וַֽיהוָ֗ה נָתַ֤ן קֹולֹו֙ לִפְנֵ֣י חֵילֹ֔ו כִּ֣י רַ֤ב מְאֹד֙ מַחֲנֵ֔הוּ כִּ֥י עָצ֖וּם עֹשֵׂ֣ה דְבָרֹ֑ו כִּֽי־גָדֹ֧ול יֹום־יְהוָ֛ה וְנֹורָ֥א מְאֹ֖ד וּמִ֥י יְכִילֶֽנּוּ׃
And YHWH gives His voice before His army, for very great is His camp; for mighty is He who executes His word; for great is the day of YHWH and exceedingly fearful; who can endure it?
Morphology
- וַֽיהוָ֗ה (va-YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Conjunction + proper noun; Translation: “And YHWH”; Notes: The divine name introduces the subject, emphasizing YHWH’s direct action.
- נָתַ֤ן (natan) – Root: נתן (natan); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “gave”; Notes: Describes YHWH’s act of uttering His commanding voice.
- קֹולֹו֙ (qolō) – Root: קול (qol); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 3ms; Translation: “His voice”; Notes: Refers to divine thunder or proclamation leading His forces.
- לִפְנֵ֣י (lifnei) – Root: פנה (panah); Form: Preposition לְ + noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “before”; Notes: Indicates YHWH’s voice proceeding in front of His army.
- חֵילֹ֔ו (ḥeilō) – Root: חיל (ḥayil); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 3ms; Translation: “His army”; Notes: Depicts the hosts under YHWH’s command, possibly locusts or celestial forces.
- כִּ֣י (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces the reason or explanation for the preceding statement.
- רַ֤ב (rav) – Root: רבב (ravav); Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “great”; Notes: Denotes multitude, indicating the size of YHWH’s army.
- מְאֹד֙ (meʾod) – Root: מאד (meʾod); Form: Adverb; Translation: “very”; Notes: Intensifies the adjective “great.”
- מַחֲנֵ֔הוּ (maḥanehu) – Root: חנה (ḥanah); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 3ms; Translation: “His camp”; Notes: Refers to YHWH’s encampment or gathered army.
- כִּ֥י (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces another explanatory clause.
- עָצ֖וּם (ʿatsum) – Root: עצם (ʿatsam); Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “mighty”; Notes: Conveys strength and overwhelming power.
- עֹשֵׂ֣ה (ʿoseh) – Root: עשה (ʿasah); Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “doing” or “executing”; Notes: Describes the one performing or carrying out YHWH’s word.
- דְבָרֹ֑ו (devarō) – Root: דבר (davar); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 3ms; Translation: “His word”; Notes: Refers to the divine command that is actively fulfilled.
- כִּֽי־ (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Adds causal emphasis leading to the final proclamation.
- גָדֹ֧ול (gadol) – Root: גדל (gadal); Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “great”; Notes: Denotes magnitude and importance of the event—the day of YHWH.
- יֹום־ (yom) – Root: יום (yom); Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “day of”; Notes: Refers to the eschatological “day of YHWH.”
- יְהוָ֛ה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The divine name, representing covenant Lordship and judgment.
- וְנֹורָ֥א (ve-nora) – Root: ירא (yaraʾ); Form: Nifal participle masculine singular; Translation: “and fearful”; Notes: Denotes awe-inspiring dread or reverence.
- מְאֹ֖ד (meʾod) – Root: מאד (meʾod); Form: Adverb; Translation: “exceedingly”; Notes: Intensifies the magnitude of terror and awe.
- וּמִ֥י (u-mi) – Root: מי (mi); Form: Conjunction + interrogative pronoun; Translation: “and who”; Notes: Introduces a rhetorical question emphasizing human frailty before divine power.
- יְכִילֶֽנּוּ (yekhilenhu) – Root: יכל (yakhol); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular + suffix 3ms; Translation: “can endure it”; Notes: Expresses inability to withstand or bear YHWH’s overwhelming judgment.