Joel 1:2

שִׁמְעוּ־זֹאת֙ הַזְּקֵנִ֔ים וְהַֽאֲזִ֔ינוּ כֹּ֖ל יֹושְׁבֵ֣י הָאָ֑רֶץ הֶהָ֤יְתָה זֹּאת֙ בִּֽימֵיכֶ֔ם וְאִ֖ם בִּימֵ֥י אֲבֹֽתֵיכֶֽם׃

Hear this, O elders, and give ear, all inhabitants of the land. Has this been in your days or in the days of your fathers?

Morphology

1. שִׁמְעוּ (shimʿu) – Root: שׁמע; Form: Qal imperative 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “hear”; Notes: A direct command calling for attention; addressed to multiple hearers.
2. זֹאת (zot) – Root: זה; Form: Demonstrative pronoun feminine singular; Translation: “this”; Notes: Refers to what is about to be declared by the prophet.
3. הַזְּקֵנִים (ha-zekenim) – Root: זקן; Form: Definite noun masculine plural with article הַ; Translation: “the elders”; Notes: Refers to leaders or older men of the community; object of the imperative.
4. וְהַאֲזִינוּ (ve-ha’azinu) – Root: אזן; Form: Conjunction וְ + Hiphil imperative 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “and give ear”; Notes: A stronger call to attention than “hear”; emphasizes listening with understanding.
5. כֹּל (kol) – Root: כל; Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “all”; Notes: In construct with “inhabitants of the land.”
6. יֹושְׁבֵי (yoshevei) – Root: ישׁב; Form: Qal participle masculine plural construct; Translation: “inhabitants of”; Notes: Denotes continuous dwelling; participial form used substantively.
7. הָאָרֶץ (ha-aretz) – Root: ארץ; Form: Definite noun feminine singular with article הַ; Translation: “the land”; Notes: Likely refers to the land of Yisraʾel.
8. הֶהָיְתָה (hehayetah) – Root: היה; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person feminine singular with interrogative prefix הֶ; Translation: “has this been?”; Notes: The interrogative הֶ introduces a rhetorical question, marveling at an unprecedented event.
9. זֹּאת (zot) – Root: זה; Form: Demonstrative pronoun feminine singular; Translation: “this”; Notes: The subject of the verb “has been.”
10. בִּימֵיכֶם (bi-yemekhem) – Root: יום; Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine plural construct + suffix 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “in your days”; Notes: Refers to the lifespan or generation of the audience.
11. וְאִם (ve-im) – Root: אם; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “or if”; Notes: Introduces an alternative possibility in the rhetorical question.
12. בִּימֵי (bi-yemei) – Root: יום; Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “in the days of”; Notes: Begins a construct chain with “your fathers.”
13. אֲבֹתֵיכֶם (avotekhem) – Root: אב; Form: Noun masculine plural construct + suffix 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “your fathers”; Notes: Refers to the ancestors or forefathers of the audience.