וְהָיָ֣ה בַּיֹּ֣ום הַה֗וּא אֶֽעֱנֶה֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה אֶעֱנֶ֖ה אֶת־הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם וְהֵ֖ם יַעֲנ֥וּ אֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ׃
And it shall be in that day,” declares YHWH, “I will answer the heavens, and they shall answer the earth.
Morphology
- וְהָיָה (ve-hayah) – Root: היה (h-y-h); Form: Qal perfect 3ms with conjunction וְ; Translation: “and it shall be”; Notes: Common prophetic future construction introducing divine action or eschatological events.
- בַּיֹּום (ba-yom) – Root: יום (y-w-m); Form: Preposition בְּ + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “in the day”; Notes: A temporal expression denoting a specific appointed time of divine activity.
- הַהוּא (ha-hu) – Root: הוא (h-w-ʾ); Form: Demonstrative pronoun masculine singular with definite article; Translation: “that”; Notes: Specifies the prophetic “day” of YHWH’s redemptive intervention.
- אֶעֱנֶה (eʿeneh) – Root: ענה (ʿ-n-h); Form: Qal imperfect 1cs; Translation: “I will answer”; Notes: Indicates divine responsiveness — YHWH’s reply to creation’s cry for restoration.
- נְאֻם־יְהוָה (neʾum-YHWH) – Root: נאם (n-ʾ-m); Form: Noun construct masculine singular + divine name; Translation: “declares YHWH”; Notes: Prophetic formula marking divine authority behind the statement.
- אֶעֱנֶה (eʿeneh) – Root: ענה (ʿ-n-h); Form: Qal imperfect 1cs (repeated); Translation: “I will answer”; Notes: The repetition intensifies YHWH’s initiative in reestablishing harmony between heaven and earth.
- אֶת־ (ʾet) – Root: —; Form: Direct object marker; Translation: “(marks the direct object)”; Notes: Introduces the object of the verb — “the heavens.”
- הַשָּׁמָיִם (ha-shamayim) – Root: שׁמים (š-m-y-m); Form: Noun masculine plural with definite article; Translation: “the heavens”; Notes: Represents the celestial sphere that will respond to divine restoration — the first link in the chain of cosmic reconciliation.
- וְהֵם (ve-hem) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction וְ + independent pronoun 3mp; Translation: “and they”; Notes: Refers back to the heavens, continuing the sequence of responsive creation.
- יַעֲנוּ (yaʿanu) – Root: ענה (ʿ-n-h); Form: Qal imperfect 3mp; Translation: “they shall answer”; Notes: Depicts the reciprocal harmony — nature responding under divine command, restoring cosmic order.
- אֶת־ (ʾet) – Root: —; Form: Direct object marker; Translation: “(marks the direct object)”; Notes: Introduces the following object “the earth.”
- הָאָרֶץ (ha-arets) – Root: ארץ (ʾ-r-ṣ); Form: Noun feminine singular with definite article; Translation: “the earth”; Notes: Represents the material realm awaiting divine renewal — the heavens and earth reunited in covenant blessing.