אַתֶּ֤ם עֵדַי֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה וְעַבְדִּ֖י אֲשֶׁ֣ר בָּחָ֑רְתִּי לְמַ֣עַן תֵּ֠דְעוּ וְתַאֲמִ֨ינוּ לִ֤י וְתָבִ֨ינוּ֙ כִּֽי־אֲנִ֣י ה֔וּא לְפָנַי֙ לֹא־נֹ֣וצַר אֵ֔ל וְאַחֲרַ֖י לֹ֥א יִהְיֶֽה׃ ס
You are My witnesses, declares YHWH, and My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me no god was formed, and after Me there will be none.
Morphology
- אַתֶּ֤ם (atem) – Root: –; Form: Independent pronoun masculine plural; Translation: “You”; Notes: Addressed to Yisraʾel collectively.
- עֵדַי (ʿedai) – Root: עד; Form: Noun masculine plural with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “My witnesses”; Notes: Legal metaphor for those who testify to YHWH’s uniqueness.
- נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה (neʾum-YHWH) – Root: נאם; Form: Noun (declaration) in construct + proper name; Translation: “declares YHWH”; Notes: Formula introducing divine speech.
- וְעַבְדִּ֖י (ve-ʿavdi) – Root: עבד; Form: Conjunction + noun masculine singular with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “and My servant”; Notes: Likely refers to Yisraʾel or the prophetic figure.
- אֲשֶׁ֣ר (ʾasher) – Root: –; Form: Relative particle; Translation: “whom”; Notes: Introduces a relative clause describing the servant.
- בָּחָ֑רְתִּי (baḥarti) – Root: בחר; Form: Qal perfect 1st person common singular; Translation: “I have chosen”; Notes: Reflects divine election.
- לְמַ֣עַן (lemaʿan) – Root: –; Form: Preposition; Translation: “so that”; Notes: Introduces the purpose clause.
- תֵּ֠דְעוּ (tedʿu) – Root: ידע; Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you may know”; Notes: Begins the sequence of intended responses.
- וְתַאֲמִ֨ינוּ (ve-taʾaminu) – Root: אמן; Form: Hiphil imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “and believe”; Notes: Causative; belief based on knowledge.
- לִ֤י (li) – Root: –; Form: Preposition + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “Me”; Notes: Object of belief.
- וְתָבִ֨ינוּ (ve-tavinu) – Root: בין; Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “and understand”; Notes: Culminates the triad of knowing, believing, and understanding.
- כִּֽי־אֲנִ֣י הוּא (ki-ʾani hu) – Root: –; Form: Conjunction + pronouns; Translation: “that I am He”; Notes: Assertion of divine uniqueness and identity.
- לְפָנַי (lefanai) – Root: פן; Form: Preposition לְ + noun with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “before Me”; Notes: Temporal priority.
- לֹא־נֹוצַר (lo-notzar) – Root: יצר; Form: Nifal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “was not formed”; Notes: Refers to false gods or idols.
- אֵל (ʾel) – Root: אל; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “a god”; Notes: No deity was created before YHWH.
- וְאַחֲרַי (ve-aḥarai) – Root: אחר; Form: Conjunction + preposition + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “and after Me”; Notes: Temporal phrase indicating finality.
- לֹא יִהְיֶה (lo yihyeh) – Root: היה; Form: Negative particle + Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “there will be none”; Notes: Confirms YHWH’s eternal exclusivity.