הַשֶּׁ֨מֶשׁ֙ יֵהָפֵ֣ךְ לְחֹ֔שֶׁךְ וְהַיָּרֵ֖חַ לְדָ֑ם לִפְנֵ֗י בֹּ֚וא יֹ֣ום יְהוָ֔ה הַגָּדֹ֖ול וְהַנֹּורָֽא׃
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of YHWH.
Morphology
- הַשֶּׁ֨מֶשׁ֙ (ha-shemesh) – Root: שׁמשׁ (shemesh); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the sun”; Notes: A celestial body used in apocalyptic imagery representing cosmic upheaval.
- יֵהָפֵ֣ךְ (yehafekh) – Root: הפך (hafakh); Form: Nifal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “shall be turned”; Notes: Passive form signifying divine transformation or reversal of nature.
- לְחֹ֔שֶׁךְ (le-ḥoshekh) – Root: חשׁך (ḥoshekh); Form: Preposition לְ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “to darkness”; Notes: Symbolizes judgment, concealment, or calamity in prophetic literature.
- וְהַיָּרֵ֖חַ (ve-ha-yareach) – Root: ירח (yareach); Form: Conjunction + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “and the moon”; Notes: Another celestial body signifying heavenly disturbances accompanying divine visitation.
- לְדָ֑ם (le-dam) – Root: דם (dam); Form: Preposition לְ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “to blood”; Notes: Evokes imagery of violence or divine wrath, possibly describing a blood-red lunar appearance.
- לִפְנֵ֗י (lifnei) – Root: פנה (panah); Form: Preposition construct form; Translation: “before”; Notes: Indicates temporal precedence—these signs occur prior to YHWH’s great day.
- בֹּ֚וא (bo) – Root: בוא (bo); Form: Infinitive construct; Translation: “the coming”; Notes: Refers to the arrival or advent of YHWH’s decisive intervention.
- יֹ֣ום (yom) – Root: יום (yom); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “day”; Notes: Represents a period of divine judgment or revelation, commonly termed “the day of YHWH.”
- יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenant name of God, emphasizing His active role in judgment and redemption.
- הַגָּדֹ֖ול (ha-gadol) – Root: גדל (gadal); Form: Definite adjective masculine singular; Translation: “the great”; Notes: Highlights the magnitude and significance of YHWH’s day.
- וְהַנֹּורָֽא (ve-ha-nora) – Root: ירא (yareʾ); Form: Conjunction + definite adjective masculine singular; Translation: “and the awesome”; Notes: Conveys the terror and reverence associated with divine manifestation.