וְהָיָ֤ה בַיֹּום־הַהוּא֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה תִּקְרְאִ֖י אִישִׁ֑י וְלֹֽא־תִקְרְאִי־לִ֥י עֹ֖וד בַּעְלִֽי׃
And it shall be in that day,” declares YHWH, “you will call Me ‘My Husband,’ and you will no longer call Me ‘My Baʿal.’
Morphology
- וְהָיָה (ve-hayah) – Root: היה (h-y-h); Form: Qal perfect 3ms with conjunction וְ; Translation: “and it shall be”; Notes: Introduces a prophetic future event, a hallmark phrase marking divine promise or decree.
- בַיֹּום־הַהוּא (ba-yom ha-hu) – Root: יום (y-w-m) / הוא (h-w-ʾ); Form: Preposition בְּ + definite noun + demonstrative adjective; Translation: “in that day”; Notes: Eschatological phrase referring to a time of divine renewal and covenant restoration.
- נְאֻם־יְהוָה (neʾum-YHWH) – Root: נאם (n-ʾ-m); Form: Noun construct + divine name; Translation: “utterance of YHWH” or “declares YHWH”; Notes: A prophetic signature formula emphasizing divine authority.
- תִּקְרְאִי (tiqreʾi) – Root: קרא (q-r-ʾ); Form: Qal imperfect 2fs; Translation: “you will call”; Notes: The imperfect expresses future action; YHWH envisions Israel’s new relationship of intimacy rather than domination.
- אִישִׁי (ʾishi) – Root: אישׁ (ʾ-y-sh); Form: Noun masculine singular + 1cs suffix; Translation: “my husband”; Notes: A term of affection replacing the formal “baʿal.” Symbolizes restored covenantal intimacy.
- וְלֹא (ve-lo) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction וְ + negative particle; Translation: “and not”; Notes: Signals contrast with the former mode of address tied to idolatrous associations.
- תִקְרְאִי־לִי (tiqreʾi-li) – Root: קרא (q-r-ʾ); Form: Qal imperfect 2fs + preposition לְ + 1cs suffix; Translation: “you will call Me”; Notes: Same root as earlier verb, emphasizing direct relational address between YHWH and His people.
- עֹוד (ʿod) – Root: —; Form: Adverb; Translation: “again” or “anymore”; Notes: Indicates discontinuation of former practice of calling YHWH by a name associated with pagan worship.
- בַּעְלִי (baʿli) – Root: בעל (b-ʿ-l); Form: Noun masculine singular + 1cs suffix; Translation: “my Baʿal” or “my master”; Notes: Although “baʿal” literally means “lord” or “husband,” it had become associated with Canaanite deity worship—hence YHWH rejects it as a term of covenantal intimacy.