כֹּ֥ה תֹאמְר֛וּ אִ֥ישׁ עַל־רֵעֵ֖הוּ וְאִ֣ישׁ אֶל־אָחִ֑יו מֶה־עָנָ֣ה יְהוָ֔ה וּמַה־דִּבֶּ֖ר יְהוָֽה׃
Thus you shall say, each man to his neighbor and each man to his brother: ‘What has YHWH answered?’ and ‘What has YHWH spoken?’
Morphology
- כֹּ֥ה (koh) – Root: כה; Form: Demonstrative adverb; Translation: “Thus”; Notes: Often introduces prophetic or formal speech.
- תֹאמְר֛וּ (toʾmeru) – Root: אמר; Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you shall say”; Notes: Instruction directed to the people collectively.
- אִ֥ישׁ (ish) – Root: אישׁ; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “each man”; Notes: Subject of the quoted directive.
- עַל־רֵעֵ֖הוּ (ʿal-reʿehu) – Root: רעע; Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “to his neighbor”; Notes: Indicates direction of speech or concern.
- וְאִ֣ישׁ (ve-ish) – Root: אישׁ; Form: Conjunction + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and each man”; Notes: Parallelism with the previous clause, indicating mutual engagement.
- אֶל־אָחִ֑יו (el-aḥiv) – Root: אח; Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “to his brother”; Notes: Reinforces kinship and community accountability.
- מֶה־עָנָ֣ה (meh-ʿanah) – Root: ענה; Form: Interrogative + Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “What has answered”; Notes: Inquires about YHWH’s response to inquiry or prophecy.
- יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) – Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Subject of both interrogative clauses.
- וּמַה־דִּבֶּ֖ר (u-mah-dibber) – Root: דבר; Form: Conjunction + interrogative + Piel perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and what has spoken”; Notes: Piel form suggests clear or forceful speech.
- יְהוָֽה (YHWH) – Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Repetition emphasizes seeking authentic divine revelation.