וְהָיָ֤ה בַיֹּום־הַהוּא֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה יֹאבַ֥ד לֵב־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ וְלֵ֣ב הַשָּׂרִ֑ים וְנָשַׁ֨מּוּ֙ הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים וְהַנְּבִיאִ֖ים יִתְמָֽהוּ׃
“And it shall be on that day,” declares YHWH, “the heart of the king shall perish, and the heart of the princes; and the priests shall be appalled, and the prophets shall be astonished.”
Morphology
- וְהָיָ֤ה (ve-hayah) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular with vav-consecutive; Translation: “And it shall be”; Notes: Typical prophetic formula introducing a future event.
- בַיֹּום־הַהוּא (ba-yom ha-hu) – Root: יום (yom) + הוא (hu); Form: Preposition בְּ + definite noun + demonstrative adjective; Translation: “on that day”; Notes: Refers to a specific future day of judgment or calamity.
- נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה (neʾum-YHWH) – Root: נאם (naʾam); Form: Construct noun + divine name; Translation: “declaration of YHWH”; Notes: Common prophetic phrase signaling divine speech.
- יֹאבַ֥ד (yoʾavad) – Root: אבד (ʾavad); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “shall perish”; Notes: Refers to the loss or destruction of resolve or courage.
- לֵב־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (lev ha-melekh) – Root: לב (lev), מלך (melekh); Form: Construct noun + definite noun; Translation: “the heart of the king”; Notes: Symbol of inner strength, resolve, or counsel.
- וְלֵ֣ב הַשָּׂרִ֑ים (ve-lev ha-sarim) – Root: לב (lev), שר (sar); Form: Conjunction + construct noun + definite plural noun; Translation: “and the heart of the princes”; Notes: Parallel to the king’s heart; collapse of leadership.
- וְנָשַׁ֨מּוּ (ve-nashamu) – Root: שׁמם (shamam); Form: Nifal perfect 3rd person plural with vav-consecutive; Translation: “and they shall be appalled”; Notes: Describes stunned horror, often in response to divine judgment.
- הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים (ha-kohanim) – Root: כהן (kohen); Form: Definite noun masculine plural; Translation: “the priests”; Notes: Religious leaders who are also paralyzed in the crisis.
- וְהַנְּבִיאִ֖ים (ve-ha-neviʾim) – Root: נבא (naviʾ); Form: Conjunction + definite noun masculine plural; Translation: “and the prophets”; Notes: Those expected to speak divine insight are themselves bewildered.
- יִתְמָֽהוּ (yitmohu) – Root: תמה (tamoh); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “shall be astonished”; Notes: Indicates speechless wonder or confusion.