לָכֵ֞ן כֹּה־אָמַ֣ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֗ה הִנֵּ֨ה עֲבָדַ֤י יֹאכֵ֨לוּ֙ וְאַתֶּ֣ם תִּרְעָ֔בוּ הִנֵּ֧ה עֲבָדַ֛י יִשְׁתּ֖וּ וְאַתֶּ֣ם תִּצְמָ֑אוּ הִנֵּ֧ה עֲבָדַ֛י יִשְׂמָ֖חוּ וְאַתֶּ֥ם תֵּבֹֽשׁוּ׃
Therefore thus says my Lord YHWH: “Behold, my servants shall eat, but you shall hunger; behold, my servants shall drink, but you shall thirst; behold, my servants shall rejoice, but you shall be ashamed.
Morphology
- לָכֵ֞ן (lakhen) – Root: כן (ken); Form: Adverb; Translation: “Therefore”; Notes: Introduces a consequence based on prior actions.
- כֹּה־אָמַ֣ר (koh amar) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Adverb + Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “Thus said”; Notes: Formulaic prophetic introduction.
- אֲדֹנָ֣י (ʾAdonai) – Root: אדן (ʾadon); Form: Noun masculine singular with 1st person singular suffix (construct); Translation: “my Lord”; Notes: Often used with YHWH to express reverence.
- יְהוִ֗ה (YHWH) – Root: היה (haya); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The divine name.
- הִנֵּ֨ה (hinneh) – Root: הן (hen); Form: Interjection; Translation: “Behold”; Notes: Introduces an emphatic prophetic declaration.
- עֲבָדַ֤י (ʿavaday) – Root: עבד (ʿeved); Form: Noun masculine plural + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “my servants”; Notes: Refers to the faithful followers of YHWH.
- יֹאכֵ֨לוּ (yoʾkhelu) – Root: אכל (ʾakhal); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “shall eat”; Notes: Describes blessing or provision for the faithful.
- וְאַתֶּ֣ם (ve-atem) – Root: אתם (ʾatem); Form: Conjunction + independent pronoun masculine plural; Translation: “but you”; Notes: Introduces contrast with the rebellious.
- תִּרְעָ֔בוּ (tirʿavu) – Root: רעב (raʿav); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you shall hunger”; Notes: Consequence of rejecting YHWH.
- יִשְׁתּ֖וּ (yishtu) – Root: שתה (shatah); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “shall drink”; Notes: Continues parallel blessing to the servants.
- תִּצְמָ֑אוּ (titsmaʾu) – Root: צמא (tsamaʾ); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you shall thirst”; Notes: Continues the judgment parallel.
- יִשְׂמָ֖חוּ (yismakhu) – Root: שׂמח (samach); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “shall rejoice”; Notes: Describes emotional and spiritual joy for the obedient.
- תֵּבֹֽשׁוּ (tevoshu) – Root: בושׁ (bosh); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you shall be ashamed”; Notes: Final contrast with the servants—shame for the rebellious.