וְֽהָיָה מִסְפַּ֤ר בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ כְּחֹ֣ול הַיָּ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־יִמַּ֖ד וְלֹ֣א יִסָּפֵ֑ר וְֽ֠הָיָה בִּמְקֹ֞ום אֲשֶׁר־יֵאָמֵ֤ר לָהֶם֙ לֹֽא־עַמִּ֣י אַתֶּ֔ם יֵאָמֵ֥ר לָהֶ֖ם בְּנֵ֥י אֵֽל־חָֽי׃
And the number of the sons of Yisraʾel shall be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor counted; and it shall be, in the place where it was said to them, “You are not My people,” it shall be said to them, “Sons of the living God.”
Morphology
- וְהָיָה (ve-hayah) – Root: היה (h-y-h); Form: Qal perfect with waw-consecutive (wayyiqtol) 3ms; Translation: “and it shall be”; Notes: Marks a future or prophetic outcome following divine judgment and restoration.
- מִסְפַּר (mispar) – Root: ספר (s-p-r); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “number”; Notes: Refers to the count or multitude of Yisraʾel, emphasizing their vastness and divine promise of multiplication.
- בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל (bene-Yisraʾel) – Root: בן (b-n); Form: Construct plural + proper noun; Translation: “sons of Yisraʾel”; Notes: Represents the covenantal nation collectively as descendants of Yaʿaqov.
- כְּחֹול (ke-ḥol) – Root: חול (ḥ-w-l); Form: Preposition כְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “like the sand”; Notes: A simile echoing God’s promise to Avraham of innumerable descendants (Genesis 22:17).
- הַיָּם (ha-yam) – Root: ים (y-m); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “of the sea”; Notes: Completes the simile “like the sand of the sea,” symbolizing abundance.
- אֲשֶׁר (ʾasher) – Root: —; Form: Relative particle; Translation: “which”; Notes: Introduces the descriptive clause about the sand’s unmeasurable nature.
- לֹא־יִמַּד (lo-yimmad) – Root: מדד (m-d-d); Form: Nifal imperfect 3ms; Translation: “cannot be measured”; Notes: Passive form emphasizing the impossibility of quantifying God’s promise.
- וְלֹא יִסָּפֵר (ve-lo-yissaper) – Root: ספר (s-p-r); Form: Nifal imperfect 3ms; Translation: “nor counted”; Notes: Parallel with “measured,” reinforcing the immeasurable growth of Yisraʾel.
- וְהָיָה (ve-hayah) – Root: היה (h-y-h); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3ms; Translation: “and it shall come to pass”; Notes: Introduces a climactic restoration oracle contrasting earlier rejection.
- בִּמְקוֹם (bi-mqom) – Root: קום (q-w-m); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “in the place”; Notes: Denotes the same location where judgment was pronounced, now transformed into mercy.
- אֲשֶׁר־יֵאָמֵר (ʾasher-yeʾamer) – Root: אמר (ʾ-m-r); Form: Nifal imperfect 3ms + relative particle; Translation: “where it shall be said”; Notes: The passive verb signals divine agency in the reversal of identity.
- לָהֶם (lahem) – Root: הם (h-m); Form: Preposition לְ + pronoun 3mp; Translation: “to them”; Notes: Refers to the same people once called “not My people.”
- לֹא־עַמִּי (lo-ʿammi) – Root: עם (ʿ-m); Form: Negative particle + noun masculine singular construct + 1cs suffix; Translation: “not My people”; Notes: Echoes the earlier symbolic name of Hoshea’s son, here reversed in meaning.
- אַתֶּם (ʾattem) – Root: אתה (ʾ-t-h); Form: Independent pronoun masculine plural; Translation: “you”; Notes: Emphasizes direct divine address to the people.
- יֵאָמֵר (yeʾamer) – Root: אמר (ʾ-m-r); Form: Nifal imperfect 3ms; Translation: “it shall be said”; Notes: Repetition strengthens the prophetic certainty of reversal.
- לָהֶם (lahem) – Root: הם (h-m); Form: Preposition לְ + pronoun 3mp; Translation: “to them”; Notes: The recipients of restored identity as “sons of the living God.”
- בְּנֵי (bene) – Root: בן (b-n); Form: Noun plural construct; Translation: “sons of”; Notes: Denotes restored filial relationship with God.
- אֵל־חָי (El-ḥay) – Root: אל (ʾ-l) / חיה (ḥ-y-h); Form: Compound proper noun; Translation: “the living God”; Notes: Contrasts YHWH’s vitality with idols, underscoring the renewed covenantal bond and divine life-giving power.