Joel 1:1

דְּבַר־יְהוָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָיָ֔ה אֶל־יֹואֵ֖ל בֶּן־פְּתוּאֵֽל׃

The word of YHWH that came to Yoʾel son of Petuʾel.

Morphology

1. דְּבַר (devar) – Root: דבר; Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “word”; Notes: In construct state, linking to the following proper noun “YHWH,” forming “the word of YHWH.”
2. יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה; Form: Proper noun, divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenantal name of God, often rendered “LORD” in English translations.
3. אֲשֶׁר (ʾasher) – Root: אשר; Form: Relative pronoun; Translation: “that”; Notes: Introduces the relative clause modifying “word.”
4. הָיָה (hayah) – Root: היה; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “came to be,” “was”; Notes: Describes an event that occurred in the past—here the divine word “came” to the prophet.
5. אֶל (ʾel) – Root: אל; Form: Preposition; Translation: “to”; Notes: Indicates direction toward someone, marking the recipient of the divine word.
6. יֹואֵל (Yoʾel) – Root: יואל; Form: Proper noun, masculine singular; Translation: “Yoʾel”; Notes: Means “YHWH is God.” The prophet to whom the word came.
7. בֶּן (ben) – Root: בן; Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “son of”; Notes: Indicates descent or lineage.
8. פְּתוּאֵל (Petuʾel) – Root: פתאל; Form: Proper noun, masculine singular; Translation: “Petuʾel”; Notes: Personal name meaning possibly “Persuaded by God” or “Vision of God.”