שִׁמְעוּ־נָ֕א אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־יְהוָ֖ה אֹמֵ֑ר ק֚וּם רִ֣יב אֶת־הֶהָרִ֔ים וְתִשְׁמַ֥עְנָה הַגְּבָעֹ֖ות קֹולֶֽךָ׃
Hear now what YHWH says: “Arise, contend with the mountains, and the hills shall hear your voice.
Morphology
- שִׁמְעוּ (shimʿu) — Root: שׁמע (shamaʿ); Form: Qal imperative 2mp; Translation: “Hear”; Notes: A direct summons to the people to listen attentively.
- נָא (na) — Root: נא (na); Form: Particle of entreaty; Translation: “now / please”; Notes: Softens the imperative, urging compliance.
- אֵת (et) — Root: את (’et); Form: Direct object marker; Translation: —; Notes: Marks the clause “what YHWH says” as the object.
- אֲשֶׁר (’asher) — Root: אשׁר (’asher); Form: Relative particle; Translation: “what”; Notes: Introduces the content of YHWH’s speech.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) — Root: הוה (havah); Form: Proper divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenant name of the God of Yisraʾel.
- אֹמֵר (’omer) — Root: אמר (’amar); Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “says”; Notes: Describes YHWH’s ongoing speech.
- קוּם (qum) — Root: קום (qum); Form: Qal imperative 2ms; Translation: “Arise”; Notes: A command to the prophet to take action.
- רִיב (riv) — Root: ריב (riv); Form: Qal imperative 2ms; Translation: “contend”; Notes: Legal term signifying bringing a covenant lawsuit.
- אֶת (et) — Root: את (’et); Form: Direct object marker; Translation: —; Notes: Marks “the mountains” as the object of contention.
- הֶהָרִים (he-harim) — Root: הר (har); Form: Definite article הַ + noun masculine plural; Translation: “the mountains”; Notes: Cosmic witnesses in covenant litigation.
- וְתִשְׁמַעְנָה (ve-tishmaʿnah) — Root: שׁמע (shamaʿ); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal imperfect 3fp; Translation: “and they shall hear”; Notes: Refers to the hills personified as listeners.
- הַגְּבָעוֹת (ha-gevʿot) — Root: גבעה (givʿah); Form: Definite article הַ + noun feminine plural; Translation: “the hills”; Notes: Parallel witnesses alongside the mountains.
- קוֹלֶךָ (qolekha) — Root: קול (qol); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 2ms; Translation: “your voice”; Notes: The prophet’s proclamation is addressed to creation itself.