וְאֶל־הָעָ֤ם הַזֶּה֙ תֹּאמַ֔ר כֹּ֖ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֑ה הִנְנִ֤י נֹתֵן֙ לִפְנֵיכֶ֔ם אֶת־דֶּ֥רֶךְ הַחַיִּ֖ים וְאֶת־דֶּ֥רֶךְ הַמָּֽוֶת׃
“And to this people you shall say, ‘Thus says YHWH: “Behold, I am placing before you the way of life and the way of death.
Morphology
- וְאֶל־ (ve-el) – Root: אל; Form: Conjunction + preposition; Translation: “and to”; Notes: Introduces the indirect object, continuing the prophetic speech.
- הָעָ֤ם (ha-ʿam) – Root: עם; Form: Definite noun, masculine singular; Translation: “the people”; Notes: Refers to the nation of Yisraʾel.
- הַזֶּה (hazzeh) – Root: זה; Form: Demonstrative adjective, masculine singular; Translation: “this”; Notes: Modifies “the people.”
- תֹּאמַר (toʾmar) – Root: אמר; Form: Qal imperfect, 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “you shall say”; Notes: Directive addressed to the prophet.
- כֹּה (koh) – Root: כה; Form: Adverb; Translation: “thus”; Notes: Standard prophetic formula introducing divine speech.
- אָמַר (ʾamar) – Root: אמר; Form: Qal perfect, 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “said”; Notes: Refers to a completed speech act by YHWH.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: Divine name; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The speaker of the message.
- הִנְנִי (hinneni) – Root: הן; Form: Interjection with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “Behold, I”; Notes: Emphatic self-reference signaling divine action.
- נֹתֵן (noten) – Root: נתן; Form: Qal active participle, masculine singular; Translation: “placing”; Notes: Indicates ongoing or imminent action by YHWH.
- לִפְנֵיכֶם (lifneikhem) – Root: פנה; Form: Preposition + noun masculine plural construct + 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “before you”; Notes: Denotes presentation to the people.
- אֶת־ (et) – Root: —; Form: Direct object marker; Translation: —; Notes: Marks the definite direct object of the verb “placing.”
- דֶּרֶךְ (derekh) – Root: דרך; Form: Noun, common feminine singular; Translation: “way”; Notes: Used figuratively for a path or course of life.
- הַחַיִּים (ha-ḥayyim) – Root: חי; Form: Definite noun, masculine plural (plural of intensity); Translation: “of life”; Notes: Refers to flourishing, covenantal life.
- וְאֶת־ (ve-et) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction + direct object marker; Translation: “and”; Notes: Links two parallel objects.
- דֶּרֶךְ (derekh) – Root: דרך; Form: Noun, feminine singular; Translation: “way”; Notes: Parallel with “way of life.”
- הַמָּוֶת (ha-mavet) – Root: מות; Form: Definite noun, masculine singular; Translation: “of death”; Notes: Often represents divine judgment or covenantal curse.