קֹ֣ול קֹורֵ֔א בַּמִּדְבָּ֕ר פַּנּ֖וּ דֶּ֣רֶךְ יְהוָ֑ה יַשְּׁרוּ֙ בָּעֲרָבָ֔ה מְסִלָּ֖ה לֵאלֹהֵֽינוּ׃
A voice is calling, “In the wilderness prepare the way of YHWH, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Morphology
- קֹול (qol) – Root: קול; Form: Noun masculine singular absolute; Translation: “A voice”; Notes: Serves as the subject, often signaling a prophetic or angelic herald.
- קֹורֵא (qoreʾ) – Root: קרא; Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “is calling”; Notes: Present participle, expressing ongoing or imminent action.
- בַּמִּדְבָּר (ba-midbar) – Root: מדבר; Form: Preposition + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “in the wilderness”; Notes: Location where the preparation is to occur; often symbol of testing and divine encounter.
- פַּנּוּ (pannu) – Root: פנה; Form: Piel imperative masculine plural; Translation: “Prepare”; Notes: A command to clear or make ready the path.
- דֶּרֶךְ (derekh) – Root: דרך; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “the way”; Notes: Refers to a road or path, metaphorically for divine access.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: היה; Form: Proper noun (Tetragrammaton); Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenantal name of God, recipient of the prepared way.
- יַשְּׁרוּ (yashru) – Root: ישׁר; Form: Piel imperative masculine plural; Translation: “make straight”; Notes: Command to level or smoothen a path, metaphorical for righteousness or readiness.
- בָּעֲרָבָה (ba-ʿaravah) – Root: ערבה; Form: Preposition + definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “in the desert plain”; Notes: Arid region, continuing the wilderness imagery.
- מְסִלָּה (mesillah) – Root: סלל; Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “a highway”; Notes: Elevated or prepared road for royal or divine procession.
- לֵאלֹהֵינוּ (le-ʾEloheinu) – Root: אלה; Form: Preposition + noun masculine plural with 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “for our God”; Notes: Points to divine ownership and relationship; parallels the phrase for YHWH earlier.