of divine punishment.
- בֵּית (beit) – Root: בית (b-y-t); Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “house of”; Notes: Refers to the dynasty or family line.
- יֵהוּא (Yehu) – Root: יהו (y-h-w); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yehu”; Notes: The king who overthrew Ahab’s dynasty but perpetuated idolatry; his house is now to be judged.
- וְהִשְׁבַּתִּי (ve-hishbatti) – Root: שבת (š-b-t); Form: Hiphil perfect 1cs with conjunctive וְ; Translation: “and I will cause to cease”; Notes: Expresses causative action of YHWH to end the northern kingdom’s reign.
- מַמְלְכוּת (mamlekhut) – Root: מלך (m-l-k); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “kingdom”; Notes: Refers to the political sovereignty of the northern kingdom of Yisraʾel.
- בֵּית (beit) – Root: בית (b-y-t); Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “house of”; Notes: Indicates dynasty or family rule.
- יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisraʾel) – Root: שרר (ś-r-r); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yisraʾel”; Notes: Refers to the northern kingdom; the name means “he struggles with God.”