כִּ֛י נַ֥עַר יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל וָאֹהֲבֵ֑הוּ וּמִמִּצְרַ֖יִם קָרָ֥אתִי לִבְנִֽי׃
“When Yisraʾel was a child, and I loved him, and out of Mitsrayim I called My son.
Morphology
- כִּי (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “For”; Notes: Introduces the reason or explanation for YHWH’s continued compassion toward Yisraʾel despite its unfaithfulness.
- נַעַר (naʿar) – Root: נער (naʿar); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “child” or “youth”; Notes: Symbolizes Yisraʾel’s early national stage—innocence and dependence upon YHWH during formative history.
- יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisraʾel) – Root: ישראל (Yisraʾel); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yisraʾel”; Notes: Refers collectively to the nation as YHWH’s covenant son, recalling the Exodus context.
- וָאֹהֲבֵהוּ (va-ʾohavehu) – Root: אהב (ʾahav); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal imperfect 1cs + suffix 3ms (converted by vav consecutive); Translation: “and I loved him”; Notes: Expresses divine affection—YHWH’s tender love rooted in covenantal relationship, not merit.
- וּמִמִּצְרַיִם (u-mimmitsrayim) – Root: מצרים (Mitsrayim); Form: Conjunction וְ + preposition מִן + proper noun; Translation: “and out of Mitsrayim”; Notes: Points back to the Exodus—YHWH’s deliverance of His people from slavery.
- קָרָאתִי (qaraʾti) – Root: קרא (qaraʾ); Form: Qal perfect 1cs; Translation: “I called”; Notes: Denotes YHWH’s personal summons—He called His son (Yisraʾel) into covenant fellowship and obedience.
- לִבְנִי (li-vni) – Root: בן (ben); Form: Preposition לְ + noun masculine singular + suffix 1cs; Translation: “My son”; Notes: Expresses covenantal intimacy—YHWH’s paternal claim over Yisraʾel, grounding the nation’s identity in divine love and redemption.